Torrey Pines North Course
The prettier and friendlier of the two municipal courses on the La Jolla cliffs, the North at Torrey Pines was reborn under Tom Weiskopf in 2016, with wider ocean views and bolder greens. It is the round that lets everyday golfers walk the same famous bluffs as the US Open, for a public green fee.
Photograph: Torrey Pines Golf Course, via Google · Randolfo Santos
The verdict
The North Course at Torrey Pines is the lighter, more scenic companion to its celebrated South, laid out on the same dramatic clifftop above the Pacific in La Jolla, just north of San Diego. The original course dates to 1957 and the work of William F. Bell, but the North as players find it today is largely the result of a 12.6 million dollar redesign by Tom Weiskopf completed in 2016, which enlarged and enlivened the greens and removed trees to open up sweeping ocean views.
It is a municipal course, owned by the city of San Diego, which is the heart of its appeal. For the price of a public green fee, the visiting golfer can play a genuinely good par 72 of around 7,258 yards on one of the most beautiful pieces of golfing ground in America, sharing the bluffs with the gliders over Black's Beach. The North hosts the opening rounds of the PGA Tour event each January and is the easier ticket than the South, making it the smart choice for travellers who want the Torrey Pines experience without the championship length or the wait.
Torrey Pines North Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1957
- Designer
- William F. Bell, Tom Weiskopf 2016
- Type
- Clifftop municipal
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Around 7,258 yds
- Green fee
- $163 to $204 (non resident)
History, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Torrey Pines, the City of San Diego and leading course guides. The North dates to 1957 and William F. Bell and was redesigned by Tom Weiskopf in 2016, a par 72 measuring around 7,258 yards from the back tees. Indicative 2026 non resident green fees are 163 dollars Monday to Thursday and 204 dollars Friday to Sunday, with carts extra; resident rates are far lower. Fees are indicative and change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The North asks less of the driver than the brutish South, but it is far from a pushover. Weiskopf's 2016 work gave the greens more movement and character, so approach play and a steady touch on and around the surfaces decide the round. The ocean breeze is the constant variable, swirling along the bluff and turning short irons into genuine tests of judgment, and the firm coastal turf rewards a controlled, lower flight.
The glory of the North is the setting. Several holes run right along the cliff edge above Black's Beach, with the Pacific filling the horizon and paragliders drifting overhead, and the tree clearing of the redesign means those views are now part of more of the round than before. It is golf that lifts the spirits even when the score does not, which is much of the point of a trip here.
For the visiting golfer the North is the sensible play at Torrey Pines. It is more affordable and easier to get on than the South, scenic from the first tee to the last, and good enough to feel like a real test. Pair the two over two days and you have one of the best value bucket list experiences in American public golf, all on city owned land above the ocean.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A public municipal course owned by the City of San Diego; visitor non resident tee times are bookable in advance and walk on play is possible |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 non resident rates of 163 dollars Monday to Thursday and 204 dollars Friday to Sunday, with carts extra; San Diego residents pay far less |
| Booking | Reserve through the city advance booking system or a trip planner; non resident times can be secured further out, and a single payer card is available for priority |
| Handicap | No handicap certificate required; standard pace of play and dress apply, and caddies and carts can be arranged |
| Getting there | On the La Jolla cliffs, around 20 minutes from Downtown San Diego and 25 minutes from San Diego International airport |
| Best months | Year round golf in a mild coastal climate; spring and autumn are ideal, with morning marine layer common near the coast |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from Torrey Pines and the City of San Diego; non resident rates and booking rules change by season, so always confirm current details directly before booking with the course or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The Lodge at Torrey Pines sits right beside the first tee and offers priority tee time access for guests, the simplest base of all for a golf focused stay. Beyond it, La Jolla offers upscale coastal hotels and dining, while Downtown San Diego and the beaches of Pacific Beach and Del Mar are all within a short drive for a broader trip.
San Diego is an easy, year round golf destination with a mild coastal climate and a well connected airport close to the courses. Most visitors play both Torrey Pines courses across two days and add nearby options around the county, building a relaxed week that mixes clifftop golf with the beaches and the city.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in La Jolla and San Diego.
Build a San Diego golf trip
We build a San Diego week around both Torrey Pines courses, secure the non resident tee times and a stay at the Lodge or in La Jolla, and add the best of the county's golf. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Torrey Pines North Course questions
How much does it cost to play Torrey Pines North Course?
Indicative 2026 non resident green fees on the North are 163 dollars Monday to Thursday and 204 dollars Friday to Sunday, with carts extra; San Diego residents pay considerably less. These figures are indicative and change by season and year, so always confirm the current rate directly with the course or your trip planner before booking.
Who designed Torrey Pines North Course?
The North originally opened in 1957 to a design by William F. Bell. The course players find today is largely the result of a redesign by Tom Weiskopf completed in 2016, which enlarged the greens and cleared trees to open up the Pacific Ocean views from the clifftop.
Can visitors play Torrey Pines North Course?
Yes. Torrey Pines is a public municipal facility owned by the City of San Diego, and the North welcomes visitor non resident play, booked in advance through the city system or a trip planner, with some walk on availability. No handicap certificate is required. Always confirm current rates and booking rules before travelling.
Is the North or South Course better at Torrey Pines?
They offer different experiences. The South is longer, tougher and the main US Open and PGA Tour venue, while the North is more scenic, more affordable and easier to get on after its 2016 Weiskopf redesign. Many visitors play both across two days; the North is the smart choice for views and value.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. History, designer, par, yardage and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.