La Jolla · Best Golf Courses in San Diego
Torrey Pines South Review
Last updatedRanked #1 of 8 in Best Golf Courses in San Diego
A U.S. Open course on public cliffs — nothing else in California matches the access.
Score breakdown
- Experience97/100
- Consistency90/100
- Value72/100
- Atmosphere96/100
- Uniqueness99/100
The verdict on Torrey Pines South
Ranked #1 of 8 — 91/100 in our Best Golf Courses in San Diego coverage
The South Course hosted the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens and plays every bit as hard as that suggests. Conditioning is tournament-grade and the ocean holes on the back nine are among the most photographed in golf. Rounds run over five hours.
How to make the most of Torrey Pines South
Across our coverage the recommendation is consistent: 18 holes, championship tees.
San Diego residents get dramatically reduced rates with a resident card; book through the city system.
What it costs to visit Torrey Pines South
Torrey Pines South sits at $110–290 — the budget band for this category. Nothing else we ranked in this category lands in the same price bracket, so the comparison is against cheaper or pricier alternatives rather than a like-for-like rival.
Torrey Pines South FAQ
Does Torrey Pines South cost anything?
Torrey Pines South is priced at $110–290, which puts it in the budget band for this category. There is no other option at the exact same price point on the same list, so treat it as its own bracket.
Is Torrey Pines South worth it?
It scores 91/100, 3.7 points above the 87.3 average for its list. That's a solid recommendation within the category.
What is the best way to visit Torrey Pines South?
18 holes, championship tees.
What else is nearby Torrey Pines South?
Windansea Beach (93/100 in our best sunset spots in san diego list) and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (93/100 in our best hikes in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
What works
- Strong uniqueness — scored 99/100 in our ranking
- Strong experience — scored 97/100 in our ranking
- Strong atmosphere — scored 96/100 in our ranking
- Top-1 finish out of 8 spots we scored in this category
Know before you go
- Value is the weak point — 72/100, below the rest of its scores
- San Diego residents get dramatically reduced rates with a resident card; book through the city system.
The full review
The South Course hosted the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Opens and plays every bit as hard as that suggests. Conditioning is tournament-grade and the ocean holes on the back nine are among the most photographed in golf. Rounds run over five hours.
On our weighted scale it earns 91/100 — the top score of all 8 places we evaluated for best golf courses in san diego. We score outdoor spots on what they are actually like on the ground — conditions, access, parking, facilities and crowding — from our own repeat visits, and re-score when access or facilities change.
How to make the most of Torrey Pines South
18 holes, championship tees
Cost: $110–290
How we scored Torrey Pines South
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: experience, consistency, value, atmosphere, uniqueness. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We score outdoor spots on what they are actually like on the ground — conditions, access, parking, facilities and crowding — from our own repeat visits, and re-score when access or facilities change. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.