Torrey Pines?

Anyone played there? The South is the hardest damn course that I have ever played. But then again, it is hard to shoot a good round there will all the scenic backdrops, beautiful views of the ocean, and, when you have the imposing sign "Home of the 2008 U.S. Open" towering above you. I shot like a 90 there but god, it was awesome.

The very next day I played the North course and it was tons less harder but tons less scenic. Still a great course. Shot a 42 there including a triple on the last hole ( ).

Anyone else want to share their experiences with this course?

I've only heard about how awesome, yet demanding it is. I hear the USGA is going to lengthen it to over 7500 yards for the Open. That's nuts. I hope my reason to play there my first time would be for practice rounds preparing for the Open next year.

I like the name by the way. I'm a big Hogan fan myself. Ben is actually my real name. As corny as this may sound, to share the name gives me inspiration.

Played there 6 years ago with the Mrs.I like the first tee with the people on the balcony over your shoulder.It was 90.00 and the guy walked the first 4 holes with you and talked about the course.My son was stationed there and he was considered a resident so he paid only 12.50.Really pissed me off.Long and the rough was really thick and the paragliders on 17 were nice but it could not touch the Black as far as character of the holes went.Now I see they redid it with the "Open Doctor" so maybe it is a little more.

we played there a couple weeks before the Buick one year and the greens were in horrible condition. Really bumpy. Somewhat expected since they get so much play.

I've heard some people say that without the Pacific alongside it, Torrey Pines would have a somewhat lower reputation than it does, ie the course itself is overrated. True or false?

Kinda... even with the ocean its not a course you walk off and just say wow. Shot course, requires length and accuracy and some decision making. I wouldn't put it in my top 20, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good course. Personally, i think it is more suited for a PGA than US Open.

If the USGA is looking for a non-Pebble public course on the west course, I think Bandon Dunes

I was looking into playing TP last year since I live just north of San Diego and after seeing reviews, it's not worth the money. It's very expensive for a muni course with a backlog pf players waiting. For a good shot of playing near the Pacific, there's tons of courses to choose in So. Cal. like Monarch Beach and Trump and theres also a handful of courses alongside the Pacific with great views (Palos Verdes) that cost very little.

Bandon will likely never host a major because of the remote location and how the course is built (with no stadium/amphitheater greens or other places for grandstands, parking, tents, etc.).

By no means is that a surprise to the Bandon ownership or a knock on the course itself, but it's simply not a course to host a major. I'm interested to hear how you guys got onto the course. Did you deal with those sketchy-sounding tee-time brokers? Or was anyone a walk-on?

I played it with a Golf Camp that I went through so I didn't have to pay for it. But the day after we played it, my dad and I walked on the North Course. We only had to wait 15 minutes!

But do any of the afore stated courses hold (or even held for that matter) a PGA Tour event? Or a US Open? Plus, Trump National costs more to play than Torrey Pines does!

I got to play the TP south course a few years ago. It's a beautiful course. I think it's on 3 or 4 where the hang gliders are taking off over your head and then glide over you while you're on the fairway. That was really weird.

I have stayed at the hotel boardering the fairway furtheset from the water many times, and it is truly a senic course. As far as the course itself, I have walked it several times and it does not look as challenging as one may expect, for a SMART golfer. If you can play within yourself, you can shot low there. If you start trying to smash the ball, you will have a long day. Great venue though, and maybe one of these days I actaully bring my sticks on vacation with me.

I agree Bandon should be used to host a US Open but erova is correct its not just about the course itself. Maybe they will adjust things (outside of the remote location lol ) and we might see a major there in the future

I played the South Course after my senior year of high school, which is now 8 years ago. I think they were doing some kind of work on the North course at the time because I also wanted to play it, but couldn't. I thought it was a nice course, nothing really special about it. It was neat to watch the hang gliders like greenmonstah said. There is some really beautiful holes as far a scenery goes. I will also have fun next year telling every one that I played that course when the Open is on. I still have the score card, shot an 84 with back to back doubles coming in. That left a sour taste.

if the usga wants another west coast public course on which to play the us open what about spyglass........which I thought was a much better course than Pebble

Welcome to any course in California along the coast in the winter time.

I try to avoid any course that has Poa Annua greens that is along the coast during the winter months. The greens are SO bumpy. I have played down in the Monterey area before and after the AT&T; in Feb. and I don't know how the pros do it. Even 1 footers are an adventure.