2008 US Open Venue: Torrey Pines Course Layout

Torrey Pines Golf Course consists of a north and a south course - the north course is known as the easier of the two, with the south course having the more difficult layout and hence being the venue for the 2008 US Open Golf tournament.

The south course was originally designed by William Bell Senior in 1957 and in early 2002 Rees Jones completed an extensive and expensive ($3.5 million) renovation to the Torrey Pines South Golf Course, which included significant additions and alterations of bunkers and greens as well as a lengthening of fairways. The par-72 course now stretches over 7 607 yards, making it the longest course visited by a PGA championship event.

The setting of the Torrey Pines south course is breathtaking to say the least. With mountains watching over proceedings from the north and the swirling Pacific Ocean to the west, the course's holes - and those who play them - often have to endure wide-ranging weather conditions - from sun to rain to fog to icy winds - Torrey Pines gets it all.

2008 US Open Venue: Torrey Pines Course Layout

The layout of the Torrey Pines south golf course is mostly characterised by the long and narrow fairways. US Open 2008 players will need to drive powerfully and accurately if they want to score well on these holes. There's not much room for error, and green approach shots also need to be precisely played.

The hilly terrain makes for an interesting arrangement and diversity of holes. The average green size is 4 500 square feet, and there are 32 acres of fairway and 68 acres of rough. Sand bunkers are hardly rare - with a total of 54 dotted around the course to making things that much harder for golfers already challenged by the long, narrow fairways and often inclement weather.

The 2008 US Open venue, Torrey Pines south golf course, won't show any forgiveness and this is bound to ensure an exciting tournament.

Read more about Torrey Pines facilities or find out about directions to Torrey Pines, the 2008 US Open venue.