Finding time for a round of golf on vacation usually means squeezing it in before breakfast or skipping it altogether. But what if you could tee off after dinner instead? Mission Bay Golf Course makes that possible — and staying nearby at Mission Bay RV Resort puts you close enough to make it part of your daily routine.
Mission Bay RV Resort sits along the shores of De Anza Cove, minutes from Pacific Beach, and its waterfront location means guests are just a short walkdrive from one of San Diego’s most unique recreational attractions. Whether you’re a golfer chasing an evening round or simply curious about the course locals have played for generations, here’s what makes Mission Bay Golf Course worth the trip.
A Brief History of Mission Bay Golf Course
Mission Bay Golf Course has been part of San Diego’s recreational landscape for more than 70 years, making it one of the city’s longest-standing public golf facilities. According to the City of San Diego’s official Golf Division Business Plan, Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center, designed by Ted Robinson, former President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, opened its gates on May 27, 1955 as a 9-hole course.
In the early 1960s, Robinson redesigned the property into the 18-hole executive course golfers play today, transforming it into a challenging yet approachable layout while maintaining its focus on accessibility.
The course has remained unique within the city’s municipal golf system ever since, thanks to both its executive layout and its status as San Diego’s only permanently night-lit golf course.
The City of San Diego took over daily operations of the course on November 8, 2003, launching a series of infrastructure upgrades intended to preserve the facility for future generations while keeping it accessible and affordable.
Today, the course is remembered as much for its role in golf history as for its evening lights — a legacy that gives visitors a deeper appreciation for why it’s remained a local favorite for decades.
What Makes Mission Bay Golf Course Unique
Most golfers plan their day around daylight, but Mission Bay Golf Course changes that equation entirely. It is the only golf course in San Diego with night lighting, and stadium-style lights allow golfers to play into the evening, giving vacationers and locals a rare after-dark option most cities simply don’t offer. It’s a distinct advantage for anyone whose beach days run long and golf plans get pushed to the evening.
Beyond the lighting, the course carries real pedigree. The 18-hole executive course measures 2,719 yards on 46 acres in the heart of the city, and it’s where Tiger Woods won a Junior World title, giving the course a bit of celebrated history alongside its evening playability.
Course Layout
Mission Bay Golf Course is designed to be approachable, which is part of why it’s such a popular stop for casual golfers and vacationing families. The par-58 executive course features four par-four holes and 14 par-three holes, making for a shorter, faster round than a traditional 18-hole course.
Practice Facilities
The facility also includes a driving range with grass and mat teeing areas, practice putting greens, sand traps, chipping greens, and a refreshment hut, and the starter booth offers club rentals, hand and power golf carts, golf balls, tees, gloves, and hats.
Tee Times
Course hours and lighting schedules can shift, so it’s worth checking before you plan an evening round. As of the most recent information available, night golf is currently suspended while a front nine lighting improvement project is underway, though the course remains open for daytime and early evening play.
Tee times normally run from 6:30 a.m. until about 90 minutes before sunset, weather permitting, and the practice range is open from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Confirming current hours directly with the course before your visit is the best way to avoid surprises.
Beyond Golf: Disc Golf at Mission Bay
Golf clubs aren’t the only way to enjoy this course. The course also hosts disc golf on the same 18-hole layout, played as a par-59 course with tees marked by orange squares embedded in the grass, and disc rentals are available at the starter booth. It’s an easy, low-cost way for non-golfers in your group to enjoy the same scenic layout without renting a full set of clubs.
This flexibility makes the course a good fit for mixed groups — some playing traditional golf, others trying disc golf for the first time. Since the course sits in the community of Pacific Beach, it’s an easy stop to pair with a beach day, whether your group splits up for a few hours or plays together start to finish.
Stay Close to the Course at Mission Bay RV Resort
Location matters when you’re trying to fit golf into a beach vacation, and this is where Mission Bay RV Resort’s positioning pays off. The resort’s North section sits near the Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center, making it easy to spend your morning on the water and your evening on the green without a long drive in between.
Guests can browse the resort’s site options and rates and book a waterfront campsite as their home base for golf, beach days, and everything in between.
Beyond proximity, the resort offers resort-style comforts that make a golf-and-beach trip easy to manage. Guests enjoy waterfront access, walking paths, outdoor recreation areas, restrooms with showers, laundry facilities, and curated activities, plus a pool, spa, and clubhouse.
As a bonus, guests can also use all the amenities of sister resort Campland on the Bay just across the bridge, adding dining, a marina, and watercraft rentals to the mix. Check the resort’s best RV rates page to plan your stay around a round of golf.
Plan Your Golf-and-Beach San Diego Trip
A trip built around Mission Bay Golf Course doesn’t have to mean choosing between golf and everything else San Diego offers. Staying at Mission Bay RV Resort lets you combine a round on this historic executive course — night lighting included, once it resumes — with beach days, waterfront walks, and family-friendly amenities all in the same trip. It’s a combination that’s hard to find anywhere else in the city.
Ready to plan your stay? Book your site through the Mission Bay RV Resort homepage, review the resort’s amenities, or look into an extended stay if you’re planning more than a weekend near the course. Your golf-and-beach San Diego getaway starts with the right home base.
FAQs
How old is Mission Bay Golf Course?
The course first opened on May 27, 1955 as a 9-hole facility, making it over 70 years old and one of San Diego’s longest-running public golf courses.
Who designed Mission Bay Golf Course?
The course was designed by Ted Robinson, who later served as president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, and he also led the redesign into the 18-hole executive layout in the early 1960s.
Is Mission Bay Golf Course really San Diego’s only night-lit course?
Yes — it is the only golf course in San Diego with night lighting, though night play is temporarily suspended while lighting improvements are completed.
How many holes does the course have, and what’s the layout?
The course is an 18-hole, par-58 executive layout with four par-four holes and 14 par-three holes, making it a shorter, faster round than a traditional course.
Can I rent clubs or a cart at the course?
Yes, the starter booth offers club rentals, hand and power golf carts, golf balls, tees, gloves, and hats.
Is disc golf available at Mission Bay Golf Course?
Yes, disc golf is played on the same 18-hole layout as a par-59 course, with disc rentals available at the starter booth.
How close is Mission Bay RV Resort to the golf course?
The resort’s North section sits near the Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center, making it a convenient base for combining golf with a waterfront stay. The golf course is within walking distance.