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La Jolla · $110–290 · Ranked in 1 list
Last updated
Torrey Pines South is a La Jolla spot ranked #1 of 8 in our Best Golf Courses in San Diego list, scoring 91/100 in our Best Golf Courses in San Diego. Order the 18 holes, championship tees. A U.S. Open course on public cliffs — nothing else in California matches the access.
We scored Torrey Pines South 91/100 in our full editorial review.
Read the full Torrey Pines South reviewTorrey Pines South sits in La Jolla — coastal San Diego, 20 minutes north of downtown along the cliffs. The area is known for la Jolla Cove sea lions, the seven sea caves, Prospect Street dining, and Torrey Pines, and the feel is upscale seaside village — the most scenic square mile in the county. Parking: Free 2-hour street parking near the Cove fills by 9 AM; garages on Herschel and Wall.
Explore La JollaTorrey Pines South takes the top spot on our Best Golf Courses in San Diego list, ahead of Torrey Pines North (89/100).
See the full Best Golf Courses in San Diego rankingTorrey Pines South scores 91/100 against a best golf courses in san diego field that averages 87.3, running from 83 at the bottom to 91 at the top. That puts it 3.7 points above the category average and ahead of 7 of the 7 other places we scored. It lands 1st of 8, and nothing in the category scores higher.
Judged criterion by criterion, Torrey Pines South separates itself most on uniqueness (99/100 versus a 86.9 category average). Its softest showing is value at 72, 7.6 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for uniqueness, not for a clean sweep of every category.
| Criterion | Torrey Pines South | Category avg. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience | 97 | 90.5 | +6.5 |
| Consistency | 90 | 88.8 | +1.2 |
| Value | 72 | 79.6 | -7.6 |
| Atmosphere | 96 | 88.3 | +7.7 |
| Uniqueness | 99 | 86.9 | +12.1 |
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best golf courses in san diego.
La Jolla is dense enough that Torrey Pines South rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored at least six other ranked spots in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Windansea Beach (93/100 in our best sunset spots in san diego list) or Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (93/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
93/100 · #2 in best sunset spots in san diego · Free
93/100 · #1 in best hikes in san diego · $15–25 parking
93/100 · #3 in best sunset spots in san diego · Free
92/100 · #1 in best art galleries in san diego · Free
90/100 · #1 in best bakeries in san diego · $
90/100 · #1 in best coffee shops in san diego · $3.50–6
Yes — worth going out of your way for.
Torrey Pines South scores 91/100 in our Best Golf Courses in San Diego list (#1 of 8). It is strongest on uniqueness (99) and experience (97). A U.S. Open course on public cliffs — nothing else in California matches the access.
Skip it if value matters most to you — that is its weakest category (72/100).
Torrey Pines South is a good fit for golf courses. Because it ranks #1 on our best golf courses in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in La Jolla rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
Best tactical tip: San Diego residents get dramatically reduced rates with a resident card; book through the city system.
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Score 91/100 on this list's criteria · Order: 18 holes, championship tees · $110–290
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.
Local tip: San Diego residents get dramatically reduced rates with a resident card; book through the city system.
Scored with our ranking methodology — golf-courses.
Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking.
