Changing course

Woods Valley Golf Club has undergone significant improvements as well as name change.

San Diego County track gets a new name, along with major improvements

The start of a new year often brings new beginnings, and that couldn’t be more true for one golf course in northeast San Diego County.

On January 1, Woods Valley Golf Club will be re-named Native Oaks Golf Club, and that’s not the only notable change for the daily-fee track in Valley Center that has been popular among San Diego golfers since it first opened in 2004.

OB Sports was selected to manage Native Oaks in November 2019 on behalf of its owners, the San Pasqual Economic Development Commission, and the experienced company has already started to make noticeable improvements.

---

---

“Our joint mission is to provide the highest standard in golf course conditioning, service and a community gathering place at Shawii Kitchen for years and years to come,” said Kimberly Davey, a Regional Sales and Marketing Director for OB Sports.

The club has a new general manager in Eric Julian, a new head golf professional in John Gray and a new superintendent in David Vastola. All three are golf-course industry veterans, and their resumes include experience at Monarch Beach Golf Resort, La Costa Resort and Los Angeles Country Club. 

Significant improvements have been made to golf course maintenance and conditioning, while cart paths and bridges throughout the course have been refurbished. Returning golfers will also notice an overall “facelift” to the golf shop, restaurant and outdoor dining area.

While food and beverage options were limited in years past, the course now has a full kitchen offering an expanded menu with items such as a Cobb salad, an Ortega french dip, a turkey-avocado-bacon wrap, weekly sandwich specials and much more. The restaurant is aptly named “Shawii Kitchen,” after the sacred corn paste of the Kuumeyaay people, made from acorns of native oaks. 

Guests can expect more frequent events such as the recent “Haut-o-ween” tournament and dinner, which featured an 18-hole scramble/shamble as well as a costume contest, pumpkin carving, Halloween-themed drinks and a glow-in-the-dark putting contest. 

Frequent visitors will be excited about the new Native Oaks Players Card, which offers incredible benefits for a $99 annual fee. Cardholders receive 25-35 percent off greens fees, a five-day advance reservation window, discounts in the golf shop and restaurant, preferred rates at other OB Sports-managed facilities and more. 

---

---

Aside from everything that’s new, Native Oaks remains a great place to play for golfers of all abilities. Less than 40 miles from San Diego and less than 30 miles from Carlsbad and Temecula, the 6,707-yard routing is also a favorite of guests at three nearby tribal casinos.

Among the most memorable holes are the seventh, a short 327-yard par-4 with a right-to-left dogleg and a big risk-reward proposition, and the par-3 13th, a picturesque hole that plays 154 yards over tall natural grasses into a small green framed by oak trees.

“The contrast between the fun, ranch-style front nine and the beautiful, oak-lined back nine gives the golfer a distinct change of scenery during the round,” said Julian, the general manager. “Native Oaks Golf Club is one of the best-kept secrets within San Diego County. With a few elevated tees and a great mix of long and short par fours allowing for risk-reward options, Native Oaks gives a player plenty of variety without being unfair.”

---

CLICK HERE to book a tee time at Native Oaks Golf Club, formerly Woods Valley.

---

If you make a purchase through this link, SoCal Golf Insider may earn a small commission – at no additional cost to you – that goes toward supporting and maintaining this site.

---

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

This Inland Empire golf course has earned its stellar reputation

Nighttime venue at Indian Wells adds a spark to golf in SoCal

A look at one of SoCal's most acclaimed and challenging courses