Torrey Pines

I am presently watching Tiger Woods tie Arnold Palmer for 4th place on the All Time PGA win by lapping the field at Torrey Pines South (as I write this he is up 11 strokes!). Tiger will have a 2nd shot at Torrey Pines in 2008, as it will become the 2nd municipal course to host a US Open, Bethpage Black being the other course in 2002 (again in 2009).

The Torrey Pines Golf Courses were built in the 1950s by William F. Bell Jr. who took over the project from his diseased father. In 1999, Rees Jones, who’s Dad was Robert Trent Jones Sr., restored the course for Championship play increasing the length to over 7,600 yards. It is presently ranked #90 by Golf Digest among Public Courses in the United States.

The day I played Torrey Pines, we played it from the Blue Tees because that is where all the groups in front of us where teeing off from. The Blue Tees were well over 7,200 yards which is still the longest I have ever played a golf course! The course really does not have a lot of trouble, but the length will make it a challenge. A bogey golfer like me will feel that there are ten par-5’s on the course (the number of holes over 450 yards). I am happy to report I was ecstatic to take only 104 strokes to go around the course.

In true California fashion, a San Diego resident will pay $87-$94 to play the South Course, while they rake non residents over the coals ($227-$263). I somehow got the resident fee, thanks to my smooth talking buddy Dave. If you get to San Diego, where the weather is always beautiful, give Torrey Pines a try. Take along Dave as he can save you a buck fifty.