Torrey Pines South Golf Course: San Diego's Public U.S. Open

There aren't many places where you can tee it up on the exact fairways where Tiger Woods won a U.S. Open on a broken leg — and do it for a municipal green fee. Torrey Pines South sits on sandstone cliffs 300 feet above the Pacific in La Jolla, hang gliders drifting past the fourth fairway, and it belongs to the City of San Diego. That's the magic trick: a true major-championship venue that's genuinely, fully public.

Know before you go

Torrey Pines South is a city-owned public course in La Jolla, San Diego, open to everyone. As of the 2026 season, non-resident green fees run $246 on weekdays and $306 on weekends, with carts $48 extra — walking is allowed and the routing is walkable. Non-residents can book up to 90 days out with a per-player booking fee, while San Diego residents pay a fraction of the price through the city's resident system. It hosts the PGA Tour every January and hosted the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens.

The story

The Bell family — William P. and son William F. — laid the course over a former Army camp in 1957, and for decades it was simply a great muni with an unbeatable view. Rees Jones' 2001 renovation changed its ambitions: greens pushed to the canyon edges, bunkers repositioned, over 500 yards added. Seven years later Tiger and Rocco Mediate went 91 holes here in the most famous U.S. Open playoff of the modern era; Jon Rahm birdied 17 and 18 to win the 2021 edition. And every January, the PGA Tour's San Diego stop — long known as the Farmers Insurance Open — brings the world's best back to these cliffs.

Getting on

This is the part your buddies will ask about. Non-residents can reserve up to 90 days in advance through the city's reservation system; the advance-booking fee is non-refundable and charged per golfer, and current rates are posted on the official Torrey Pines site since the city adjusts them each season. San Diego City residents get advance-lottery access and dramatically lower rates — if you know a local, play as their guest. No luck 90 days out? The daily standby list at the starter's window is a real path on weekdays, and single golfers do get slotted in. Twilight rates cut the sting if you just want the experience.

How it plays

Par 72 and about 7,765 yards from the tournament tees — but don't play those. The Championship or regular men's tees give you the full experience: kikuyu rough that swallows anything off-line, poa greens that get bumpy by afternoon, and an ocean breeze that freshens mid-round. The 3rd, a par 3 falling toward the Pacific, is the postcard; the 12th, a long par 4 into the wind, is where scorecards go to die; and the finishing 18th — with the pond guarding a reachable-in-two green — is the hole you've watched the pros play every January.

Make a day of it

Marine layer is real: June mornings are gray and cool, and afternoons burn clear. Fall is the sweet spot — warm, dry, and less crowded. Rounds run long on weekends (five hours-plus is normal), so book early morning, walk it, and budget the afternoon for the Torrey Pines Gliderport or the beach at Black's. For the post-round meal, head up the hill to A.R. Valentien at The Lodge at Torrey Pines — the kind of California-craftsman room, overlooking the course, that turns a golf trip into a memory.

Pair it with

Make it a San Diego swing: the North Course next door is friendlier and has arguably better views, Goat Hill Park up the coast in Oceanside is the soul of SoCal muni golf, and Rams Hill out in Borrego Springs is a desert masterpiece two hours east. All of them are on our Top 50 California Public Golf Courses Scratch-Off Map.

FAQs

Is Torrey Pines South open to the public?

Yes — completely. It's owned by the City of San Diego and anyone can book a tee time. There's no membership and no resort-stay requirement, though guests of The Lodge at Torrey Pines get access to priority tee times.

How far in advance can I book Torrey Pines?

Non-residents can book up to 90 days in advance through the city's online reservation system for a non-refundable per-player booking fee. San Diego residents use an advance lottery and pay much lower rates.

How much does it cost to play Torrey Pines South?

As of the 2026 season, non-resident rates are $246 on weekdays and $306 on weekends, with a cart $48 extra. The city adjusts rates annually, so check the official site when you book.

Is Torrey Pines South walkable?

Yes. Walking is permitted and the routing is compact along the clifftops. Many regulars consider it the best way to experience the property; carts and pushcarts are available.

Should I play the South or North course?

Play the South if you want the U.S. Open test and the famous finishing holes. Play the North if you want a friendlier score, lower fees, and what many consider the better ocean views. Ideal answer: both, on back-to-back days.

Scratch it off the list

Torrey Pines South is course-one material on any California golf bucket list. Track your progress on the Top 50 California Public Golf Courses Scratch-Off Map — and start planning the other 49.

Ryan Laboy co-founded McSenderson with Michelle Laboy in 2023. He plays to a single-digit handicap out of Continental Country Club in Flagstaff, Arizona, and has spent years on golf course architecture and Arizona golf history. He researched and verified the course lists behind McSenderson's Top 100 US Public Courses map and the California, Arizona, and Colorado Top 50 maps. hello@mcsenderson.com