Southland Focus

A weekly look at golf courses open to the public in Southern California.

Eagle Crest Golf Club

Address: 2492 Old Ranch Rd., Escondido

Green fees: $48-65, including cart

Tee times: Seven days in advance

Phone: (760) 737-9762

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The facility: A mile from the San Diego Wild Animal Park, Eagle Crest winds through a wildlife preserve in the San Pasqual Valley. The course opened five years ago but didn’t get much attention until the Cobblestone Group purchased it 1996 and made several upgrades. The clubhouse remodeling includes a 200-person capacity tournament pavilion that overlooks the 18th green. A satellite navigation system is attached to carts for distance to hazards and greens.

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The good: There are eight lakes and two waterfalls, including one on the signature sixth hole, a 518-yard par five. The fairways are smooth and the greens are moderately fast and true. Views of the mountains from the elevated tees make the tight fairways a little easier to bear.

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The bad: The course is not terribly long, 6,417 yards from the tips, but it is tight and often unforgiving. Conservative players who can hit long irons or three-wood off the tee will be rewarded.

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The score: No. 1, a 492-yard dogleg left, sets the tone for the rest of the day. The fairway looks wide open from the tee, but there is little margin for error on the second shot. A large tree comes into play on the approach. Par is an excellent score on this deceiving hole.

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Overall course rating: 3 balls.

* One ball: No-frills golf.

** Two balls: Worth an occasional round.

*** Three balls: Like shooting four strokes under your handicap.

**** Four balls: Where the golf gods play.

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Hole Back Tees Middle Tees Par Front Tees 1 492 467 5 394 2 374 362 4 282 3 368 345 4 266 4 349 310 4 256 5 160 137 3 109 6 518 492 5 422 7 197 180 3 139 8 371 347 4 267 9 364 344 4 290 Out 3,193 2,984 36 2,425 10 419 405 4 323 11 160 148 3 114 12 529 514 5 445 13 343 316 4 243 14 496 465 5 411 15 419 406 4 321 16 361 333 4 260 17 155 139 3 108 18 342 325 4 291 In 3,224 3,051 36 2,516 Total 6,417 6,035 72 4,941

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Rating/Slope: Black--71.6/136, Middle--69.3/125, Front--69.9/123