Sportswriter Tod Leonard's review of public golf courses in and around San Diego

On a scale of 1 - 10, Oaks North Golf Course scores a 9 in San Diego Union-Tribune Sportswriter Tod Leonard's review of public golf courses in and around San Diego. Only four courses rated 10.

The following is Leonard's review for Oaks North:

Oaks North Golf Course

9 out of 10.

Overview

In the view of many, this course, tucked away in the Rancho Bernardo surburbs, is the best of its kind in the county, because it has 27 tree-lined holes, is superbly maintained and has excellent greens.

Birdies

This is a great place for all skill levels, and seldom are beginners and kids afforded such a finely-turned course on which to learn. The consistency is so good here we’ve never seen it in even marginal condition. And because the greens are so good, it truly does mimick the better championship courses in the area. Large putting green and one practice green are very popular with locals.

Bogeys

The general-public prices are somewhat steep for an executive course, but Oaks North doesn’t seem to be hurting for players. Driving range is short and dropoff in the middle not good for gauging distance.

Favorite Hole

The fourth on the East Course is a 166-yard downhiller with a pretty pond to right and back with bunkers protecting on the left.

You can see Leonard's review of various courses by clicking here or on the link listed in the right hand column.

Zen Golf - another poem by Steve Tighe, our Poet Laureate

Zen Golf

A cloud shadow glides down the fairway,

Undulating over hills,

Smoothing the bunkers and green,

Sweeping away all other shadows.

My ball is propped up in short grass.

My mind is free of shadow.

I can see into the dimples on the ball.

Keep your head down.

Take it back slow.

The iron sweeps through the ball.

The sun breaks

From behind the cloud,

Lighting its edges.

The ball,

A bright white dot

Against green, then blue,

Arcs,

Drops,

Bounces,

Comes to rest.

--Steve Tighe

[Editor's note: We meet interesting people playing at Oaks North Golf Course. Readers will recall that golfer Steve Tighe wrote a wonderful poem about Dean Cooksy following his death. "Zen Golf" is another example of his talent. He wrote this poem in the 1980's, and it was published in a paper in Milwaukee called The Shepherd Express. He has a degree in Journalism from Marquette University and a graduate degree in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he also taught Creative Writing. He also edited the program guide for the local PBS stations and worked for Schlitz Brewing as a writer before it went downhill. He enjoys writing poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Steve was born and grew up in the Philadelphia area, but came to the Midwest to go to college and stayed there, except for two years in the Army, until he and his wife Patsy moved here three years ago to be near their daughter who works at the Wild Animal Park as a zookeeper for the big cats. He also wanted to play golf year-round in paradise.]