Temecula golf trip itinerary: three days with three to five rounds

A Temecula golf trip itinerary for three days works best with the room secured first, Journey at Pechanga on the best-planned day, and one winery afternoon with a driver. Three rounds is easy, four is a good stretch, and five needs two rounds on one day and a base close to the courses.

Drive times are from Old Town Temecula (Front St at Main St) in the atlas. Fees are what we saw, with dates, and change.

Quick facts

• Closest courses to Old Town: Temecula Creek Inn 5 min, Legends 8, Journey 10, Redhawk 10, Golf Club at Rancho California 11.
• Journey: $215 public, $175 hotel guest; seven-day booking window.
• Best season: spring and fall.
• Wine: afternoon, with a driver, tour or ride service.
• Cheapest nights: Sunday to Thursday.

The three-round plan

Round fees seen: the Legends $58.99 prepaid on an October weekday morning, Journey $175 at the hotel-guest rate, Redhawk $80 for an afternoon slot with cart. That totals about $314 a player in green fees. At the $215 public Journey rate it is about $354. Hotel, food and wine are on top.

The four-round plan

Add the Golf Club at Rancho California on Day 1 morning if you land early, or on Day 3 as a second round. It is 11 minutes from Old Town; GolfNow prepaid slots ran $41.99 to $81.99 with cart. Taking the $42.99 slot as an example, the four-round total comes to about $357. See the Golf Club at Rancho California guide.

The five-round plan

Add Temecula Creek Inn on Day 3, five minutes from Old Town: three nines, so check which two you are booked on. A current rate sheet was not found, and one undated listing gives $35 to $95. Or add California Oaks in Murrieta (13 min) for a $40 weekday round, which ends 18-hole play at 4:15pm. With California Oaks the total is about $397. Five rounds in three days is only sensible if two rounds happen on one day, and it works poorly in winter when sunset is before 5:35pm.

Booking order

1. Book the room. It sets the Journey price and controls the weekend.
2. Book Journey as soon as the seven-day window opens (tee times 7am to 3pm).
3. Book Redhawk and Rancho California via GolfNow; prepaid slots are non-refundable at Redhawk and refundable only with 24 hours' notice at Rancho California.
4. Reserve the tasting and the driver.
5. Leave one round unbooked for weather or wind.

Where to stay for this plan

See where to stay in Temecula for golf and Temecula golf resorts.

Wine on the plan

Put tasting after golf, not before. Dozens of wineries line Rancho California Rd and De Portola Rd, and weekends are busy from April to October. A tour van, designated driver or ride service is standard. Our Temecula golf and wine trip guide has the order of the day, and things to do in Temecula has alternatives.

Rain, wind and short days

In winter, wet days can close courses and sunset is before 5:35pm. In fall, Santa Ana wind days can delay or close play. Keep Day 3 loose. See Temecula weather by month.

Variations

• With a larger group: see Temecula buddies golf trip.
• On a budget: see cheap golf in Temecula and Temecula golf trip cost.
• Coming from San Diego: see San Diego to Temecula golf.
• Adding Palm Springs: see Temecula vs Palm Springs golf.

For the bigger picture, read the Temecula golf trip overview.

Day by day, with times

Day 1. Arrive by early afternoon. Check in, then play the Legends in the afternoon. Sunset in October is about 6:15pm and in April about 7:19pm, so an afternoon start works in either month. Dinner in Old Town.

Day 2. Journey in the morning. Resort tee times run 7am to 3pm. Afterward, a winery lunch and tasting with a driver. Dinner at Pechanga if you are staying there.

Day 3. Redhawk early, or Temecula Creek Inn if you are staying there. Check out and head for the airport or I-15. The airport drives are Ontario 65 minutes, San Diego 72, Palm Springs 90 and LAX 109. See closest airport to Temecula.

A winter version

In winter, sunset is around 4:42pm in December, so cut the plan to three rounds, start each by 9am and keep an indoor wine-room backup. Wet days can close courses. See Temecula golf in winter.

A summer version

In summer, start at first light and finish by late morning, and use the afternoon for the pool or tasting. Sunrise is 5:38am in June. See Temecula summer golf.

A couples version

Replace Day 3's round with a balloon flight or an Old Town morning. Keep one round per day, a winery lunch and one spa afternoon at a wine-country inn. The wine-country stays are South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Ponte Vineyard Inn and The Inn at Europa Village. The Inn at Europa Village is small, at about 10 or 11 rooms, so book early.

Choosing between the 3, 4 and 5-round versions

All three work from a base within ten minutes of Old Town. If your base is farther, such as Fallbrook or Lake Elsinore, trim a round.

Courses by drive time

CrossCreek is the strongest layout missing from the three-day plan above, at 14 minutes. It has no current rates in our files, so check its booking page before you add it.

What to leave unbooked

Leave one slot free for weather, a Santa Ana wind day or a late wine afternoon. A group that books five prepaid rounds in a row has no flexibility.

Plan it on the map

Open the Temecula golf map to see your three days laid out against drive times. The $49 plan builds this itinerary for your dates, base and group size.