Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa

Brought a group of 12 buddies to San Diego and we finished up at Torrey Pines North. Playing the South never really crossed our minds given it's getting a lot of work done this summer and it's also way more difficult. There were some high handicappers in my group and I know they loved the more forgiving layout compared to Steele Canyon and Maderas.

The course is a lot of fun to play, especially the back nine, which kicks off with a great par 5 straight towards the ocean. I love the 16th hole too that plays up the hill along the coast. The course had been aerated about 10 days earlier so greens were running slower than previous rounds, and it's too bad they don't give any kind of price break for that, but hey it's a busy place that doesn't have a problem booking up. I booked our three times about 75 days in advance and it was already filling up.

We stuck around for drinks on the lodge patio. All in all a great cap to the weekend.

I honestly have very mixed feeling when playing TP south. I hate their greens, their pace of play is horrendous, and their staff is rude, especially the valley girls that work at the halfway house or work the drink cart.

I prefer the north greens over the south, as I have a very hard time putting on poa grass. The south is more expensive for no reason other than it's the "Championship" course.... The north has much better views and hole layouts, in my opinion.

Something to note is that the city owns the golf course but a private company owns the lodge, carts, and concessions. Therefore, the private company can charge an arm and a leg for everything! Their carts are $40 per cart. So, if you're a single you will pay $40. If two random singles are paired together then one person has to pay $40 for the cart and get $20 from the random person they're paired with. Horrible system.

Overall, if you're a resident of SD and like to walk, TP south is a great course! If you're a nonresident and like to ride, then go to Maderas, Omni La Costa, or Aviara.

The entire experience of Aviara is one that everyone should experience. The course, scenery, and beauty made the day one to remember.

Great course in top condition. Staff were excellent.

Great course and the layout is phenomenal. Greens were fast before the tournament and challenging but we had the best time. Friendly staff and the course landscaping is beyond anything I've played.

This is a truly amazing course. I hadn't ever played it due to the higher price but had always wanted to. From the minute you arrive, you are treated like royalty! A cart was brought out to my car to load up my clubs and welcome me to the course. The starter, Joe, was very helpful and gave me advice on what tees to play. We settled on the tees where the lpga plays from (mainly blue with some white and silver mixed in). The course conditions were great even after much rain over the last 2 weeks. Greens really rolled out nicely. My only disappointment was there were too many unfixed ball marks and I repaired between 5 and 15 per hole. The layout was a great mix and I never got bored. The par 3's were very challenging with water on 3 of them. I will come back as often as I can. They also offered free range balls so get there early. Lastly, the yardage books were $20 but they had a great GPS on the cart that measured to the pin for the day.

Amazing course, great location and views, and super friendly staff. After the round we got a round of drinks and some awesome tacos next to the pro-shop in the restaurant, and it was overall a great experience.

Would recommend to anyone looking for a great day of golf!

Staff was friendly and helpful, course was in pristine condition. Best course I've played yet.

Just finished playing three rounds on the north course right before it closes for farmers open

As a single (sandwiched golf between a conference) it was easy to get on the north course. Got on the website 3 days ahead as a non resident 7 pm pst) and found numerous options to play. Early golfers before 730 were able to get around in 3.5 hours walking. Was cart path only; prior to the PGA event, so walk it.

Definitely have lunch or a snack at the Torrey pines grill. You can see the course and putting green and ocean! If you have the time the outdoor fireplace or table fire pits make for a great 19th hole and relaxing venue

Tips. Bring water... a number of the course water fountains were not working. Leave time to walk from parking lot to starter to practice range (about 400 to 600 yds apart) and have to check in minimum 30 min early n be on tee 10 min early

Rough will eat your balls especially if foggy, early am or overcast ...bring extra socks. IF you are a single and want to play either course, at least in January, I found it quite easy to walk on if you come in around 0700. There are no discounts, for anyone except residents... and they pay 1/2 to 1/3 what guests from out of town pay, however I still thought it was great value.

Beverage cart makes frequent appearances.

The course, played from the proper tees for your game, is not difficult. I would consider it fair without a lot of hidden greens or tricky holes. Greens were fast in prep for the farmers open. Most greens were large and easy to approach when the flag was not hidden behind a bunker. A few doglegs that have you choosing between driver to cut the dogleg or 3 wood to be safe. The views on the back nine, along the pacific are awe inspiring.

very much enjoyed the course

Before playing Torrey Pines, I was warned that it is "underwhelming, wasn't worth the money, and that I should play the North course or simply somewhere else." Well I can say now after having played the South course, that I absolutely loved it! I paid $122 which is twilight on a weekday and for a PGA Tour course, it was worth the money.

The views were outstanding. Even on a cloudy day, it was pretty cool to just look out into the Pacific over the magnificent cliffs.

The history of watching Tiger here over the years and then playing those same holes was really cool. I played with a friend who lives locally and makes Torrey his home course and he pointed out many areas where shots that you or I wouldve seen over the years were taken.

It was the fall so conditions weren't the typical overseed like during the Farmers Insurance Open. It had some rough patches around but it didn't really take away from the round. What stood out was how well-maintained the tee boxes and greens were the last week in September. All around, a great day. And don't forget to stop in the pro shop, its massive and has everything!

I lived in San Diego for 20 years and I can't believe this is the first time that I have played Torrey. Sure, it would have been nice to pay the unbelievably low resident rate, but I would happily pay the non-resident rate again if it meant I got to play another 18.

The weather was perfect (of course!), the turf was immaculate, and the views were spectacular! The greens were challenging and also in great shape.

My biggest complaint was the length of the rough. It was so long and thick that even if you saw where your ball landed, you *maybe* had a 50/50 chance of finding it. Even though I lost a dozen balls or so in this rough, I inadvertently found just as many.

Can't wait to play the south course!

First off, the course plays way longer than the scorecard indicates. 14 holes play uphill or in to the wind. The greens were the biggest I have ever seen. That combined with the extreme slopes and speed made for a round of golf similar to a goofy pitch and putt..Terrible. La Costa is a much more fair test of golf. Encinitas Ranch is close by and half the price and way more fun!

Played this course as a tune up for the South the next day. The course is definitely easier and more walkable than the South. That being said, it was still a fun test of golf. The fairways are wider but still demands a good tee shot. You will pay if you’re in the rough on some holes. I enjoyed the routing and again like the South, this course had fantastic views. If I had to compare I think Bethpage Black beats south for the best and most challenging truly public courses to host an open. I’d give the nod to North over bethpage Red for the younger sibling courses.

Went to visit my sister who moved to San Diego and had to play the course. I was a single and walking up was super easy... barely waited. The course has some great views and is well maintained. Some really demanding holes that asks a lot of the golfer to keep it in the fairway. That rough is truly brutal. It’s a true muni and has a starter window like a bank teller. The course was a little pricey for an out of towner, but I can’t complain because I get to pay New York Rates for bethpage black. Definitely going to play it again.

Payed $25 as a Resident to play this course and it was in perfect shape. From tee to green everything was well kept and green. Only minuses were the tee boxes were moved up, rough was very long, and greens were very hard and fast. Amazing sunset and ocean views, course layout was very fun also. Course may be very expensive for visitors but very worth it on a beautiful day.

Played today front side was cart path only(fine) but there were 4-5 greens completely covered in sand for punching. Course wasn’t discounted, next time will take our business to maderas or somewhere else.