With 90-plus courses, more than 50 of them open to the public, San Diego County offers golf enthusiasts innumerable opportunities to play their game. Courses are diverse: Some have vistas of the Pacific, others views of country hillsides or desert landscapes. I've listed the favorites below; for a full listing of area courses, including fees, stats, and complete scorecards, visit www.golfsd.com, or request the Golf Guide from the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau (tel. 619/236-1212; www.sandiego.org). In addition to the well-established courses listed below, other acclaimed, newer links include The Meadows Del Mar (tel. 858/792-6200; www.meadowsdelmar.com), Maderas Golf Club (tel. 858/726-4653; www.troongolf.com), Barona Creek (tel. 619/387-7018; www.barona.com), The Auld Course (tel. 619/482-4666; www.theauldcourse.com), and La Costa Resort and Spa.

San Diego Golf Reservations (tel. 800/905-0230 or 858/964-5980; http://SanDiegoGolf.com) can arrange tee times for you at San Diego's premiere golf courses. They will consult with you on the courses you are interested in. And when you just want to practice your swing, head to Stadium Golf Center, 2990 Murphy Canyon Rd., in Mission Valley (tel. 858/277-6667; www.stadiumgolfcenter.com). They're open daily from 7am to 10pm, with 72 artificial turf and natural grass hitting stations, plus greens and bunkers to practice your short game. A complete pro shop offers club rentals at $1 each (free for youths 17 and under); a bucket of balls costs $6 to $11. Golf instruction and clinics are also available.