What was formerly the Champions course is now known, after a year-long refurbishment project, as the North Course. (The Legends course is now the South course.)

The gulf between the North and South... Continue »

What was formerly the Champions course is now known, after a year-long refurbishment project, as the North Course. (The Legends course is now the South course.)

The gulf between the North and South courses has never been wider. The North (formerly Champions) was always the better layout; but the South (formerly Legends) appears to have been largely ignored during the North's refurbishment. The South course now has--as far as I can tell--the worst bunkers of any course in San Diego County.

As for the North, there are few changes in hole alignments and lengths (mostly because of new tee boxes), some of the water features were replaced with scrub and sand, and some of the bunkers have been modified, added, or removed. But the sequencing and layout is largely the same. Anyone who plays the course will immediately recognize almost all of the holes.

The biggest change involves the green complexes. Most of the greens are now smaller. And many feature some very fun shapes, mounds, and slopes. Several have sharp fall-offs that--depending on pin placement--can make the greens much more challenging. The new green complex on the 5th and 7th holes were especially memorable. The 5th now sits in a bit of a valley. A huge mound either helps direct shots onto the green or deflects shots away from the green (depending upon your angle to the green). A quasi-punch bowl design. Very cool. The 7th green is now a volcano hole, changing what was once a pedestrian par-4 into one of the most interesting holes on the front 9. Holes 8 and 9 are also much different (and much better).

Course conditions are very good. The greens are firm, but running way too slow. Everything else is in fine shape.