Torrey Pines South
A public course on the cliffs above the Pacific that twice crowned a US Open champion, Torrey Pines South is proof that anyone can tee it up where the majors are decided. William Bell laid it out in 1957, Rees Jones toughened it for the modern game in 2001 and 2019, and it now stretches to nearly 7,800 yards. Tiger Woods won here in 2008, Jon Rahm in 2021, and the tee sheet is open to all.
Photo: Torrey Pines via Google.
The verdict
Few courses in the world combine major championship pedigree with a public tee sheet the way Torrey Pines South does. Owned by the city of San Diego and laid out on the cliffs of La Jolla in 1957 by William F. Bell, it was rebuilt by Rees Jones for championship golf ahead of the 2008 US Open and lengthened again in 2019 before the 2021 edition. It now stretches up to about 7,800 yards, a genuine test that hosts the PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Open every January.
The setting does much of the work. The South runs along the bluffs above the Pacific, with the ocean breeze stiffening the back nine and several greens perched where a miss tumbles toward the cliffs. Tiger Woods won the 2008 US Open here in a Monday playoff on a broken leg, and Jon Rahm holed two long putts to close out 2021. That a visitor can play the same holes for a municipal green fee, albeit a steep one, is the rare and wonderful thing about Torrey Pines.
Torrey Pines South at a glance
- Opened
- 1957
- Designer
- Wm F. Bell · Rees Jones
- Type
- Clifftop municipal
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Up to 7,800 yds
- Green fee
- From $248
The 1957 opening to a William F. Bell design, the Rees Jones redesigns of 2001 and 2019, the par 72, the length of up to about 7,800 yards, and the staging of the 2008 and 2021 US Opens and the annual Farmers Insurance Open verified June 2026 from the City of San Diego, Rees Jones Inc and tournament records. Green fees are indicative, with 2026 non resident rates around 248 dollars Monday to Thursday and about 322 dollars Friday to Sunday for eighteen holes, twilight lower and San Diego residents much less. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The South rewards length and nerve in equal measure. Rees Jones widened the championship corridors but pushed the tees back and tightened the greens, so the premium is on driving it long and finding the correct level of putting surfaces that are firm, sloping and quick. The bunkering is deep and modern, set exactly where the aggressive line tempts you, and the rough off the bluffs is no place to be when the ocean wind gets up.
The closing holes are the ones the cameras love. The par 3 third looks out over the Pacific, the par 5 thirteenth and the brutal par 4 twelfth grind down the strong back nine, and the par 5 eighteenth, with water short and left of the green, is where both US Opens were settled. It is a finish that tempts the bold and punishes the loose, a true risk and reward conclusion in front of a clifftop gallery.
What lingers is the scale and the ocean, a big modern major venue that ordinary golfers can walk and play for the price of a public round. The conditioning is not always immaculate, as a heavily played municipal cannot match a private club, but the test, the views and the history more than compensate. Played as the headline of a San Diego trip, with the easier North Course alongside, Torrey Pines South is one of the great public golf experiences in the United States.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A daily fee municipal course owned by the city of San Diego, open to the public; tee times by advance reservation, with city residents paying far less than visitors |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 non resident green fees around 248 dollars Monday to Thursday and about 322 dollars Friday to Sunday for eighteen holes, twilight lower; San Diego residents pay much less |
| Booking | Book well ahead, especially for weekends; advance tee times are released on a rolling window and a forecaddie is often required on the South |
| On the day | A large municipal clubhouse, full practice facilities and caddies available; soft spikes and golf attire |
| Getting there | On the cliffs of Torrey Pines in La Jolla, about twenty minutes north of downtown San Diego and twenty five minutes from San Diego airport |
| Best months | Year round in a mild coastal climate; the Farmers Insurance Open visits each January, so avoid tournament week unless you are spectating |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the City of San Diego; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Torrey Pines or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The Lodge at Torrey Pines sits right beside the first tee, a craftsman style hotel that offers golf packages and the easiest possible base for an early reservation on the South. Beyond it, La Jolla and the San Diego coast are lined with hotels at every level, from beach resorts to downtown rooms, all within a short drive of the bluffs.
For a wider San Diego itinerary, the easier North Course shares the property, and the region offers desert and resort golf within an hour or two for those who want to range further. San Diego airport is about twenty five minutes from the course and well connected across the United States, which makes Torrey Pines one of the simplest bucket list rounds in the country to arrange.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts across La Jolla and San Diego.
Play Torrey Pines and San Diego
We build San Diego trips around Torrey Pines, secure the hard to get South Course tee times and sort a base at the Lodge or on the coast with the transfers. 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?
The South Course opened in 1957 to a design by William F. Bell. It was rebuilt for championship golf by Rees Jones ahead of the 2008 US Open and lengthened again by Jones in 2019 before the 2021 edition.
What is the par and length of Torrey Pines South?
The South plays as a par 72 stretching up to about 7,800 yards from the championship tees, shorter from the regular markers. Its defence is length, firm sloping greens and the ocean wind off the Pacific bluffs.
What championships has Torrey Pines South hosted?
The South Course hosted the US Open in 2008, won by Tiger Woods in a playoff, and again in 2021, won by Jon Rahm. It also stages the PGA Tour's Farmers Insurance Open every January.
How much does it cost to play Torrey Pines South?
Indicative 2026 non resident green fees are around 248 dollars Monday to Thursday and about 322 dollars Friday to Sunday for eighteen holes, with twilight lower; San Diego residents pay far less. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can the public play Torrey Pines South?
Yes. It is a daily fee municipal course owned by the city of San Diego and open to all, by advance tee time reservation. It is one of the few major championship venues anyone can play.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.