Torrey North Going South?
Friday, January 16, 2004 at 11:12 AM Even though all accounts say it’s in better shape than the South
Course, they just can’t wait to blow up the North Course at Torrey
Pines to make it more maintenance friendly. Well, not everyone is eager
to rev up the dozers.
According to Tod Leonard in the San Diego Union-Tribune (reg. required), one city council member wasn’t so pleased after hearing what Rees Jones had planned for the first nine holes.
"My opinion was that they ruined the South Course, but at least I understood why they did it – to get the U.S. Open," Michael Zucchet said yesterday. "I love a tough golf course, but I miss the old, historic South.
Interesting concept: you have to ruin a course to get a U.S. Open. Actually, there’s a lot of truth to that!
The story also notes more changes that will be made to the South Course, where two par-5’s will be converted to par-4’s to strip as much interest from the course as possible. The 18th fairway will even be regraded to make it work as a par-4. Because Lord knows, the excitement on the 18th at this year’s Buick would be unacceptable at a U.S. Open!
Torrey Pines