Torrey Pines Golf Course South ready for the U.S. Open

Hole No. 4 at Torrey Pines Golf Course South. (Photo: Golfdom Staff)

[SPONSORED CONTENT] The more challenging of the two San Diego courses, Torrey Pines Golf Course South hosted the 2008 U.S. Open Championship and is set to repeat that honor this weekend (June 17-20).

Designed by William Bell Sr. in 1957, Rees Jones renovated and redesigned the South course in 2001 and again in 2019, making the course longer and the plays more difficult. Teeing areas extend the length of the course to up to 7,800 yards.

Torrey Pines South Course No. 1. (Photo: Golfdom Staff)

Though it won’t likely be a problem at the U.S. Open, golfers often must fight the urge to gaze at the hang gliders who favor the cliffs on the south end of the course.

Setup for the U.S. Open began in May, but locals were able to play the municipal course as recently as Wednesday, June 9. Chad Seiler, part of a local foursome who played the last round on the course before it closed for the U.S. Open, said they experienced some of the trouble the pros will experience as roughs are already swallowing balls, and they’ll be deeper soon.

No. 5 on Torrey Pines South Course. (Photo: Golfdom Staff)

“The rough is no joke,” Seiler said after spending some time in the thick grass. Tournament play cuts for those roughs is 3.5 inches. Tees and and fairways will be 7/16 inch, and the greens will be 1/8 inch.

The primary grasses at Torrey Pines Golf Course South are kikuyu overseeded with rye on the tees and fairways and bentgrass with poa annua on the greens.

Course statistics include:

• Average Tee size: 6,500 sq.ft
• Average Green size: 4,500 sq.ft
• Rounds per year: 92,000
• Acres of Fairway: 32
• Acres of Rough: 68
• Sand bunkers: 54
• Water Hazards: 1
• Soil Conditions: Clay
• Green Soil Mix: Push up

Wildlife on the course include coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, snakes, rodents, hawks, possum, squirrels, foxes, mule deer, raven, great blue herons, snowy egrets and rabbits.

This post is sponsored by Corteva.