Travel Articles

Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California sits on the cliffs above the Pacific and the views and vegetation are spectacular. The South course, our target today, is a 7,607 yard Par 72 with a slope rating of 143. We’ll see holes with wind off the ocean, maybe some fog, rain, and even sunshine. Get ready for this one ’cause it doesn’t get too much better than this.

The first green is not very far from the cliffs and the ocean, so expect to be hitting into a decent breeze off the first tee, which points directly at the Pacific. Watch out for the big bunkers on both sides of the fairway about halfway home. By the way, the 1st hole is a 452 yard Par 4 and the green is elevated and pretty well bunkered not to mention the trees surrounding it on all three sides.

The third hole really needs a picture. From the tee, you’re looking out and down at the green about 198 yards away – it’s a Par 3. The Pacific forms the backdrop to a wide but shallow green that seems to be floating in air. Take a quick picture then go for it. It doesn’t get much more beautiful than this one.

The fourth hole runs along the ocean and we can’t skip it. It’s a 483 yard Par 4 in a magnificent setting. The cliffs fall off to the beach on the left and the right side of the fairway is bunkered about halfway up. If you’re a right-handed hook shotter, you’re probably not feeling very confident as you stand on the 4th tee. But, if you do manage to stay on the fairway your next problem is the two level green with a fairly big cloverleaf bunker on the front left. Hey, with scenery like this a bogey or more won’t hurt that much.

The 6th, the first Par 5 on the South course requires you to measure your tee shot very well. It’s a 560 yard Par 5 with a pretty sharp dogleg right, and if you try to hard to cut the dogleg, you’ll end up in the ravine that runs all along the right side of the fairway. The bunkers on the left side of the fairway are probably the lesser of two evils here – they run along the left side just as the dogleg starts. Once you get there, the 6th green is known for its difficulty. Read your putts carefully.

Let’s jump to the 12th, arguably the toughest hole on the course. It’s a 504 yard Par 4 that plays into the wind coming off the ocean. Bunkers lie left and right about halfway down and the fairway fades a little to the right. Don’t be surprised when you see the two fat bunkers guarding the green. If you miss on your second (or third) shot here, you’ll very likely be in the sand around the green. Look up now and then and you might see some gliders floating in the ocean breezes.

The 18th won’t give you much of a break but if you survived this far, just enjoy the last hole. It’s a 571 yard Par 5 that will really test you. Unless you hit a laser off the tee you may well end up in bunkers on the left or right of the fairway. If you’re good enough to be thinking about the green in 2, you need to do another pinpoint shot to avoid the pond in front of and the bunkers on either side of the green.

If you can try the North course while you’re in the area. The golf and the scenery is some of the best in the world

Pete Cullen runs Great Web Resources. For more course tours and equipment information, please visit: http://Great-Web-Resources.com/gpage33.html