This is indeed where he stayed during the U.S. open, but my wife and I, without the least interest in golf, spent three lovely nights here and enjoyed it immensely. We came from Laguna Beach and the Montage, which is chiefly a spa and gets every last little detail right. The Lodge is not quite at that level, but our larger 600+ square foot room facing the golf course and ocean was of a different nature, a restored historic gem with period Craftsman/Stickley-style decor burnished to a high sheen. Consistent with another reviewer, we found the rooms a little dark but the effect is intimate, artful and consistent with the overall decor. Also, a fireplace and large terrace compensate by bringing in light. This is a fine jumping off point for the San Diego Zoo and Sea World (the latter shockingly commercial, not at all educational the way the Monterey Bay aquarium is). While we enjoyed dinner at the more formal restaurant, we found the resident Grill very good for breakfast outdoors and reasonably priced at that. No hotel in the region is truly on the beach, as the sand lies 100 feet or so below breathtaking rocky cliffs that are themselves a point of interest. But it is a short distance from the ocean and a nature preserve which is itself worth exploring.

We came to the Lodge to celebrate Easter while my sister was attending UCSD. Location was very convienent to the school. Room was very large with plush furnishings and a nice bathroom. Concierge was very helpful booking us a last minute Easter brunch. The pool was very nice however on the small side. There did not seem to be many pool attendents nearby which I thought was odd. Restuarants on property were very nice however overpriced considering all of the nearby restuarants. If you have a spare moment, sit in one of the rocking chairs in the lobby near the fireplace and chat. It is VERY relaxing and seemingly everything on your mind melts away. Thats one of the great things about this property- the views of the rolling greenery, the service, the woodsy feel- it just reminds you to slow down and remember the good things in life. Would stay here again for sure!

It's a beautiful building, and the grounds are perfect...but there are two basic problems with the Lodge. First, as other reviews have indicated, the guest rooms are dark. With every light on, including the reading lights above the bed, the room seems dreary. Don't get me wrong...it's a large room and very nice, but just dark. Second, the marine layer was in during our entire stay and the air conditioning just could not keep up with the humidity in the room. The linens seemed damp and it was impossible to dry my hair.

Some housekeeping issues...the wallpaper by the shower/tub was falling off and the handle to the shower/tub was loose.

Staff at the hotel friendly and efficient.

We were told that the Grill was voted the best casual restaurant in San Diego, and it's good, but cannot be the second best place in the area.

Side note....the golf starter in the little start house was rude and seemed to hate his job when asked questions on rates, tee times, etc.

Overall, very nice, and I would return.

I was lucky enough to go to the Lodge for work in early June. It's a beautiful hotel on a gorgeous property. The lobby is welcoming and well-appointed without feeling stuffy. Loved the fire in the fireplace and rocking chairs all around. The bar was a lot of fun. And I had excellent breakfasts on the porch. The private dining room for 12 of us one night was fantastic. The service across the entire property was outstanding.

My only complaint is that my room was in what could be called Siberia (if the hotel really had that) so my room was quite a walk from the lobby. But the space was lovely and I had my own little private porch to sit outside and read.

I would love to go back!!