South at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course

It was a nice course with great ocean views, but unfortunately while we were there they had shut down a couple holes for US Open renovations. I’d love to play it again when it’s complete.

Before playing Torrey Pines, I was warned that it is "underwhelming, wasn't worth the money, and that I should play the North course or simply somewhere else." Well I can say now after having played the South course, that I absolutely loved it! I paid $122 which is twilight on a weekday and for a PGA Tour course, it was worth the money.

The views were outstanding. Even on a cloudy day, it was pretty cool to just look out into the Pacific over the magnificent cliffs.

The history of watching Tiger here over the years and then playing those same holes was really cool. I played with a friend who lives locally and makes Torrey his home course and he pointed out many areas where shots that you or I wouldve seen over the years were taken.

It was the fall so conditions weren't the typical overseed like during the Farmers Insurance Open. It had some rough patches around but it didn't really take away from the round. What stood out was how well-maintained the tee boxes and greens were the last week in September. All around, a great day. And don't forget to stop in the pro shop, its massive and has everything!

This is a very good course and enjoyable to play. The setting is beautiful (not like Pebble Beach or Punta Espada, but still gorgeous on high cliffs with the Pacific ocean as far as you can see on most of the holes). The golf holes are good to very good, just not as great as the best courses. There are a few standout holes but mostly it is a good collection of fine golf holes with nothing spectacular. They play up and down with good fairway movement and good greens. The course is not a killer like Bethpage Black as they keep the rough much lower for regular play (at least when I played). The hole corridors are wide so you can hit driver many times. The bunkers are numerous and deep. Overall it was a good experience and enjoyable round.

Went to visit my sister who moved to San Diego and had to play the course. I was a single and walking up was super easy... barely waited. The course has some great views and is well maintained. Some really demanding holes that asks a lot of the golfer to keep it in the fairway. That rough is truly brutal. It’s a true muni and has a starter window like a bank teller. The course was a little pricey for an out of towner, but I can’t complain because I get to pay New York Rates for bethpage black. Definitely going to play it again.

This will probably be the best golf course you will ever play. Great conditions, awesome views, and of course a U.S. Open course. A must play course.

I don't usually double up reviewing courses, but it's been 4 years since I first played the South Course and thought it was a good time for a follow up.

This was one of the first really nice courses I played in the country, so of course I gave it 5 stars the first time around. Having played at several other great courses since then, I think 4 stars is right since there are no halvsies here.

The South Course is difficult. The fairways are narrow, and the rough is sticky (and a little wet both times I've played). If you aren't driving the ball well... you're in for a long day. The greens are no picnic either, but they roll incredibly true and are some my favorite greens I've ever played on. For some reason they just agree with me.

The layout of the course is pretty good. There are hazards place relatively strategically to influence your shot selection. In theory this is great, but because it's such a long course, the average hitter probably has little choice but to hit driver on most holes and take on the risk of the hazards. Otherwise, reaching greens in two would not be feasible. The real point would be, the course is more interesting if you play from the tees that fit your game. Hole 3 is obviously a classic. Number 2 is a fun risk/reward par 4, and one of the few shorter par 4s on the course. My favorite holes are 6 and 7. Six is a sweeping par 5 that forces a decision off the tee. Layup short of the bunkers, play a fade around the bend, or try to blast it right over the bend! Seven is a tough par 4 up the hill. A bunker guards the left side off the tee, but trees guard the right. The green is elevated and depending on the pin position you can be totally blocked off from the right side of the fairway. Very cool hole.

The back 9 stretch of 13-15 is also quite nice with a little variety thrown in on a course otherwise demanding of long, straight drives.

This course is an absolute classic, and for good reason. It's challenging both by layout and environment. The wind will blow and it will hurt! There are a few holes with incredible views... mainly holes 3 and 4. If you're just looking for views, I suggest the North Course. South Course is (slightly) superior golf though.

Final notes:
- since i first played, you can now book online 5 days in advance (even out of state). i was able to book a saturday morning time on friday evening!
- if you are able, walk! the course is more fun to take in on foot and it's almost guaranteed to be a near 5 hour round anyway.

Torrey Pines is a muni golf course at a resort price. I was disappointed that cart was not included in the price and no one bothered to tell us that. The cart was the bare minimum. No coolers and no GPS.
The layout was ok, but certainly enhanced by the scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. I thought the course was in fantastic condition. The outside staff was unimpressive and showed a lack of interest in the golfers. No one was present to help with clubs or clean them following the round.

Top line: expensive course with sub-par muni conditions

I, like most golfers, had the Torrey Pines as a ‘must play’ on my list. While I don’t regret playing it again, you need to lower your expectations for the conditions. If you are playing $200+ for a round of golf, one would expect for there not to be standing water in bunkers and tee boxes that were dirt patches... The layout was very cool that required lots of different shots, and the views were the absolute best.

Bottom line: while it was fun to play the course the Pros play, poor conditions made it less fun

Took advantage of an early teetime being available after Super Bowl Sunday and a poor weather forecast which probably persuaded some pre-booked players to cancel! Being from the UK a spot of wind and rain doesn't phase me and as it turned out the weather was very benign. This was fortunate because even playing of the Green tee, 6,600 yards the coures plays really long, and that's when you're hitting from the short stuff! Never hit some many 200yd approach shots. That said the ball sits up on perfect fairways which helps. First cut of semi is fine but stray into the proper rough and you've no chance of moving the ball far enough.

Greens were perfect although my playing partners (locals who know the course) said they were a bit slow! I'd watched plenty of the Pros playing the Farmers miss short puts and blaming the type of grass, powana? but for me they were excellent surfaces.

Green fees are high for non San Diego residents but I felt I got value for money in playing a US Open venue (quite well) and am looking forward to seeing the course on TV again so I can regale my friends with where I hit my shots relative to where the pros are!!

I haven't been to Bethpage yet, so it's safe to say this is the best muni I've played in the U.S. What a fabulous 36-hole, nothing-but-golf setting overlooking the ocean the whole way. The clubhouse ain't much, but the first hole, headed straight towards the ocean, revs you up for what you know will be a thrilling round. The front nine wastes no time getting you out towards the coast. The par-3 3rd is marvelous with an infinity backdrop and the 4th is a long par-4 with nothing but a steep drop off between you and the waves.

The back nine is really interesting too. The par-5 13th and its intimidating bunkers simply ate my lunch, but I managed to finish pretty strong down the stretch to salvage a respectable round not too high above my handicap.

It's pretty tough to make any penalty strokes here. But I have to say, I can't believe they keep the rough this thick. It's been a wet winter in SD, and the Famers is just weeks away, so I get it. But man, given the fairways are pretty narrow, it's a constant easter egg hunt for groups spraying it a little bit. I'll say this: If you want the hack-and-wack U.S. Open experience, you've come to the right place. Greens were fast but not lightening, but in excellent shape. I'm told the rough tends to die a little bit in the warmer months. Frankly I think the layout is good enough to need to keep the rough that thick, but it's got a pro golf rep to uphold.

Pace was a little rough and we were behind a five-some, but the course didn't seem crazy busy (on a weekday). I couldn't help but notice that a pro golfer, John Rahm, was a few groups behind us. It was cart path only but I walked, paired up with two guys who rode. This wouldn't be a fun round in a cart w/cart-path only because if you're like me, you lose the line of your ball when it's in the rough when you have to walk across the fairway from the cart path.

Be sure to stop into the bar at the next door Lodge for a pint and lunch. It's a great cozy spot. (it was cold and rainy so no one was outside, but I'll bet it's a festive scene on a nice day).

$192 for an out-of-towner like me is pretty good compared to the rates at high-end courses like Aviara and Maderas, etc.

I traveled to Lajolla specially to play Torrey Pines and was not disappointed. I could only play the south side to north being closed due to renovations. Some of the most memorable holes I've ever played... #3 ,#4 #1, #5,and #17 are amazing. Course had some bare spots but tees and greens were flawless, that's what counts. Factor in golf history ,weather and culture and I was thrilled to be able to play. I stayed at Hilton on 18th fairway so that made experience more complete. Only drawback was no on site clubhouse for refreshments but The Lodge is right there. Pro shop is a huge department store with all ur Torrey needs. Will be back to do North!!

This place does live up to the hype. Great deal if you are a SD local a bit more if you are from out of town.

I now live in LA, I played the NORTH last year and I played the SOUTH yesterday. This course is a great one, It's a legendary course and the most famous design from William Bell and Son. You immediately step into history and local golf culture here, make sure to chat with as many employees and locals as possible, they are very friendly with some great knowledge of the place. The staff is on their "A" game anybody that says different on here probably has some personal issues that they are projecting onto their experience here...but don't we all do that from time to time. The course is't extremely intimidating visually. Don't get me wrong, some of the approach shots are scary with the bunker layouts and raised blind greens from your approach. Also the par 4s play really long, really tough to get on in 2 with a head wind. I play a lot of public courses in LA and the greens here are a million times faster, hard for me to get used to uphill putts. The rough was down according to the locals we played with, still there were areas around the greens where my ball would get buried in some rough and it was very hard to play that kinda shot to a raised green, partly because I'm not used to being in that kinda rough with such short touchy shot, I screwed up a few times in that situation. In the rough with a long shot I was able to play it off my back foot and advance it nicely. Reading the greens was like being on an acid trip. This William bell was a sick genius, you swear you have a uphill left to right putt just to find out it's very much downhill right to left. I don't think I'm a slow golfer as I'm usually right on the leading group's butt when playing, but here I guess we ended up a hole behind after the first few holes. A local playing behind us kinda let us know that he was a local that has played there for the last 30yrs and that we should pick up our pace(he kinda yelled at us)...which we did and he thanked us for it later. I totally respect any local golf culture that I'm walking into and I hate when duffers visit a famous track and play super slow while taking a bunch of videos and pics with their phones...show some class people!! And make sure to play Torrey! If you respect the course and don't get too greedy, you can post a decent score at a true test of a course. It's not that difficult to get a tee time if you do your research and you will experience the game where so many greats have walked.

It's good to play once a year or so if you live in San Diego but it's a busy golf course that can get beat up. Play it in the springtime before really heavy play hits. Looking forward to playing the revamped north

On my first trip to San Diego, Torrey Pines South was to be the "star" of the golf trip. Turned out to be a bust. We teed off on time at 12:10 pm and only barely finished at 6:00 pm. Spent virtually the entire day waiting to hit our next shot and we were walking. A group ahead were a hole and a half behind well before the turn. We thought we saw a ranger at one point, however, as soon as we neared him, he drove off without acknowledging us. Never saw another ranger; I realize it is a muni but at the prices out of towners pay, it should at least be a well-managed muni.

Weather-wise it was nice although foggy early. The layout was just OK; a few early holes along the coast were picturesque but the remaining holes (while well manicured) were not memorable.

I feel like I wasted a day of our trip playing this course and was cheated due to the cost. Got the feeling they are a muni coasting on their reputation. Won't happen again.

First, credit where credit is due: Torrey Pines is a historic golf Mecca, and the scenery is just about unmatched anywhere in the world.

But right now, the South course simply is not worth the $200+ greens fee commanded of out-of-towners.

The course was overseeded several weeks ago, and since then, maintenance appears to have been nonexistent. This is not an exaggeration: the fairways have not been mowed in weeks, and the bunkers have not been raked in perhaps that long. The greens are also still quite bumpy from having been punched, but I can almost live with that; after all, it has to be done. But on a course of this caliber, there is no excuse for not having raked a single bunker on the course. That's absurd.

I generally enjoyed the "vibe" of Torrey Pines (it felt like a municipal course, and usually in a good way...i.e., not intimidating, accessible), and I'm glad that I can check this one off my list. But I would not go back unless I were sure that maintenance had improved.

I'm rating it four stars because the scenery is unparalleled, and that's true no matter how shaggy the fairways get. But if this were another golf course, the course conditions would drag the rating down to three stars or fewer.

If you're a local, go have a blast. It's $40. Big whoop. But if you're an out-of-towner, wait until after the Farmers tournament next year so that you're assured the course has its game fact back on. Right now, it just doesn't.

Last weeks round at Torrey was the highlight of my trip. The greens fees are reasonable compared to other top courses. The staff was extremely polite and helpful. The facilities were beautiful and the course conditions were pristine. I cannot wait to play this course again.

I know that it's a municipal golf course, but with such an exquisite location, it's hard to pass up, even for the out-of-town prices. The back 9 is very tough, especially when the ball doesn't carry because of the damp air. All the golf course you want.

I played here with 3 other locals who made this round very enjoyable. Their local knowledge really bailed me out of some trouble. We played from the blue tees for time reasons but I would have preferred to hit from the whites since it was my first time here.
As for the prices, you certainly get what you pay for here, no complaints on my part. The views are incredible of course. I just kept it under a 90 so I was really happy.