1. Bonita Golf Club
City: Bonita, CA
Category: Golf
Telephone: (619) 267-1103
Address: 5540 Sweetwater Road
Description: Most of the fairways are lined with trees at this South Bay course, which is scenic if you hit straight, but trouble if you hook or slice. It’s a fairly short par 71 course at 5,797 yards, so concentrate on accuracy rather than long drives. Watch out for water, too. The Sweetwater River meanders through six holes, and a large pond comes into play on another two. Bunkers are sparse, thankfully.The signature 13th hole presents a couple of choices, both of them doubtful. It’s a par 5 dogleg left that has both the river and a big pond to contend with. If your tee shot is too short, you just might have to lay up short of the river on your second shot. Conversely, if you blast your drive into the stratosphere, you’re likely to plunk it into the pond.Warm up on the driving range with both mat and grass tee stations, putting green, and chipping/sand practice area that are all set around a large clubhouse with a nice sports bar and restaurant. Greens fees are $26 Monday through Thursday, $27 Friday, and $38 on weekends. Carts are an additional $13 per person. Twilight golf is $19 during the week and $25 on weekends.
2. Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course
City: Bonita, CA
Category: Golf
Telephone: (619) 479-4141
Address: 4475 Bonita Road
Description: Former PGA star Billy Casper helped design this municipal course in the early 1960s. It’s short on trees and pretty flat, but don’t let the lack of scenery fool you. It’s a par 73 course that plays longer than its 6,186 yards. Only a few holes don’t have water to bedevil you, and the last three holes on the back nine are straight into the wind, which is usually strong in the afternoon.The par 4 6th is the toughest hole on the course. The wind comes in from the west and has a habit of knocking your drives down to a conveniently located bunker. Second shots demand a long iron or fairway wood to reach a skinny little green that has bunkers on both sides.A nice grass-tee driving range is on the grounds, as is a putting green and chipping/sand practice area. Greens fees are $25 on weekdays and $34 on weekends. Carts are $13 per person extra. Twilight fees are $16 during the week and $19 on weekends, cart not included. Chula Vista residents with an $8.00 annual ID card receive discounted greens fees.
3. Bonita Golf Center
City: Bonita, CA
Category: Golf
Telephone: (619) 426-2069
Address: 3631 Bonita Road
Description: Rent a bucket of balls and swing away on this lighted range that has 31 grass tees and 18 mat stations. The first 175 yards of the range have small target areas that are marked by flags for those accuracy shots. If you just want to swing away and see how far you can drive, distance markers are placed beyond the target areas.Next to the pro shop are a putting green and a large sand/chipping practice area. (Bring your own balls to use in this area.) If you bring your own balls, it’s $4.50 per hour to use the practice facilities, but if you rent a bucket, it’s free. Balls rent for $3.00 for a small bucket of 30, $5.00 for 60, and $6.00 for 100. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.
4. Sweetwater Regional Park
City: Bonita, CA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (858) 565-3600, (877) 563-3600
Address: 3218 Summit Meadow Road
Description: Sixty-one campsites accommodate tents, RVs, campers, and horse trailers. Several sites have horse corrals, and all have water and electricity. Horse trails galore are the main attraction here. Other amenities include restrooms, showers, barbecues, picnic tables, and a large group area.As with all county parks, reservations are accepted up to 12 weeks in advance. Rates are $25.00; for horses, add $2.00 to the fee. To get to the campground, take Bonita Road east until it becomes San Miguel Road, and turn left onto Summit Meadow Road.
5. The Bonita Store
City: Bonita, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (619) 479-3537
Address: 4014 Bonita Road
Description: If you’re searching for a restaurant with strong influences of Baja California and Mexico in the South Bay, look no further than The Bonita Store (also known as Rockin’ Baja Lobster). All the standard Mexican fare is served here, such as combination plates and a la carte tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, but the real treat is the bucket of Baja-style lobster for two. The bucket includes slipper lobster tails, shrimp, grilled chicken, and carne asada, plus Caesar salad, rice, beans, and tortillas. The atmosphere is partylike and casual. Everyone has fun at The Bonita Store. It’s open for lunch and dinner daily.