How One Championship Helped Put Carlsbad on the National Map

For three decades, the best golfers in the world began their season in Carlsbad.

From 1969 through 1998, La Costa Resort hosted the prestigious Tournament of Champions, welcoming only PGA Tour winners from the previous season. It wasn’t simply another golf tournament—it was an exclusive gathering of champions that transformed Carlsbad into one of professional golf’s most recognizable destinations.

Every January, television cameras, sportswriters, celebrities, and golf fans descended on La Costa, introducing millions of viewers to the beauty of Southern California’s coastline.

A Championship Finds a New Home

The Tournament of Champions was created in 1953 as an invitation-only event for PGA Tour winners.

After several years in Las Vegas, the tournament found its permanent home at La Costa Country Club in Carlsbad beginning in 1969. The move coincided perfectly with the rapid rise of La Costa Resort as one of America’s premier luxury golf destinations.

From its very first year in Carlsbad, the tournament attracted the biggest names in golf, and La Costa quickly became synonymous with championship golf.

Only Winners Need Apply

Unlike most tournaments, there was no qualifying.

There were no Monday qualifiers.

Only golfers who had won a PGA Tour event during the previous season earned an invitation.

That meant every player in the field was already a proven champion.

Fans weren’t watching hopeful newcomers—they were watching the very best compete against one another.

Legends Walked These Fairways

Over the years, nearly every legendary golfer of the era competed at La Costa.

Among them were:

• Jack Nicklaus
• Arnold Palmer
• Gary Player
• Lee Trevino
• Tom Watson
• Johnny Miller
• Raymond Floyd
• Tom Kite
• Fred Couples
• Davis Love III
• Phil Mickelson

Many of these Hall of Famers lifted the tournament trophy in Carlsbad, helping cement La Costa’s place in PGA Tour history. Jack Nicklaus captured multiple Tournament of Champions victories at La Costa, while Gary Player won both the first Carlsbad edition in 1969 and again in 1978.

More Than a Golf Tournament

Players often described La Costa as one of their favorite stops on the PGA Tour.

Unlike many tournaments of the era, La Costa treated players and their families like honored guests.

Resort accommodations, restaurants, spas, swimming pools, shopping, and the relaxed Southern California lifestyle made tournament week feel more like a vacation than a business trip.

Davis Love III once remarked that La Costa was “where you wanted to be,” praising how the resort welcomed players’ families and made the opening event of the season something everyone looked forward to.

Carlsbad in the National Spotlight

Every January, network television carried images of La Costa across the country.

Viewers watched:

• Rolling fairways
• Palm-lined greens
• Mediterranean-style architecture
• Sunshine-filled skies
• Beautiful North County scenery

For many Americans, the Tournament of Champions became their first introduction to Carlsbad.

Long before social media or travel influencers, the PGA Tour showcased the city to millions of households.

A Legacy That Endures

After the 1998 tournament, the event moved to Kapalua, Maui, where it continues today as the PGA Tour’s season-opening champions event.

Although the Tournament of Champions left Carlsbad, La Costa’s reputation as a championship venue continued. The resort later hosted the World Golf Championships–Accenture Match Play Championship and today serves as the home of the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships following a major renovation of its North Course.

If These Fairways Could Talk…

If the fairways at La Costa could talk, they would remember the opening tee shots of each new PGA Tour season.

They would remember Jack Nicklaus chasing another victory.

Gary Player’s determination.

The cheers echoing across the course.

Families walking the fairways together.

And generations of young golf fans watching their heroes up close for the very first time.

For 30 remarkable years, Carlsbad wasn’t simply hosting a golf tournament—it was welcoming the champions of the game.

Cherimarie’s Reflection

One of my favorite things about Carlsbad is discovering how often our community has quietly played a major role in national history.

Most visitors know La Costa as a beautiful resort, but many don’t realize it once welcomed the greatest golfers in the world every single year. The Tournament of Champions helped introduce millions of people to Carlsbad and added another chapter to our city’s remarkable story.

Storytelling Moment

When someone asks why golf has such deep roots in Carlsbad, tell them this:

For thirty years, if you wanted to watch the very best golfers on Earth begin a new season, there was only one place to be—La Costa in Carlsbad.

Continue the Story

The Tournament of Champions is just one chapter in Carlsbad’s fascinating history. Join Carlsbad Food Tours to discover the stories behind our historic buildings, famous visitors, local restaurants, and the people who helped shape this remarkable coastal community.

Story ID: DC-127
Volume: Discover Carlsbad Library
Section: Old Hollywood & Celebrity Carlsbad → Golf History
Status: Completed