At Home with the Pros

June 10, 2021 By Emily Redecker

When you think of Torrey Pines, you may think of a beautiful world-renowned golf course along the coast in San Diego where champions like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have battled it out to win major tournaments and where other challengers will be headed this week for the 2021 U.S. Open. Not everyone can say they have played at a golf course where a major professional championship is held, but for members of the Torrey Pines Men’s and Women’s clubs, it’s something they can do every week.

Never a Shortage of Competitors

With over 1500 members collectively and still continuously growing, both clubs are able to play the North and South course of Torrey and other top local courses through discounted member outings and competitive tournaments with varying formats including match play, individual low gross and low net, and best ball. As one can imagine, the demand for these events are as high as the demand for U.S. Open tickets. Larry Prosi, Vice President of Torrey Pines Men’s club stated, “Tournaments are oversubscribed. We just don’t have enough spots in every tournament to meet the demand. But we do pride ourselves in having very organized and high-quality tournaments that are fairly done”. The Men’s club uses a priority ranking system to determine who gets to play in tournaments and with half of those played at Torrey, members have plenty of opportunities to get that championship experience.

A World-Renowned Brand

Members agree that they are proud to call Torrey home and proud to have regular access to a world class course, especially since it’s incredibly difficult to get tee times for non-members. President Roy Burchill said, “I’m proud to be a member and be on the board for this club. You can tell anyone about Torrey Pines anywhere in the country and everyone knows what you’re talking about, it’s unbelievable. The club automatically draws more members in because people want to be affiliated with the name and have the chance to play some of the best courses, including Torrey, in San Diego”.

An Experience Like No Other

Naturally, the U.S. Open coming to Torrey only elevates their excitement. 250 of their enthusiastic members even signed up to volunteer for the event, just so they can see the pros play on their home course. During a member outing, Prosi was able to see the staff setting up the grand stands; just seeing it there, he said it “feels like you’re playing in front of a crowd”. Even though members can play the course every week, the glamor never wears off. Burchill recalls the time he got paired to play with a pro during a practice round and excitedly said, “You never know who you might see or get paired with at Torrey.” Playing at Torrey Pines gives members an experience like no other and they “enjoy getting beaten up by the course and enjoy the experience of trying to play the same course that the pros play at” Burchill explains. “It’s difficult for other clubs to say that they have two courses of world-caliber at such a spectacular setting”.

If you want to be part of the Torrey Pines experience, both member clubs are open to San Diego residents. Even if you’re not, there are clubs all over Southern California that offer the same sense of pride, community, and high-quality play. You may not get a chance to play in the U.S. Open, but your next round of golf could feel just like a major.