Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa

Played today front side was cart path only(fine) but there were 4-5 greens completely covered in sand for punching. Course wasn’t discounted, next time will take our business to maderas or somewhere else.

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!

Played this track back in June when the place was immaculate. I expected Aviara a little worse related to conditions and was fairly pleased. Tee to green looks pretty good. It's not spring conditions but its pretty impressive for August in SoCal. The fairways were great and the rough was on the light side. The greens were great. A little slow for me but rolled true.

Not sure if its worth the full price of admission right now but its pretty close. However, if you are looking to get your best bang for your buck, play this place in May/June when the conditions and greens are the best SoCal golf has to offer. You will not be disappointed!

Great staff and service. One minor problem I have...the golf carts are below average. Not something you expect when paying $$$

If you want to pay premium level course prices for fair at best course conditions to get the views go for it. If not way over priced for the conditions. With no views that couse would cost $20 less than the price of a cart. I dont get how the PGA use that course.

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.

Played this course as a tune up for the South the next day. The course is definitely easier and more walkable than the South. That being said, it was still a fun test of golf. The fairways are wider but still demands a good tee shot. You will pay if you’re in the rough on some holes. I enjoyed the routing and again like the South, this course had fantastic views. If I had to compare I think Bethpage Black beats south for the best and most challenging truly public courses to host an open. I’d give the nod to North over bethpage Red for the younger sibling courses.

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.

Really enjoyed this course. It can be fair from White tees and challenging from Blue tees. Greens roll very true. It played firm and fast but very fair. Staff are very nice and the food is pretty good, but I am a picky eater.

Much easier than the south course, with less bunkers and not as long. It could be argued that the north is more scenic than the south, with spectacular ocean and canyon views. Conditions a little worse than the south, but still very good.

Very fun course. Great condition and fast greens. Used Golf Now and saved some cash.

Second time playing Aviara and I think I liked it even more the second time around. It is a step up from nearby La Costa (and that's reflected in the green fee - tough to get a really good deal here). The service and landscaping is off the charts. The course is playable and interesting. I had a great round going until the 18th tee and couldn't get a ball in play. The 10th hole is a little goofy but play it conservatively as a three-shot par 5 and you'll be fine. Gorgeous scenery with elevated tees and tricky greens. All-in-all it's first-class, including the locker rooms and dining room.

Rode the Blues (6591/72.5/135) in 4H, 15M, matched up with 3 nice guys twilight. The weather was overcast, breezy and in the 70's.

A rare Palmer design near the coast. This layout contains many of the things I like about courses. Some forced carries but nothing outrageous. Challenging w/o being ridiculous. Constantly up/down rolling hills, HUGE green complexes, numerous well placed, beautiful plants/water features and many strategically placed large bunkers. The entire course is still in excellent playing condition after recently hosting the LPGA Kia Classic.

The tees were mostly lush with few unfixed divots.

The fairways were mostly lush and well maintained.

The rough was lush and just tall enough that the ball usually say down.

The sand traps were excellent. Nicely maintained with good quality sand.

The huge Poa greens were smooth and putted medium speed. They were firm, even nice high shots released.

The customer service was top notch all around, they obviously place a priority on providing customer service here. Nice GPS and complementary bottled water provided on the carts. Ample water stations on the course. Definitely recommended.

For the money they charge, I would expect a course in better shape, ESPECIALLY on the last day of May. Tee boxes aren’t level, and several with missing grass. Fairways were punched, no notification of that... and they also wanted $170 for a mid week afternoon time. $33 got you 3 domestic beers, and an over priced, microwaved potatoe/egg breakfast burrito that was supposed to come with chorizo. Must’ve been an off day? I won’t be returning to find out. To put in a different perspective; Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach, CA charges $130 ($102 to NCGA members) for the same time, AND that course warrants the price tag.

This was my first time on the North Course at Torrey Pines. I was very curious to see what all the fuss was about after the recent redesign.

Right off the bat, you can tell this is a very different course from the South. While the fairways are still generally narrow, the rough seemed a little gentler. There seemed to be fewer hazards in play off the tee, which made tee shots much less strategic. In this sense, the North is more open than the South. On most holes you can hit away without much worry about whether you'll still have an approach shot.

However, the greens quite complex. Unfortunately, they were recently punched when I played, but you can still see how much more contour they have compared to the South (and it's not like the greens on South are flat!). Hole 8 in particular has a crazy green with a shelf on the left side and a deep thumbprint on the right side. A perfect compliment to a shorter par 4.

I found the back 9 to be very enjoyable. The almost driveable 11th and the very nice par 3 12th are fun holes. 14-17 were my favorites though. 14 you hit a semi-blind tee shot up a chute framed by tall pines towards the ocean, a very cool site. 15 is a stunning downhill par 3 with a great view of the ocean and of #4 green on the south course. 16 boasts a dramatic tee shot from an elevated box with the ocean all along the left. When you reach 16 green, you are totally isolated from everything with no other holes in sight. This is a very cool and unusual feeling because most of the two courses are tightly confined. 17 offers you one last beautiful tee shot over a canyon that extends along the left hand side. Very enjoyable hole.

Overall, I don't think the North Course is quiet a challenging as the South, or as strategically interesting. However, I think it wins hands down for scenery and fun. There are many holes where you can see the ocean and many others where canyons are visible. Add those to the areas the course has left sandy and let the brush grow up and you get a beautiful scene and one quite different from the South Course that is mainly green.

I think this course is very worth your time and a better value for the price than South. Personally, I'd still pick the South Course if I could only play one, but the North Course is a fantastic option that is cheaper, prettier, and more fun for the average golfer.

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.

A course worth playing, although expense. The Kia LPGA tournament is there next week so conditions were excellent. Staff is friendly, starter's joke not very funny though. Better course than Torrey Pines, but you cannot see the ocean