Torrey Pines (South Course)

In 1950, the city of San Diego hired William P. Bell (sometimes referred to as “Billy Bell Sr.”) to submit a plan for a golf course on the cliffs above Black’s Beach, just north of the seaside enclave of La Jolla. Before the project moved forward, however, Bell Sr. died of a heart attack, and his son, William F. Bell (whom we can call “Billy Bell Jr.” for the sake of clarity) took over the family firm. It was Bell Jr. who designed the South and North Courses at Torrey Pines, both of which opened in 1957. The South was, from the beginning, the brawnier and more serious of the two — the championship layout. Bell Jr.’s architecture was utilitarian and not especially exciting, with bunkers repetitively guarding the front-right and front-left corners of the greens, but his routing did a fine job of maximizing ocean frontage. 

In preparation for hosting the 2008 U.S. Open, Torrey Pines brought in architect Rees Jones to renovate the South Course. Jones lengthened and re-bunkered holes, reconstructed greens, and generally brought the design into alignment with the “Open Doctor” philosophy pioneered by his father, Robert Trent Jones. Before the 2021 U.S. Open, Rees Jones returned to conduct a similar renovation. Today’s South Course — with its narrow fairways, thick rough, flanking bunkers, and tiered greens — reflects the preferences of the Jones family more than those of the Bells.

While its days of staging national championships appear to be over, the South Course at Torrey Pines is still one of the most important and popular public golf courses in America. Its long views of the Pacific Ocean are a welcome sight on television every January at the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open. Despite the grandeur of its setting, however, the South Course falls short of greatness. To meet the potential of its property, it would need a more varied and original design — one that doesn’t just sit near the coastal bluffs but turns them into a compelling strategic hazard.

Take Note

Which Bell? Torrey Pines has long sent mixed messages about which Bell — William P. or William F., Sr. or Jr. — is responsible for its golf courses. TorreyPines.com, a reservations website, states that the South Course was “originally designed by William Bell Sr. in 1957,” but Bell Sr. passed away in 1953. The City of San Diego’s official materials are more detailed, though equally perplexing: “Before his death in 1953, legendary course architect William F. [sic] Bell, Sr., had envisioned the design of a wind and sea swept golf course…. Bell’s son, William F., would ensure his father’s vision was realized by overseeing the completion of the North and South courses at Torrey Pines….” In other words, Bell Sr. had the “vision” and Bell Jr. carried it out. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that Bell Sr. made any contributions, visionary or otherwise, to the design of Torrey Pines. All we know is that Bell Jr. submitted a plan for the courses after his father’s death.

This confusion between the Bells is not uncommon. In Southern California, golf courses are eager to be associated with Bell Sr., who worked with the great George C. Thomas on Riviera Country Club, Bel-Air Country Club, and the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club. Bell Jr., although more prolific in the 1950s and 60s than his father ever was in the 1920s and 30s, has attracted far less renown. But facts are facts. The younger Bell—William F., not P.—created the courses at Torrey Pines.

From military base to race track to golf course. Before it was converted to fairways and greens, the Torrey Pines property was a military training facility called Camp Callan. Camp Callan opened in January 1941, almost a year before the United States entered World War II, and closed in November 1945, two months after the war ended. In the early 1950s, car races were held on the site, using a track that overlapped with some parts of today’s routing of the South Course.

A warning about Black’s Beach. The beach at the base of the Torrey Pines’ cliffs is “clothing-optional.” Your mileage may vary, but I’d rather go hang-gliding.

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