Some golf courses you play and forget. Torrey Pines is not one of them.
I played the North course in spring 2019 on a college spring break trip with my mom. It was my first time in California and honestly the whole trip felt a little surreal. We walked the course, got paired with a single who was traveling for business, and had one of those perfect golf days where everything just clicks. The weather was ideal and the pace was relaxed.that says a lot.
The Course
The North course gets overshadowed by the South: the South is the one that hosts the US Open, the one that gets all the attention, the one that looks intimidating on television. The North is quieter, more forgiving, and was very enjoyable for a recreational golfer looking for a fun round.
The views are breathtaking. You’re playing along the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean and there are moments on the course where you stop mid-round just to take it in. Hole 11 in particular sits right on the edge of the cliffs with the ocean stretching out behind it and the Torrey Pine trees framing everything perfectly.
The course itself is challenging enough to be interesting without being punishing. There are elevation changes, coastal wind to deal with, and enough variety in the holes to keep you engaged the whole round. But it never felt like the course was working against us. It felt like a proper test of golf that rewarded good shots without destroying you for bad ones.
The Experience
Torrey Pines is a municipal course run by the City of San Diego which means it’s technically public and accessible to anyone. In practice it feels much more elevated than your average public course — the conditioning is excellent, the facilities are well maintained, and the whole operation runs smoothly.
The staff and pro shop were welcoming and straightforward. No attitude, no making you feel like you needed to prove yourself. We checked in, got our tee time, and were treated like any other golfers there to enjoy the course. For two women showing up without a full group that kind of easy welcome matters more than people realize.
Getting paired with a single turned out to be one of the highlights of the day. He was a businessman traveling through San Diego, friendly and easy to play with, and it made the round feel social in the best way. That’s one of the things I love about walking a course — you actually talk to the people you’re playing with rather than disappearing into a cart for four hours.
Walking Torrey Pines is absolutely the way to do it. The course is designed to be walked, the terrain is manageable, and you get so much more out of the experience on foot. Bring comfortable shoes.
What to Wear
Torrey Pines has a standard dress code: collared shirts or mock necks, golf-appropriate bottoms, proper golf shoes. Nothing too strict but definitely not somewhere you show up in athletic shorts and a tank top.
For the North course the coastal wind is real, especially in the morning, so layering is smart. I’d wear a fitted quarter zip or vest over a polo for the first few holes and peel it off once you warm up.
When I played I had on a Lululemon black skirt, a Ralph Lauren RLX polo, and my first pair of ECCO golf shoes. My mom wore Athleta black pants and Nike golf shoes. Both outfits were comfortable enough to walk eighteen holes without thinking about it and appropriate for the dress code without being overdressed.
Is It Worth It?
Green fees at Torrey Pines have increased significantly since I played in 2019, check the current rates on their website before you book because they vary by resident versus non-resident and by season. It is not a cheap round. But for a bucket list public course with views like this, the green fee feels justified.
If you’re visiting San Diego for any reason, playing Torrey Pines should be on your list. The North course in particular is the right choice if you want to actually enjoy your round rather than just survive it. Book early, tee times go fast and the course is busy year round.
If you’re thinking about a mother daughter golf trip and you want somewhere that feels special without feeling intimidating, Torrey Pines North is exactly that. We walked off the 18th green already talking about going back.
The Scorecard
The Course: 4.5/5 The views alone are worth it. The North course is beautiful and more playable than its famous sibling.
The Experience: 5/5 Welcoming, well-run, and one of those rare days where everything just works.
Value for Money: 3/5 Not cheap, especially for non-residents. But for a once in a while bucket list round it’s worth every penny.
Young Women Welcome: 5/5 No attitude, no pretension, no making you feel like you needed to earn your place there. Just a great day of golf.
Green fees and policies change frequently — always check the Torrey Pines Golf Course website for current rates and tee time availability before you book.
