Aviara - California - USA

Gem USA - Best in Area
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort,
7100 Four Seasons Point,
Carlsbad,
California (CA) 92011,
USA

  • +1 760 603 6900

The luxurious Park Hyatt Aviara Resort overlooks the beautiful ecological reserve of Batiquitos Lagoon and its Arnold Palmer-designed golf course from the late 1980s is the centrepiece attraction within a 200-acre residential property.

Set out on a difficult landscape dominated by deep ravines, the par-72 course extends to just over 7,000 yards from the back markers with a number of man-made water features providing much of the strategic interest on the layout.

Two par fives take the eye on the front nine: the 543-yard dog legged 5th and the downhill 536-yard 8th, which is played to a pond-protected green. The 158-yard 6th is also a fine short hole, where tees shots fly a gaping gorge to a two-tiered putting surface.

The round ends next to the lagoon with the 443-yard closing hole guarded along its right side by yet another small lake that’s embellished with a couple of small waterfalls close to the greensite.

The 4th edition of the Kia Classic was played at Aviara in March 2013, the first time that an LPGA Tour event had ever been held on a Hyatt property.
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Reviews for Aviara

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Description: Aviara is a 7,007-yard Arnold Palmer resort course that is routed close to the tidal wetland of the Batiquitos Lagoon… naturally there’s water hazards aplenty. Rating: 6.1 out of 10 Reviews: 7
TaylorMade
Scott Megaffin

The golf course is currently going through a transition. They are moving from fescue in the roughs and around the greens to a more sustainable bermuda type grass. Yet, they are still charging $290 / round for each player. Two holes are completely closed and Aviara has transitioned two par fives into a temp par 4 / par 3 combo - so there is still 18 holes. But this is not a good value at all. The holes which still have fescue are in really rough shape outside the fairways and around the greens. Some day it will be back to a memorable experience.

June 15, 2022
3 / 10
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Claudio

Good course but definitely too expensive for what you get. I gave it 4 balls like I did for Torrey Pine and Maderas but it deserves a lower ranking. It does not have the "appeal" to be a course played by the PGA tour and does not have the views of the ocean or of the desert such as Torrey Pine and Maderas respectively. Frankly there are better course in the area at a much lower price (The Crossing at Carlsbad above all, just to mention one)

August 27, 2017
6 / 10
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regripped

Aviara has a lot of reasons for praise. The back nine has a great stretch of holes featuring several lakes, rolling topography, a double green (at a resort course nonetheless!), two par 3s that might be the best in Southern California and a 18th hole that is one of the best in the state.

That being said, Arnie was in full 90s bulldozer mode with this course, creating humps and bowls around greens that make no sense architecturally other than a pure ornamental features. The front side has a little less sizzle but picks up at the 8th hole. You are puzzled why there are so many bunkers divorced from greens and other than some of these features "looking cool", you wonder what could have been with this course.

Still though, the conditioning is top notch, the course is fun and challenging and this is definitely in the upper tier of SoCal courses. It has its flaws but what doesn't except for the Top 100?

February 13, 2017
6 / 10
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Max Monroe
It is an Arnold Palmer design in a super nice part of the world that is all. Not a real good design or layout. It is like many of the newer courses in Southern Cal, resort course, good yes, nice yes, difficult yes but lacking character, creativity, options, it blends in with all of the other courses. It doesn't stand out and it should stand out for what they are charging to play it. 18th hole is a disgrace, the club clearly ran out of room and squeezed in a "shorty tight" 90 degree right with a signature big ol' water display (Lake and maybe a water fall can't remember). Side note - In today's golf design world the theory is this; when in doubt throw in a water hazard and people will most likely think it is a great and important hole because there is water. This needs to change and it is with the design likes of Doak and Hanse. The King has been known for his un-king like golf course creations. I will say Bay Hill's 16,17,& 18 are awesome but that is about as good a King design as you will ever get in the USA. His best work is in Ireland and with that God gave him the setting and terrain...
February 09, 2009
4 / 10
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Emil Weber
February 09, 2009
I don't really know how to relate this review. You're totally right with the design lacking options and Doak and Hanse designs being much more interesting. And yes, the huge lake (an the waterfall) were probably thrown in because of not enough space. But I completely have to disagree with your statement that aviara is like any other course in southern cal.. It's artificial- but it's beatiful. It simply feels like playing in paradise!
jud T
May 16, 2009
i agree completely, except i think you gave it 1 too many stars! we own a time share there and i now refuse to play the course. Palmer is famous for phoning it in-he essentially sells his name to the club. A horrible piece of property for a golf course to begin with, and clearly not enough of it. If you like green grass, flowers, waterfalls, and lemon scentedcold towels and fresh baked cookies at the finish, this is the place for you. If you want strategic golf that's fun and challenging for all abilities, head to Barona Creek resort.
Scott
August 27, 2013
Peak of perfection, flowers, waterfall features, impeccably groomed, includes morning snacks, showers, AAAA service by all personnel, a diamond in the rough.
Emil Weber
As a european I am normally a fan of natural courses, especcially the links of the British Isles. But that morning I played at Aviara was so magic that I have to make an exception. It felt like playing in paradise!. I would like to give it 5 and a half stars but in the end it's "just" a paradise built by men.
December 07, 2008
8 / 10
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max
Aviara is the ultimate resort course. The Palmer design is complete with unparalled beauty, relaxing surroundings, impeccable service (after all, it is a Four Seasons) and most importantly, a great layout. If only the greens fees didnt require a mortgage!
January 22, 2008
8 / 10
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John McPheson
A beautiful and fun course to play.
May 02, 2007
8 / 10
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