San Diego’s municipal golf courses are experiencing a remarkable surge in player numbers, prompting the city to consider an advanced booking system for its Balboa and Mission Bay courses. This proposal mirrors the existing system at the renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course.
Tim Graham, the assistant deputy director of the city’s golf division, recently shared insights at a San Diego Municipal Golf Committee meeting, emphasizing the significant growth in golfing activity. The city ended the 2025 fiscal year on June 30, recording a total of 427,508 rounds played, exceeding last year’s figures by over 7,500.
This impressive increase in rounds translates into substantial financial gain for San Diego, which has reported a record revenue exceeding $41.4 million. Of this amount, $13.4 million is earmarked for essential capital projects at the golf courses. Graham highlighted the noteworthy achievement of these numbers, especially considering that public play was halted for an additional week to host the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in February, following the Los Angeles wildfires.
However, this influx of players has raised concerns regarding the accessibility of tee times at both Balboa Park and Mission Bay, which are becoming increasingly difficult to secure due to high demand. To address this challenge, the golf division is advocating for modifications to the existing advance reservation system.
The proposed changes include the introduction of a non-refundable advance booking fee of $10 per player, allowing reservations to be made between eight and 90 days in advance for both golf courses. Additionally, players would have the ability to book two tee times up to 90 days ahead. Reservations made within seven days of play would continue to remain free across all three city-operated courses.
Public member of the golf committee, Stephen Michael Shushan, voiced concerns that such a fee could serve primarily to generate revenue for the city, while increasing costs for golfers. He inquired whether a model similar to that used in Los Angeles could be adopted, where the booking fee is applied toward the cost of the round if the player ultimately shows up, making it non-refundable only in the event of cancellation.
Graham concluded his presentation by expressing confidence that the expansion of the advance reservation program would address various access issues raised by customers. He also assured attendees that the new fee structure would deter the use of automated computer programs or “bots” that have been used to secure tee times and subsequently resell them at a profit.
The presence of bots in the system has become a point of contention among the 41,000 golfers who hold city golf cards but find it challenging to book preferred tee times. Although the city has denied any bot activity, many experts within the golfing community, both locally and nationally, have expressed concern over the influence of such technology on access to tee times.
Currently, the city’s golf course reservation system is operated by foreUP; however, the contract with the company has expired, prompting the city to seek proposals for a new online booking system. It is worth noting that foreUP, alongside other experts, acknowledged the infiltration of bots in reservation systems. During the golf committee meeting, it was disclosed that a new software provider has been selected, although the announcement will come only after the City Council approves the contract.
In terms of future enhancements, several capital projects are in the pipeline for the city’s golf courses. A new restaurant at the Mission Bay course is expected to open in October, while plans are underway for major roof repairs and the reopening of the fire-damaged pro shop at Balboa. Torrey Pines is also set to receive a new clubhouse and maintenance facility, currently in the early stages of planning.
The Municipal Golf Course Committee meeting was led by Marty Block, a former state senator and assemblyman, whose committee serves an advisory role for the operations of the city’s golf courses. Discussions at the meeting spanned various topics, including turf management strategies for the courses.
Golf course manager Matty Reyes outlined a forthcoming initiative to implement a “point of sale” kiosk system, enabling players to check in digitally using an ID card that can be loaded into their mobile phones. Presently, the city issues plastic identification cards for $25 a year, required to qualify for the resident rate.
image source from：timesofsandiego
