Mission Trails Golf Course, San Diego

First off, expect slow play at Mission Trails. For some unknown (and ungodly) reason, people play at a snail's pace here. The course itself is fine. It will test you every once in a while, but the level of difficulty found here shouldn't be a reason for a 5 to 6 hour round. With that said, Mission Trails has a number of redeeming features. The front nine is quite a bit shorter than the front. A set of cement culverts meanders through the first nine holes. Make sure to ask someone where to hit and where not to hit before you swing away. It makes a difference, believe me. The back nine is longer and slightly tighter than the front. You'll need to hit your driver well to take advantage of the holes. Also, I would suggest that you rent a cart as there are a few green-to-tee distances that will quickly wear you out. The course is often in decent condition considering the wear and tear it takes. The greens hold well and are often rather fast. The greens tend to be marked up a little more than you might find elsewhere, but the grounds crew does a pretty good job in keeping the greens in fair shape. The clubhouse is... well... it's a clubhouse. Not much more you can say about it than that. The driving range is so-so. There are enough mats and grass areas so that quite a few people can practice, otherwise it isn't anything to write home about. As far as great courses go, you could easily find something better in the San Diego area. But if you are heading out just to have a bit of fun and don't mind the inevitable slow play, Mission Trails is worth a shot.