As someone who has played over 100 rounds at Torrey South (post renovation) I feel the need to chime in here. I grew up in San Diego and a high school golfer could play either course at Torrey for $10/month! I am sure that they changed this policy after the U.S. Open, but it was a great opportunity and allowed me to see all sides of a great course.
The South course gets a bad name on this site because the Rees changes were geared toward the U.S. Open and not the average golfer. The course is brutally difficult but that was kind of the point. Despite its length and narrow fairways, there is still quite a bit of strategy involved. For example, the tee shots of 3, 6, 7, and 17 provide the golfer with subtle strategic decisions. The more aggresive one's line, the more one brings the canyons or other trouble into play. There are a lot of situations in which the prudent player is tempted to take a shorter club off the tee, leaving a dreadfully long approach. The 13th hole is great little par 5 that tempts the longer player to stupidly go at an elevated, well guarded green with his 3 wood because the safe play is not a bargain either. The routing at Torrey makes clever use of the natural site, canyons, and ocean views. If I could suggest improvements on the course, I would suggest that the canyons be brought into play more often and that there be at least one shorter par 4 (as they created on 14 in the U.S. open). Additionally, I am not a fan of Rees' greens, which consist of many dramatic tiers and humps but are virtually flat on each level.
I am afraid that many posters on this site unfairly equate difficulty with the lack of strategy and architectural interest. Would anyone here hold the same view of Torrey if not for the outrageous greens fees? Would you feel the same way had you played the course from 6800 yards? What if the course had been conditioned like a private club?
I have also played the North course dozens of times and Barona a handful of times. It is preposterous IMO to rank either of those courses ahead of the South Course. Architecturally speaking, neither can hold a candle to the South. If I had 50 rounds to play between the North and South, I would play all 50 on the South without batting an eyelash. I can legitimately say this because I have done this. The dozens of North course rounds came when I had to play the course in tournaments or when I could not get out on the South.
I am very fond of Rustic Canyon, but comparing Rustic to Torrey is truly an apples to oranges comparison. What's the point?