How Can I Play Torrey Pines?

On the west coast of the US overlooking the Pacific and close to the Californian city of San Diego is Torrey Pines.

After opening in 1957, Torrey Pines now has such a stellar reputation that it is up there with some of the best public courses in the US. The land had been used for other notable reasons before it became a golf course, though.

In 1941 the site was known as Camp Callan - an anti-aircraft artillery replacement training centre that housed 15,000 people. After World War Two, the land was sold back to the city of San Diego and later became a grand prix racecourse. Finally, after hosting its final race in 1956, Torrey Pines opened a year later.

There are, in fact, two courses at the site – the North Course and South Course. Each was designed by William F Bell. However, Rees Jones redesigned each significantly as part of a five-year program that began in 1999. He added more length to the South Course and moved four of the greens, before making more tweaks in 2019.

As for the shorter North Course, it was redesigned by the late Tom Weiskopf in 2016, which included enlarging the greens.

Of the two, the South Course is considered the more difficult, and it is that which has hosted two US Opens – in 2008 where Tiger Woods famously beat Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff, and 2021, where Jon Rahm picked up his maiden Major victory.

Meanwhile, both courses host the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open over the first two rounds, before attention turns solely to the South Course for the final two rounds.

Both the North Course and South Course benefit from beautiful cliff-top views over the Pacific. Plus, the rare tree after which Torrey Pines takes its name is present on both - and it is also featured in the design of the Farmers Insurance Open trophy.

Each course is also long and narrow, with difficult rough. Generally, the terrain is gentle, but don't be fooled and think it's easy to play - there are also deep bunkers and small greens, meaning accuracy with approach shots is crucial. 

The South Course's par-5 18th is responsible for some memorable finishes to tournaments in recent years. As well as being the scene where Woods finally saw off the challenge of Mediate in 2008, it's where Rahm holed an eagle on the 72nd hole of the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open to be crowned champion, and where the Spaniard finished with a birdie to clinch his US Open win four years later.

While the courses were already highly regarded, those famous US Opens have helped make Torrey Pines one of the most sought after venues in America. And, as a bonus, it remains home to one of the cheapest PGA Tour green fees.

It's relatively easy to arrange a round at either course, too, although the fees can stack up so make sure you factor the additional costs in to your trip. And, given Torrey Pines is a municipal facility, locals receive preference at the two courses in terms of a tee time. They can book between eight and 90 days in advance while non-residents are only able to book a tee time up to four days before their desired date.

Should you want to try and lock up a tee time, you can do so with a $50 non-refundable booking & service fee (per golfer) for non-residents and a $32 version for residents of San Diego.

In addition, resident or not, each player will be required to pay a $49 San Diego golf reservations service fee. Golf carts are $45 each while rental clubs cost $75.

As far as the price of the green fee goes, prices range between $148 and $306 to play the South Course, depending on the time of day and and the time of week you play, with weekdays and twilight hours offering the cheapest fees. Meanwhile, green fees for the North Course are between $88 and $185. 

San Diego residents enjoy significant discounts, however, with South Course green fees between $43 and $88. The North Course is even cheaper, with prices between $31 and $64.

Another method of ensuring you tick off the bucket-list course is by booking to stay at either the Lodge at Torrey Pines or the Hilton Torrey Pines. Both have a number of priority tee times for guests and offer different golf-themed packages for purchase. But if you were not looking to stay over, a handful of walk-up tee times remain available throughout the first hour or so of every day on a first-come, first-served basis.

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