Torrey Pines Golf Course

Torrey Pines is a muni owned and maintained by the City of San Diego, maybe the best muni in the US, although New Yorkers would argue for Bethpage. The course is at the north end of San Diego adjoining La Jolla and sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. It has a full blown lodge/hotel, so you can stay here to get up early for the line to get on the course. Two 18 hole championship courses here, both designed originally by William P. Bell, and are or have been the venues for the Buick/San Diego Open, the US Open, among others. Both courses are challenging with tree lined fairways, plenty of sand, and the constant wind coming off the Pacific. The South Course offers more views out to the Pacific,100 yards below, than the North, but both are worthy of playing for sure. The North seems to play a little easier than the south and can stretch to 6659 yards, 129 slope. The course is very walkable, and enjoyable, more resort like than the south, but shots offline, will still be penalized either by the heavy rough or the natural areas. The South course was redesigned from Bell's original design by Rees Jones and can stretch to just over 7600 yards, 143 slope, and was the host course for the 2009 US Open. The South course is a tough course where you not only need distance, but accuracy, especially around the approach to the greens. A lot of long irons or woods on the second shots for the par fours, and a fantastic set of par 3's. Both courses are very well maintained, and the pace of play is managed well, it's just a challenge to get on at times. Play the North for the scenery and warm up for the South which will test every part of your game.