Best Golf Courses in California: Torrey Pines
My current golf bucket list is to play the 6 public US Open courses and I got to knock #2 (#1 was Erin Hills) of 6 off my list at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) just outside of San Diego. Torrey Pines is a municipal golf course which means it is owned by the city of San Diego.
It held its first US Open in 2008 where Tiger Woods won in a playoff over Rocco Mediate, it then held it again in 2021 where Jon Rahm won with a birdie on the 18th hole. These are two of the more memorable US Opens so our trip to Torrey was highly anticipated. Currently ranked as Golf.com’s #72 course you can play, you come to Torrey for the history and the amazing views along the Pacific ocean.
We originally planned our trip to San Diego in February the week after Torrey hosts its annual PGA Tour event but we had to adjust our plans since the newest member of our family is expected in February. We moved our trip up to November which is considered the “off-season” at Torrey since they aerated the greens right before we arrived. Even though the course was not in peak condition the experience was still A+ and the views of the Pacific were amazing.
We started the morning with breakfast at the Lodge overlooking the 1st tee & 18th green. This was actually Haley & my second time having breakfast at a US Open course (we visited Pebble Beach in 2016). Unlike most days in San Diego, it was a cloudy, windy & rainy morning. Most players walk the course but since Haley was with me we decided to take a cart and ride (also they make you take a cart if you have someone with you who isn’t playing - for reference). The fairways were pretty open which allowed me to hit the driver on most holes. Your approach shots required precision. The highlight of the round was my birdie on the 18th hole to finish off the round.
Torrey Pines Golf Course also has a North Course which is less famous than the South but I am told may have even better views than the South Course. I definitely want to make a trip back here during Peak Season so I can play both courses. Now I have to start planning my next trip to a US Open course, which one should I visit next?
