We played on 8/30 and found the previously submitted review from 8/14 quite accurate. My playing partner would have quit after just a few holes if we hadn't gone out together. There were not many go... Continue »

We played on 8/30 and found the previously submitted review from 8/14 quite accurate. My playing partner would have quit after just a few holes if we hadn't gone out together. There were not many golfers playing the course on a Saturday morning at 8:30 AM, and when we finished the parking lot seemed largely empty.

We found many fairways and roughs so dry and bumpy they were uncomfortably to navigate in an electric cart. The bare lays in front of many of greens proved very difficult.

I have since learned that there are community discussions concerning the sale of part to this course to offset revenue losses and the accute water shortages.

I grew up in Hidden Meadows... I played with my dad (now passed) as a kid here many times. Used to go out and play around on the fairways after hours. Went here after being away and living in the ba... Continue »

I grew up in Hidden Meadows... I played with my dad (now passed) as a kid here many times. Used to go out and play around on the fairways after hours. Went here after being away and living in the bay area for 8 years and not seeing the course for well over 10. 4 words.... what the f$&@ happened??? There were about 7 greens in good condition. Everything else was torn up... I mean everything. I think the kicker was stepping in dog $h!t on the 11th then having my ball literally land in a pile after the next hit. So that's basically the course description.... dog $h!t. So disappointed I went into borderline depression from the experience. I will say it is a drought year and they are working hard on getting it back... I've never seen a course in sadder condition than this one.

Played very early (0545) on Saturday, 28 Jun. Had to wait for fog to clear somewhat so played first three holes essentially blind at each shot. I was pretty disappointed with this course. They are ... Continue »

Played very early (0545) on Saturday, 28 Jun. Had to wait for fog to clear somewhat so played first three holes essentially blind at each shot. I was pretty disappointed with this course. They are trying very hard to make it better, but there is still a significant amount of work to be done. The tee boxes are mostly level, but some have only recently been laid with new sod so they are still bumpy and a few were still soaking wet. The fairways were by far the worst part of the course. Mostly bare, dry and brown; they are all in desperate need of some water. On several hole they have tilled the edges so there in effect is not any rough at all, just fresh dirt/mud. The greens are severly damaged with ball marks everywhere! (I grew up learning the rule "repair your mark and two others on every green", but I did not want to hold up play). I booked the tee time through ActiveGolf.com for $39 and I would say this course is not worth that price, at least until they finish the maintenance they are doing. Until then, play somewhere else.

This course has been let go to become a really bad golf course. It is very dry and not well-kept at all. The fairways were often thin to just dirt. The greens were dry but slow. It appears that no ... Continue »

This course has been let go to become a really bad golf course. It is very dry and not well-kept at all. The fairways were often thin to just dirt. The greens were dry but slow. It appears that no one is taking care of it. I had been there some years ago and found it to be a fairly decent course, so I treated some friends to a round. Boy, was I embarassed! We all agreed that Meadow Lake is the worst course we've ever played ! Will not return there any time soon.

THE GOLF COURSE STAFF WAS COURTEOUS AND PROFESSIONAL AND THE SNACK BAR STAFF WAS AS WELL. THE COURSE IS IN TERRIBLE CONDITION. THERE HASN'T BEEN WATER ON THE FAIRWAYS IN DAYS. WE SAW THREE MAINTENANCE... Continue »

THE GOLF COURSE STAFF WAS COURTEOUS AND PROFESSIONAL AND THE SNACK BAR STAFF WAS AS WELL. THE COURSE IS IN TERRIBLE CONDITION. THERE HASN'T BEEN WATER ON THE FAIRWAYS IN DAYS. WE SAW THREE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE AND ONE WAS EDGING THE CART PATH!

Played here for the first time this year and I WILL NOT BE BACK! Played with two locals and they said there is a major problem with the sprinkler system on the fairways, it's not working therefore the... Continue »

Played here for the first time this year and I WILL NOT BE BACK! Played with two locals and they said there is a major problem with the sprinkler system on the fairways, it's not working therefore the fairways are TERRIBLE! The fairways are brown, thin, void of grass. Sand traps are also TERRIBLE, no sand! Greens are in good condition, that's the only positive comment I can make! Enough said!

1st time playing this course on 4/20. I purchased a 4 person time slot online (paying only the $1.99 booking fee). Paid balance at the course ($140+) for 4 players. Reason I mention this??? My son... Continue »

1st time playing this course on 4/20. I purchased a 4 person time slot online (paying only the $1.99 booking fee). Paid balance at the course ($140+) for 4 players. Reason I mention this??? My son's friend didn't show so we tried to get a refund for the one player that couldn't make it due to a work emergency. Guy at the desk said No because I paid online. Ummmm Excuse Me!!! I paid at the counter. So morning started off a bit of a bummer. No Cart Girl so you have to get your snacks there in the Pro Shop. Carts are a little worn (brake on ours just didn't want to work). Tee boxes were mostly level, and not too terribly marked up. Fairways were somewhat thin with divot damage. I don't know why folks can't put some seed mix in there divots. >:( Many Many blind holes on this course. Really need to take care to ensure group ahead of you isn't within shooting range, and how to plan your shot whether it be to play it safe and lay up or go for it. Houses are a factor on several holes. Hole 16 you encounter a set of BOULDERS right in front of you, so that was a neat little mind trip. :) No major water hazards. Bunkers were somewhat adequate...typical hardpack wet sand, if at all. Okay...some plusses...Greens were AMAZING! Zero ball marks, ran medium fast to fast with many subtle changes creating challenges. Pace of play was great (even after a twosome was tossed in front of us at the turn). Overall, this course is an 'old' gem in the SoCal (North County) region. With the poor start of the day in the Pro Shop, (i.e. lesson learned on my part and probably a fopah as well), but with zero understanding of the Pro Shop guy, I'll probably not play this course again, as I can play other courses in much better shape, at an equivalent price in the area.

Played Meadow Lake 2/16/2013, for $43 per player. This was the right rate to pay. The course is in fair winter shape but there was no beverage cart, they were starting groups off 20 minutes late and i... Continue »

Played Meadow Lake 2/16/2013, for $43 per player. This was the right rate to pay. The course is in fair winter shape but there was no beverage cart, they were starting groups off 20 minutes late and it ended up being over a 5 hour round after teeing off. The layout is nice with a lot of great views. I would probably play it again but not if they increase the rate, that being said, I would also pay more if they improve conditions, provide a beverage cart and get my group in and out of there within 4 1/4 hours.

Played out there this morning. My high-handicapper buddies wanted to play a scenic and fun course (yet cheap), so I figured this was a good choice since it's not long and has an interesting layout. Tu... Continue »

Played out there this morning. My high-handicapper buddies wanted to play a scenic and fun course (yet cheap), so I figured this was a good choice since it's not long and has an interesting layout. Turned out to be a little too tight for him with OB on most holes, but it's still a fun layout. A few holes that are a bit too funky, but not a bad target golf course for the money. And the scenery around there is nice, especially from the elevated par-3 4th tee boxes. There weren't too many people out there this morning, so our group enjoyed a nice relaxed pace as we hacked our way around.

Unfortunately, the course is in rough shape right now. The greens were pretty decent. They were the highlight condition-wise, though they were running slower than I would prefer. Still they were soft on approaches and smooth on the putts, so I can't complain too much. The fairways were very bad with mostly dry and/or hardpan surfaces. The rough was almost non-existent. Seemed to be more dirt gopher mounds than grass once you got off the fairway. The tee boxes were solid, mostly level with good surfaces to hit from. Par-3 tees weren't too chewed up. Bunkers had very little sand, so mostly just hard-packed dirt from what I saw.

There is one small pond on the course that hardly resembles a "Lake" and with the hilly Escondido terrain and trees it definitely doesn't look like any "Meadow" I've ever seen, so I am not sure where the name of this course comes from. I know this point is extraneous to the review, but it's something that has crossed my mind both times I've played this course.

Meadow Lake Golf Club Review
Escondido California Golf Course Reviews