Of great help, though, are computerized yardage aids fixed to the carts and vocal encouragement by roaming rangers. The course is hilly and rolling and lies in extremely pretty country with mountains in the background bordering Mexico. In San Diego's North County, a tad south of Carlsbad, this is a thoroughly pampering course. Arnold Palmer-designed, and naturally endowed with meandering valleys and lushly flowered hills. Fairways are sleek, with lots of elevated tees.
Trouble is always clearly in sight, and there's a touch of humor early in the game.
Waiting to drive off the par-3 third, we wondered why the twosome ahead didn't move off the green. We hit anyway. Upon reaching the putting surface, we discovered the interlopers were statues. Aviara is a course to behold. At several holes, Aviara tiptoes carefully past the mirage-like Batiquitos Lagoon, home to more than 130 species of native and migrating birds.