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Jon Cavalier
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Torrey Pines Golf Course: South
La Jolla, CA • Public
Torrey Pines Golf Course: South
11480 N Torrey Pines Rd Ste B
La Jolla, CA 92037-1096
United States
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Overview
Torrey Pines sits on one of the prettiest golf course sites in America, atop coastal bluffs north of San Diego with eye-dazzling views of the Pacific. Rees Jones’ remodeling of the South Course in the early 2000s not only made the course competitive for the 2008 U.S. Open (won by Tiger Woods in a playoff over Rocco Mediate), but it also brought several coastal canyons into play for everyday play, especially on the par-3 third and par-4 14th. An annual PGA Tour stop, Torrey Pines received another boost by Jones prior to hosting its second U.S. Open in 2021, this one won by Jon Rahm.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since inaugural edition in 2003.
Highest ranking: 33rd, 2017-'18.
2025-'26 ranking: 40th.
100 Greatest: Ranked from 1969-'74.
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked 2013-2022.
Highest ranking: 159th, 2013-'14.
Best in State: Ranked 20th, 2013-'14. Ranked 22nd, 2011-'12, 2017-'18. Ranked 23rd, 2015-'16, 2019-'20.
Previous ranking: 23rd.
2025-'26 ranking: 26th.
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Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“With fewer green openings in the front than its North sibling, and many more shots playing both uphill and into the wind (and ocean!) Torrey South is everything that it's supposed to be. Its a big golf course that provides opportunities to strong ball strikers and doles out punishment to everyone else. The North is flatter and friendlier but the South has the views and the brawn to justify its cost."
Read More2025
Review
“Torrey South is one of the finest tests of length, accuracy, and short game I have had the pleasure of playing. Greens are well protected and relatively small. The collection of par 3s here are challenging, with holes #3 and #16 stealing the show. Hole #18 is one of the best examples of a risk/reward par 5, and if you can hit the fairway from the tee, the hole begs you to take a shot and will swiftly punish you for the slightest error or miscalculation."
Read More2025
Review
“Challenging but fun. Bunkering is more extrteme than what you realize watching it on TV. Views of the ocean and hang gliders are very cool to see throughout the round. If you can get on the South Course, it is well worth it."
Read More2024
Review
“Bunkering was much more intimidating than it appears on television. Bunkers were plentiful and in many instances deep. Seemed as though longer holes were made even longer by playing into the prevailing wind."
Read More2024
Review
“This William F. Bell designed course was last renovated by Rees Jones. This municipal golf course is situated off the Pacific Coast cliffs located about 20 minutes north of downtown San Diego and run by the city. The course offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, the Southern California coast line and the City of San Diego. The course is speckled with torrey pines one of the rarest pine trees. There is a premium on keeping the drive in the fairway as the thick rough can be very penal and the course plays longer than it appears. Rees Jones added a number of strategically placed bunkers on the fairways which will catch errant drives. Most of the greens are elevated and are protected by numerous bunkers. This forces the golfer to accurately carry the green, many of which have drop offs on the sides or in the back. Further, the on-shore winds which are fairly prevalent will make the approach shot even more difficult. The well-conditioned bent grass greens have undulations, tend to break towards the ocean but play consistent and true. Overall, the course will continually challenge golfers at all skill levels and combined with an outstanding setting will make the South course experience a memorable one."
Read More2024
Review
“Not many better public courses than this one. When retuning to LaJolla, I’d much rather spend an afternoon here than on the brawny South Course."
Read More2024
Review
“It's rare a course of this quality would be open to the public. A great opportunity to measure your game against the best players. Finding short grass off the tee is essential if you want to reach some of the longer holes in regulation. The rough is brutal, even at the level it's kept other than tournament week. Lots of slope on many greens adds to the challenge. There are not many courses with the quality of views as Torrey Pines South. This is one bucket list course every golfer should check off."
Read More2024
Review
“A golf course with a lot of history (US Opens as well as a prominent annual PGA Tour event), and some wonderful golf holes with challenge, strategy, and beauty. Not a bad way for a golfer to spend a memorable day."
Read More2023
Review
“If not an overplayed public course, and if the city of San Diego had enough smarts to "soften up" the hospital/power complex/office building eyesore that overlooks the back nine, this could very well be a top 100-150 golf course."
Read More2023
Review
“Expensive course, nice to play a pro tour track, not sure if it's worth the $ to play again. North course is a bit more fun to play, better value. South is a long slugfest, beats you up. Ocean holes are beautiful, inland holes are a bit bland."
Read More2022
