Torrey pines is one of the finest urban golf courses in the united states, set on cliff tops 20 minutes north of san diego. The name torrey pines comes from the trees on the two courses, which are among the country's rarest pines and can only be found in a few places: santa rosa island off the coast of santa barbara, and the course and the state reserve in san diego.

The city of san diego owns and operates two courses at torrey pines, both of which are used to host the farmers insurance open (originally the san diego open) each year at the start of the tour season. The north and south courses are used for the first two rounds before the remaining two rounds of the day are completed on the south course.

When comparing the two courses, it is said that the south is longer and more challenging, whilst the north is more scenic, but both are very close with penal rough – they are both said to have elements of pebble beach, which is high praise!

Torrey pines was built on the site of a former military recruiting center, with mountains to the north and the pacific ocean to the west. William f. bell designed it, and it was completed in 1957. In the late 1970s, local hero billy casper and his construction partner david rainville redesigned the course. Rees jones then invested $3.5 million to fully renovate the south course in 2001, moving four greens, almost doubling the number of bunkers, and installing ten new tees, raising the championship yardage to a whopping 7,607 yards.