The Golf Resorts at Torrey Pines

I lived in San Diego for 20 years and I can't believe this is the first time that I have played Torrey. Sure, it would have been nice to pay the unbelievably low resident rate, but I would happily pay the non-resident rate again if it meant I got to play another 18.

The weather was perfect (of course!), the turf was immaculate, and the views were spectacular! The greens were challenging and also in great shape.

My biggest complaint was the length of the rough. It was so long and thick that even if you saw where your ball landed, you *maybe* had a 50/50 chance of finding it. Even though I lost a dozen balls or so in this rough, I inadvertently found just as many.

Can't wait to play the south course!

Payed $25 as a Resident to play this course and it was in perfect shape. From tee to green everything was well kept and green. Only minuses were the tee boxes were moved up, rough was very long, and greens were very hard and fast. Amazing sunset and ocean views, course layout was very fun also. Course may be very expensive for visitors but very worth it on a beautiful day.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

It used to be you could play the North course and avoid a solid kick to the gunt like on the South. No mas. The new bent grass greens repel shots over 130yds unless struck with very precise contact and spin. You better play a tour ball as well. Green complexes were redesigned with a ton of movement and sometimes multiple tiers. Frustrating to hit a 160 yd 7 iron only to see it release off the back. But that's the new reality. Adjust your expectations and enjoy the views. Not a fan of the fact they removed so many trees....but the views are million dollar from most of the course. As mentioned, nines have been reversed. ...meh on that. Still one of the best deals anywhere for twilight. Get on it!

The redesign is epic, the front 9 is beautiful, but when you wind your way past the beautiful 14th, you get to the most beautiful hole in San Diego, 15 par 3 overlooking the ocean, with the beautiful pines. Just because it's not the tough south course, doesn't mean it's not tough. This course was super challenging, my short game and putting was great, other than that my second shot needs the most work. This is one very special golf course.

Worth every penny

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 played the North course the day after getting beat up on the South. As I mentioned in my South review, the rough is wet and thick at Torrey right now thanks to some heavy (and welcomed) winter rains. Suffice to say, I welcomed the fact it wasn't as tough. Tom Weiskopf led the renovation of the North, which plays right next to the South, and his aim was to provide something playable and fun. That said, it can still tip-out quite long and is still used in the first two rounds of the Farmers Open.

Weiskopf flipped the nines, and the best part of the course comes midway into the back nine. The par-4 14th hole plays downhill towards the coast, and the scenic par-3 15th tee shot is perhaps the most thrilling shot in property. But I really love the drive on the par-4 16th that plays uphill along the bluffs.

So where does it stack up among the best courses in San Diego? Based on the ones I've played, which is about a dozen, I think it's fringe Top 5 but closer to top 10. This course gets on average 80,000 rounds a year, so if you're prefer the more wide open fairways of high-end/resort courses, this isn't your horse. But from a scenery perspective, the North comes pretty close to the South, and playability wise, if you don't feel like getting beat up on the South, the North will be loads of fun.