Torrey Pines South Course
High on the sandstone bluffs above the Pacific in La Jolla, the South Course at Torrey Pines is the rare municipal track that hosts US Opens, a long, muscular Rees Jones redesign that anyone can play. A par 72 of about 7,765 yards, it is San Diego's great public golf occasion.
Photo: Henry Mayer via Google.
The verdict
Torrey Pines South is proof that championship golf and public access can share the same fairways. William F. Bell laid out the course on city owned clifftops in 1957, and Rees Jones toughened and lengthened it in 2001 to championship scale, with a further bunker refresh before its second US Open. It is owned by the City of San Diego, which means the same holes that test the world's best each winter are open to any golfer willing to book a tee time and pay the fee.
The golf is big and demanding: long par 4s, deep rough, firm poa annua greens and the constant theatre of the ocean off to the right. It hosts the PGA Tour every January and has staged two US Opens, won by Tiger Woods on a broken leg in 2008 and Jon Rahm in 2021. For the traveling golfer it is one of the most accessible bucket list rounds in the United States, best enjoyed with a caddie, a calm mind and plenty of golf balls.
Torrey Pines South Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1957
- Designer
- William F. Bell, Rees Jones redesign
- Type
- Clifftop municipal
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,765 yds
- Green fee
- From about $322 visitor
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the City of San Diego and leading course databases. Torrey Pines South was designed by William F. Bell, opened in 1957 and redesigned by Rees Jones in 2001, and plays as a par 72 of up to about 7,765 yards. It is a municipal course; the indicative 2026 visitor green fee is around 322 dollars for a weekend round, with lower resident rates and a separate cart fee of about 48 dollars. Rates change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The South Course makes its name on the holes that run closest to the cliff edge, where the Pacific fills the horizon. The par 3 third plays from an elevated tee across a canyon to a green perched above the ocean, one of the most photographed short holes in American public golf. From there the course stretches its legs with a run of long, exacting par 4s that demand both length and control.
The closing holes are pure championship theatre. The par 5 13th and the reachable but perilous par 5 18th, guarded by a pond short and left of the green, have decided tournaments in front of huge galleries. It was at the 72nd hole and the playoff that followed where Tiger Woods completed his 2008 US Open victory, a moment that sealed the South Course's place in the modern game.
For the everyday golfer the South plays long and the poa annua greens grow bumpy by late afternoon, so an early tee time and a caddie are worth the outlay. Distance off the tee helps, but discipline helps more, because the rough is penal and the ocean waits on the right. Manage the long par 4s, respect the closing stretch and you will leave understanding why the professionals rate Torrey Pines among the toughest stops on tour.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public municipal course owned by the City of San Diego; open to all golfers with a booking |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 visitor rate around 322 dollars for a weekend round, plus a cart fee near 48 dollars; lower rates for San Diego residents (always confirm before booking) |
| Booking | Tee times released in advance through the city booking system; demand is high, so reserve as early as the window allows |
| On the day | Caddies and carts available; a collared dress code applies; allow a long round on a championship layout |
| Getting there | On the cliffs at La Jolla, about 20 minutes north of downtown San Diego and 25 minutes from San Diego International Airport |
| Best months | Year round golf in San Diego's mild climate; spring and autumn bring the most settled coastal conditions |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from the City of San Diego; rates and booking rules change, so always confirm directly before booking your round.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay in La Jolla or along the San Diego coast, with everything from the lodge beside the first tee to the boutique hotels of La Jolla village within a few minutes of the course. The setting pairs world class golf with some of California's finest beaches and dining.
For a golf focused trip, a San Diego base puts Torrey Pines alongside the resort courses of Carlsbad and the wider Southern California scene, with the desert tracks of the Coachella Valley a couple of hours northeast. It is an easy region to build a multi round itinerary around in almost any season.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Torrey Pines South Course.
Build a San Diego golf trip
We help you lock in a Torrey Pines South tee time, pair it with the best of the San Diego coast and book the lodging around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Torrey Pines South questions
Who designed Torrey Pines South and when did it open?
Torrey Pines South was designed by William F. Bell and opened in 1957, then redesigned by Rees Jones in 2001 to championship length, with a later bunker refresh. It is a par 72 of up to about 7,765 yards.
Can the public play Torrey Pines South?
Yes. Torrey Pines South is a municipal course owned by the City of San Diego and open to all golfers. The indicative 2026 visitor green fee is around 322 dollars for a weekend round, with lower resident rates and a separate cart fee. Always confirm before booking.
What major championships has Torrey Pines South hosted?
Torrey Pines South has hosted two US Opens, won by Tiger Woods in 2008 and Jon Rahm in 2021, and stages the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open each January.
How do I get a tee time at Torrey Pines South?
Visitor tee times are released in advance through the City of San Diego booking system, and demand is very high. Booking as early as the reservation window allows, or playing through a resort package or caddie program, improves your chances.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.