torrey pines, which course is better?

Everyone says you have to play the South Course when you visit Torrey Pines. We found the North Course to be more playable, with better views, more thrilling holes and a better value. Don't be fooled by the hype - go North!

Full Answer

Is Torrey Pines a good golf course?

Thirteen years ago Torrey Pines proved itself a worthy venue for the U.S. Open – golf’s most demanding test. Browse Phil Mickelson and Torrey Pines should be a perfect pairing, but it's looking like the prized public course may have left the hometown star behind. The course rating is 78.1 and it has a slope rating of 143. Two picturesque and widely recognizable championship …

What to expect at Torrey Pines in January?

Jun 16, 2021 · When comparing these sites purely on the basis of the natural setting, Torrey Pines is the best, with the possible exception of Pebble Beach Golf Links farther north on …

Is Torrey’s ranking too high?

Jun 16, 2021 · No. 6 is a better finishing hole than 18. Torrey Pines’ 18th is afforded a lot of love because of what Tiger Woods did on it back in 2008. But it definitely doesn’t get the golf course ...

What is the dress code at Torrey Pines?

Which course is hardest at Torrey Pines?

The Torrey Pines South Course is the more challenging of the two and is the host of the 2008 & 2021 U.S. Open Championships. The South course was originally designed by William Bell, Sr. in 1957, and is home to the Farmers Insurance Open PGA Golf Tournament (along with the North Course).

Which Course at Torrey Pines is easier?

Golf Is Easy at Torrey Pines North Course Having said that, however, with all the beauty of the facility, the North was the third-easiest course on the PGA Tour. Players averaged 69.551 on the North, 2.449 strokes below par. It's not a matter of length; the North measures 7,067 yards and plays to a par 72.

What is Torrey Pines Golf Course known for?

What's the vibe here? The iconic Torrey Pines Golf Course is known for its two 18-hole championship courses that sit on a cliff overlooking the Pacific. The South Course is the more challenging of the two and hosts the annual Farmers Insurance Open.

Do pros play North or South Torrey Pines?

The PGA Tour's annual Farmers Insurance Open is played on both the North and South courses.Jun 16, 2021

What's the easiest golf course in the world?

Pyongyang Golf Course5. The easiest golf course in the world (and the most exclusive) Hailed as “the most exclusive golf course in the world”, Pyongyang Golf Course may also be the easiest on the planet (if reports are to be believed). Kim Jong Il claimed to shoot a 38 with a record 11 aces during a round in 1994.Aug 14, 2015

Is Torrey Pines a good course?

Torrey Pines was highly ranked in GOLF's Top 100 Courses You Can Play, but our course raters are conflicted over its architectural value. Originally designed by William Bell in the late 1950s, the North and South courses have both been renovated since, the South by Rees Jones, the North by Tom Weiskopf.Jan 23, 2020

Is Torrey Pines a tough course?

The beastly 612-yard par-5 13th hole at Torrey Pines South Course proved to be the toughest for the average player, where scratch golfers gained 0.90 strokes per round.

What is the longest course on the PGA Tour?

Torrey Pines' South CourseThe longest course on the PGA Tour is Torrey Pines' South Course, which plays to a length of 7,765 yards -- a 60-yard increase over last year. It can play that length, in part, because it was lengthened for the 2008 U.S. Open.Feb 21, 2020

Do they play both courses at Torrey Pines?

ABOUT THE COURSE Bell, Torrey Pines Golf Course opened in 1957. It offers two 18-hole Championship courses – Torrey Pines North and Torrey Pines South. Both golf courses are played by the PGA TOUR professionals during the Farmers Insurance Open held in late January or early February every year.

What golfer plays best at Torrey Pines?

Torrey Pines may be best known for Tiger Woods' success here – it is where he won the Junior World championship and eight PGA TOUR titles, including his dramatic playoff win over Rocco Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open – and the three Farmers wins by San Diego's native son, Phil Mickelson.Jan 24, 2022

Who is the best at Torrey Pines?

Jon RahmIn just five years, Jon Rahm's performances at Torrey Pines have reverberated in the record books, indelibly tying the world's No. 1 player to this southern California layout....Best Scoring Average at Torrey Pines South Since 1990Jon Rahm66.4Beau Hossler66.8Tom Kite67.3Jose Maria Olazabal67.31 more row•Jan 24, 2022

Is there a dress code at Torrey Pines?

Dress code is pretty lax, and fivesomes are permitted. (We were behind a fivesome during my round on the South, which took about 4:40.) That said, the staff at Torrey Pines was exceedingly friendly, which can also be said for much of the tourist and service industry around San Diego.Jan 24, 2021

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Torrey Pines has been a beloved golf venue for decades. The San Diego-area municipal course is a feel-good story: open to anyone, cheap for locals and tough enough to test the pros.

Routing and landscape

The cliffs or canyons are in play on nine holes at Torrey Pines South. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Hole designs

No. 16 at Torrey Pines South is one example of the 14 greens on the course that have bunkers left and right. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Feature design and natural areas

The 11th green during a practice round prior to the start of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines’ South Course in San Diego. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Why make changes?

The City of San Diego and local organizations have poured millions of dollars into the two courses at Torrey Pines. The South hosts the PGA Tour annually for the Farmers Insurance Open. The daily tee sheet for the South Course and its sister layout, the North, is packed.

No. 7 should be No. 1

It all begins with the 7th hole becoming the 1st hole, just like the Parks and Recreation department for the city of San Diego intended for us back in 2019. Comparing the two holes — 1 and 7 — it’s clear that the latter has more spice to it.

No. 6 is a better finishing hole than 18

Torrey Pines’ 18th is afforded a lot of love because of what Tiger Woods did on it back in 2008. But it definitely doesn’t get the golf course architecture nerds excited. For starters, the water hazard shy of that green holds a distinct purpose: making players think about risk vs. reward, especially from the rough.