The Toughest US Open Course Yet
For starters The South course will be the longest U.S. Open course to date. It is anticipated that the South course will stretch over 7,600 yards and played at par 70, as an example Bethpage Black played at a par 70 at 7,214 yards and was the longest course in the Open rotation in 2002.
Not to mention the wind and weather conditions. For those of us who live here in San Diego, we all know what the weather can be like in June and July along the coast. They don’t call it “June Gloom” for nothing! Conditions along the Torrey Pines coast can turn in a minute. It’s not uncommon for the weather to go from 80 degrees and perfectly calm to a fog-out in literally no time. The winds along the coast are very unpredictable and depending on which part of the course you are on can be very subtle to very strong.
The third factor that will make Torrey South tougher than any US Open before will be the wirey thick kikuyu and bermuda rough that can swallow up an errant tee shot. For those that have never experienced kikuyu grass, imagine a cross between the worst Bermuda you’ve ever seen and a field of hay. This stuff is knarly! Not only will players not be able to advance the ball, but they will be lucky if they can even find their ball with the help of USGA volunteer forecaddies.
The final element that could make a couple over par the winning score at the 2008 US Open is the tricky to read Rees Jones redesigned greens. Nobody will have played this course with the greens rolling at a 13+ on the stimp meter, until the first day of the tournament. And as someone who has played the course 50+ times and walked the final round of the Buick Open many times, the pro’s start to get cautious here when they start to get above 12 on the stimp meter. For the residents who play here on a daily basis, we usually find that the greens are a little shaggy and relatively easy to hold with a decent shot. I’m sure the USGA with cut off the water on Thursday and stress them to near death so that they don’t hold anything more than a shot from 140 yards out.
All in all, the long hitters are going to absolutely have to hit it straight off the tee and the shorter hitters are not going to have a prayer! Look for guys like Tiger, Phil Mickelson, or Retief Goosen to be happy with pars all day long. Torrey South is sure to make Bethpage South look like a par 3 course!
San Diego is the crown jewel of Southern California, the ideal relaxing vacation spot. Combining breathtaking natural beauty with a clean, friendly city, the San Diego area also boasts countless world-renowned attractions. Showtime Golf offers San Diego vacation rentals that allow you to experience America’s finest city in affordable accommodations that feel like home.
Whether you want French doors that open on to the beach, or a luxury condominium in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, we offer vacation rentals in all of San Diego’s most desirable areas. Amenities abound from sparkling pools to state-of-the-art spas and tennis courts. After a day of sightseeing, you can come back to a comfortable home, not just a sterile hotel room.
Luxury Rentals in San Diego
Showtime organizes our extensive list of rental opportunities by neighborhood, number of bedrooms, and rate category, so you can find exactly the home away from home you’re searching for. There’s so much to do in San Diego, that we highly recommend weekly rentals, which offer considerable discounts as well. Whether you’re in town to conquer Torrey Pines or to come face-to-face with lions, our vacation homes will relax and renew you for all that your stay may bring.
If golf is your game, our expert staff can recommend rentals close to the most outstanding courses, and book your tee-times for you as well. We know the best beaches, too, and have staked out rentals in prime locations for your enjoyment in the sun and sand. Call us at (866) 661-2334 ext. 4 or visit Showtime Golf Vacation Rentals to book your vacation online today.
Torrey Pines Golf Course
Nestled in the coastal bluffs of La Jolla near San Diego, Torrey Pines serves up an equal helping of challenging golf and breathtaking views. Showtime Golf can book your tee-times at either of these two formidable courses, or better yet, at both. With imposing mountains to the north and endless ocean to the west, Torrey Pines is San Diego’s golfing gift to the world.
Come test your game on the same ground where the pros gather every winter for the Buick Invitational. Conquer Rees Jones’s recent renovations on the challenging South Course or stick to the shorter and more manageable North Course. Both offer sublime ocean vistas, though many give a slight aesthetic edge to the North.
The nation’s foremost municipal golf facility is at the mercy of the Pacific. Play varies widely based on whether the fog has rolled in or the bluffs are being buffeted by chilling winds. The natural world is inextricably tied to the Torrey Pines experience, where you can often spy native wildlife and, of course, the five-needle clusters of the Torrey pines themselves.
Fortunately, the sun bathes the courses in its warmth much of the time and provides gorgeous sunsets each evening. Showtime Golf can get you on either Torrey Pines course, rain or shine. Our website lets you book your ideal tee-times at this legendary facility. Next time your schedule brings you to San Diego, your first stop should be www.showtimegolf.com/sandiego/, and your second, the wondrous Torrey Pines itself.
Tiger Tames Torrey
After all the self coaching, swing changes, a new bride, and finding himself in unfamiliar territory at #2 in the world rankings,Tiger Woods seems to have his swing back. Tiger hopes so. So do Tournament Sponsors, Golf Schools, TV stations, San Diego Golf Courses, and 8 year old kids eating Wheaties….
Vijay is a very good golfer, but has no flair nor flavor. I don’t think anybody decided to take up the game after seeing Vijay play. Mr. Woods started a golf revolution with a couple of creative swings and a fist pump.
I know one tournament in San Diego does not a season make, but after watching Tiger be victorious at the Buick Open “Fog Fest” that was Torrey Pines South Golf Club, are we seeing the beginnings of a year that could be the year of the Tiger?
It seems like a long time since we saw Tiger do his typical 5 shots down on Sunday rally that had almost become automatic a few years back, and now that it’s happened again, the golf world will be looking over it’s collective shoulder come Sunday morning if “that guy” is 4 back on the leader board and smells blood………
The west coast swing continues with golf in Phoenix at the FBR, and then right back to southern California the following week for the Pebble Beach Pro Am.
Tiger will be coming back to play golf in San Diego when the Accenture Match Play begins in a couple weeks at La Costa Golf Resort. He is the defending champion there, and the conditions at La Costa are A+ as we speak. I predict at least 1 win in those tourneys, and he should challenge on Sunday in the Tourneys he doesn’t win. If that is true, Tiger may well be on his way back to make this his year.