Pauma Valley Country Club
Pauma Valley Country Club opened in 1960 and was Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s first original design in the state of California. The course is tucked away in the natural beauty of the foothills of Palomar Mountain, North County San Diego.
The course is rich in history. Shortly after opening, it became a destination for A-list celebrities, given its secluded and private nature. The course was frequently featured in the top 100 list by Golf Digest throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s and hosted a Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf event in 1963, featuring Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Mike Souchack. The event was originally intended to be held on one day, but the course proved to be too difficult, so it was decided that would play an additional day from a different set of tees. It is said that Arnold Palmer loved visiting so much that he wanted to purchase the club and rename it “Palmer Valley”, but the members objected to selling.
The golf course is challenging and is considered one of the toughest in California. The course rating from the tips is 75.7, which is 4.7 strokes over par, making it the highest course rating in the state of California that doesn’t host a US Open. The course only features one water hazard, which comes into play on the par 3, 3rd, and the par 4, 9th. Out of bounds seldom comes into play. The course is challenging because of its length and the large, undulating greens. It emphatically follows RTJ’s mantra of easy bogey, difficult par.
Many of the green complexes feature a “green within a green” and reward players who are more aggressive with their approach shots. Those that elect to play more conservatively into the middle of the green are faced with a challenging two putt.
At Pauma Valley, you will find some of the longest runway tee boxes in RTJ’s catalog, reaching 100 yards in length. The course also features many sand traps with Augusta white sand that are boldly shaped to intimidate the player. Given the natural elevation change on the back nine, signature holes can be found on the par 4, 10th, par 5, 11th, and par 4, 15th (pictured).
