Rees Jones Exorcism | Torrey Pines

[Bill Gayne]

Not one bitch, moan or complaint from any of the participants over the first 3 days of the event - it appears to me everyone has got it correct so far.


Lets hope tomorrow is a repeat.


I'm lovin' it.

I see no complaining as a sign that the golf course hasn't gotten into their heads. I would rather see a Pete Dye golf course that causes indecision and discomfort in these guys. I'll listen to the complaining. I really wish at some point the players were forced into a real go/no go decision that offered high risk reward trade.

[Craig Sweet]

You're a nice guy Tim...But too bad your opinion is the only one that matters.

[Tim Gavrich]

IMO, the discourse (mostly on Twitter) around Torrey Pines has been, by and large, pretty pitiful. Pretty much no one has mounted an argument that it is architecturally as sophisticated as other U.S. Open venues (I personally can't wait to see LACC host in 2023) - especially the ones to come - but some of the bashing seems so over-the-top that I wonder what the underlying philosophy is.


Are the course's most vocal detractors so passionate because they believe the sort of linear type of golf it sets up is completely unacceptable in any case? Do they believe there should be zero courses defined primarily by their capacity to test a golfer's powers of shot execution? I'm not sure about this but it is clear that they believe once every 13 years is an unacceptable rate at which to have to watch a U.S. Open at this particular course.


If indeed this type of golf is unacceptable to play or watch, I can't help but conclude that that sort of hard-line philosophy is no less closed-minded than the one that the ardent advocates of classic architecture would argue produced the so-called "Dark Ages" of golf course architecture.


This week, I think there's been so much chatter about the course during, it's become easy to fall into the trap of thinking it represents all golf courses, when in reality it's one of many courses to host this particular event, on a long arc of history.

[Kalen Braley]

One of the things that seems to be lost in this convo is the concept of value.

While the course may not be awful, it seems a very poor deal at $200.  Just like a burger from In N Out may be a good value at $7, but would you pay $25 for same?  Huge difference between being cheap and not interested in the value proposition of a product.

P.S.  Full disclosure, I've seen the course in person 3 times, walked it once, and its a $75 course at best.  As a comparison in SD, Coronado looks far more interesting...

[jeffwarne]

One of the things that seems to be lost in this convo is the concept of value.

While the course may not be awful, it seems a very poor deal at $200.  Just like a burger from In N Out may be a good value at $7, but would you pay $25 for same?  Huge difference between being cheap and not interested in the value proposition of a product.

P.S.  Full disclosure, I've seen the course in person 3 times, walked it once, and its a $75 course at best.  As a comparison in SD, Coronado looks far more interesting...

You nailed it-it's exactly the value for those who it was designed. $73-78 for San Diego residents.
BUT they allow non residents to play for more(way cheaper than paying CA taxes)
Locals who want to play a US Open venue acn do so at a "value" cost.
non residents can choose NOT to play there


I just don't see the problem.


20 years ago it was hip to bash TP and Rees.
Just seems like that ship sailed soooo long ago, especially after two ultra successful US Opens.
It looks well presented(puttable greens that are firm-rare for a US Open baked out normal plinko)
Incredible scenery and what looks like quite a few great holes 3,4,7,14,16 to name a few.
demanding with a WIDE range of different types of players contending.
News flash-the two biggest bomb and gougers finished 1 and 2 at venerable Winged Foot, despite 5 inch rough wall to wall

[Rob Marshall]

“Incredible scenery and what looks like quite a few great holes 3,4,7,14,16 to name a few.[/size]demanding with a WIDE range of different types of players contending.News flash-the two biggest bomb and gougers finished 1 and 2 at venerable Winged Foot, despite 5 inch rough wall to wall”


+1


This leader board has great finish written all over it.[/color]

[Jason Thurman]

Fair enough Kalen, but the flipside of that value equation is that it's probably the cheapest and most accessible of the courses that regularly host majors.

[David_Tepper]

"Fair enough Kalen, but the flipside of that value equation is that it's probably the cheapest and most accessible of the courses that regularly host majors."

With the exception of TPC Deere Run (that hosts the Quad Cities), Torrey Pines is possibly/probably the cheapest and most accessible of the course that host a PGA Tour event each year.

[Tim Leahy]

Fair enough Kalen, but the flipside of that value equation is that it's probably the cheapest and most accessible of the courses that regularly host majors.

+1

[Tim Martin]

Fair enough Kalen, but the flipside of that value equation is that it's probably the cheapest and most accessible of the courses that regularly host majors.

+1

Torrey is less expensive than Bethpage Black for residents but more expensive for non-residents.

[Rob Marshall]

It’s been 5 years but I played the Back for $48. What’s Torrey?

[Tim Leahy]

You're a nice guy Tim...But too bad your opinion is the only one that matters.

My opinion is not the only one that matters. I just dislike uneducated statements from ignorant people who think their opinion is the only one that matters.

[jeffwarne]

Expect anything different?

[Charles Lund]

"It’s been 5 years but I played the Back for $48. What’s Torrey?"

Senior resident rate for Torrey South Monday to Thursday is $44, if you can book a time.  Friday to Sunday is $78.

Charles Lund

[John Kavanaugh]

Seve weeps for the Torrey haters.

[David_Tepper]

Well, now you can move Jon Rahm from the list of non-major winners who have won the Farmers at Torrey to the list of major winners who have won the Farmers at Torrey.

[John Kavanaugh]

This win would put Torrey Pines in the golf course hall of fame.

[Rob Marshall]

Great tournament, great champion, interesting that the cliff and barraca  that “doesn’t” come into play cost Louie. Torrey IMO looked and played great.

[Craig Sweet]

Tim Leahy...you're a funny guy!


I think the consensus is TP is not worthy of being in the Open rota, and that it is a boring layout that could have been better with a few tweeks.


Like I said, it takes a compelling story to keep people watching golf at this venue.  (ever watch the Farmers...all four days? I didn't think so)

[Pete_Pittock]

Looking at the breaks on putts, especially at US Open speeds and hole locations, this is a very good set of greens which more than compensate for the rest of what We think.  The barrancas and cliffsides on maybe half the holes made opposite side roughs more appealing as a bail out, and there seemed to be green-side bunkering to counter that strategy. Fairway width seemed to be about right. And just enough wind to make things thoughtful.

[Tim Leahy]

Great tournament, great champion, interesting that the cliff and barraca  that “doesn’t” come into play cost Louie. Torrey IMO looked and played great.

+1000

[Sean_A]

You're a nice guy Tim...But too bad your opinion is the only one that matters.

My opinion is not the only one that matters. I just dislike uneducated statements from ignorant people who think their opinion is the only one that matters.

Why do people have to get personal about architecture? At the end of the day, does any of this shit matter? People act as though they have been personally insulted if someone's opinion differs from their own. Its just a bloody golf course. Chill.

Ciao

[David_Tepper]

From a leading player (but what do they know ):

"I love this golf course. It's fun to play. I think it's perfect for a major championship. The way it sets up, you've got to be able to put the ball in the fairway, control your irons, and you've really got to putt well out here. That's kind of the basis of a major championship. You need to be able to do everything really well. I think this course is perfect for that."

[jeffwarne]

From a leading player (but what do they know ):

"I love this golf course. It's fun to play. I think it's perfect for a major championship. The way it sets up, you've got to be able to put the ball in the fairway, control your irons, and you've really got to putt well out here. That's kind of the basis of a major championship. You need to be able to do everything really well. I think this course is perfect for that."

"with no canyons in play.."
except the one that decided the championship,and about 12 others for the rest of us.
Far better green contours than Bethpage...zzz-
Obviously far more  scenic.
While I find individual holes at Kiawah quite compelling, I have zero desire to return to the cumulative punitive design of it all, and thought it showed just average on TV

[John Kavanaugh]

The kikuyu was fantastic.