Torrey Pines Golf Course — South Course Golf Course

— About

About Torrey Pines Golf Course — South Course Golf Course

Torrey Pines South Course is the most prestigious public municipal golf course in the United States — a city-owned facility open to San Diego residents and visitors alike, perched dramatically on coastal bluffs 300 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Originally designed by William F. Bell in 1957 and significantly renovated by Rees Jones in 2001 ahead of the 2008 US Open, the course winds through the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, flanked by the distinctive Torrey pine trees that grow nowhere else in the world except this coastal strip and nearby Santa Rosa Island. The 2008 US Open produced one of the sport's defining moments when Tiger Woods, playing on a stress-fractured left tibia, defeated Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole Monday playoff — his 14th major championship. A second US Open followed in 2021 when Jon Rahm made a famous putt on the 18th to win by a single stroke. The South Course plays to 7,607 yards and features dramatic elevation changes, cliff-edge holes with ocean views, and Rees Jones's signature bunkering. San Diego residents pay around $63 for a weekday round; non-residents pay up to $198 on weekends — an extraordinary bargain for a course at US Open standard.

— History

History of Torrey Pines Golf Course — South Course

Torrey Pines was developed in the mid-1950s on land that San Diego had purchased for a park, with William Bell designing two layouts as a city golf facility opened in 1957. The South Course was substantially renovated by Rees Jones ahead of the 2008 US Open — his brief was to transform a good municipal layout into a venue capable of testing the world's best players, which he achieved through lengthening holes, reshaped bunkering, and more demanding green contours. Tiger Woods won the 2008 US Open here on a stress-fractured leg in what is widely considered the most physically courageous performance in major championship history.

— Signature Holes

Signature Holes at Torrey Pines Golf Course — South Course

The par-5 18th at Torrey Pines South commands the Pacific bluff with views across the La Jolla coast, demanding a long approach over a ravine to a green that slopes toward the ocean. It was here that Jon Rahm made his dramatic birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the 2021 US Open. The par-4 12th is the score-defining hole on the back nine — a dogleg left with thick ice plant rough on the cliff edge framing the corner and a fast green that rewards precise iron play.

— Best Time to Visit

Best Time to Visit Torrey Pines Golf Course — South Course

San Diego's climate is consistently mild year-round, with temperatures rarely below 55°F or above 80°F. The Farmers Insurance Open (PGA Tour) is played here in late January, when conditions are typically dry and calm. Summer fog is possible in the mornings but usually lifts quickly. The course is busiest on weekends; midweek tee times are easier to obtain and the course is quieter.

— Practical Tips

Tips for Playing Torrey Pines Golf Course — South Course

Torrey Pines South is a public municipal course open to all. Green fees range from USD 63 to 198 depending on residency and weekend/weekday status — San Diego residents get the best rates. Online booking through the Torrey Pines website opens 8 days ahead. Carts are available but the course is very walkable along the bluffs. Parking can be limited on busy weekend mornings; arrive early.

— Highlights

Why Play Torrey Pines Golf Course — South Course

• ▸ City-owned municipal course on 300-foot Pacific Ocean bluffs — open to all, US Open standard
• ▸ Host of the 2008 US Open (Tiger Woods vs Rocco Mediate playoff) and 2021 US Open (Jon Rahm)
• ▸ Rees Jones 2001 renovation created a championship layout from Bell's 1957 design
• ▸ Torrey pines grow only here and on Santa Rosa Island — a UNESCO-protected endemic species
• ▸ Weekend non-resident green fee ~$198 — extraordinary value for a double US Open venue

— FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Torrey Pines Golf Course — South Course

How much does it cost to play Torrey Pines South Course?

Green fees range from USD 63 (San Diego residents, weekday) to USD 198 (non-residents, weekend). The course is publicly owned and open to all.

How do I book a tee time at Torrey Pines?

Tee times are available online through the Torrey Pines Golf Course website, opening 8 days in advance. San Diego residents can book up to 30 days ahead.

Is Torrey Pines South a public or private course?

Torrey Pines is a public municipal course owned by the City of San Diego, open to all golfers without membership.

What US Opens has Torrey Pines hosted?

Two — 2008 (Tiger Woods, famous Monday playoff) and 2021 (Jon Rahm, dramatic 72nd-hole birdie). A third US Open is anticipated in the coming years.

Are there ocean views at Torrey Pines South?

Yes — several holes on the back nine play along 300-foot Pacific Ocean bluffs, and the 18th hole has one of the most scenic finishing holes in American public golf.