Even scratch golfers average 8 over par, making Torrey Pines South one of the toughest public courses in America, according to one golf tech startup that recently mapped and ranked the course.
About 200,000 rounds of golf are played annually along the seaside cliffs, most notably during the annual Farmers Insurance Open.
“When it comes to public golf, Torrey Pines South is as good as it gets,” said Darren Feeney, vice president of marketing at Arccos Golf, a Connecticut-based golf technology company. For the last 14 years, Arccos has been developing technology that tells golfers how to play smarter.
By integrating a gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, bluetooth, the latest GPS technology and AI, Arccos can make sense of every shot taken.
Its new Arccos Air sensor, which was released last month, helped track more than 4,700 rounds from 2,700 golfers to determine which holes were the hardest.
The sensor is a small AI-powered wearable that tracks every shot you hit without needing sensors on your clubs.
It is worth noting that Arccos users tend to be slightly better than the average golfer. The company’s data set has an average handicap of about 11, while the USGA average is closer to 14 for men and 28 for women.
Still, even these better-than-average golfers scored 17 over par, or an 89, at Torrey Pines South.
The data shows golfers averaged 0.1 eagles per round — not surprising given the course’s difficulty — but only 5.3 pars, compared to the typical six to seven pars in an 18-hole round. Golfers averaged seven bogeys per round, higher than the typical four to five.
Approach shots and driving were the two biggest areas where strokes were lost, according to the report. And despite Torrey Pines’ notorious greens, the stroke loss on approaches did not surprise Feeney.
“You may end up saying, like, ‘Oh my gosh, I was terrible on the greens today. I had 40 putts. I really need to work on my putting.’ When in reality, it’s your approach shots or your short game where you didn’t hit it very close to the hole,” he said.
Torrey’s elevated greens rise from deep bunkers and Kikuyu rough, which can punish wayward shots; 34% of all strokes lost come on the approach, the report says.
But driving matters just as much, says Feeney. Only 26% of fairways are hit at Torrey Pines South. Golfers who miss the fairways face a significantly harder next shot.
Most golfers on the course are familiar with these challenges, as 72% of rounds were played by California residents. Others traveled from Texas, Arizona, Washington and Colorado, among other states, according to Arccos data.
Feeney says the data can be a game-changer. On average, handicaps improve 25% among Arccos users.
“If you show up on a golf course and you have no idea what your strengths and weaknesses are, then you’re probably going to continue to do the same thing,” he said. The data helps golfers learn where they can grow.
Torrey Pines South stats
Here is a look at where most Torrey Pines South golfers are having a hard time, and the places where players are making up for it:
The hardest holes:
- No. 1: “One of the most brutal opening holes in championship golf,” said Feeney. The 452-yard par 4 plays uphill into a prevailing wind. Only 19% of Arccos golfers make par or better, and over a third make double bogey or worse.
- No. 12: Only 17% make par 4 or better, the lowest odds of the course.
- No. 7: “Another demanding par 4,” said Feeney. It has the lowest birdie rate at 1.2%.
- No. 4: This hole punishes inaccuracy, according to Feeney. Over a third make double bogey or worse.
The most scorable holes:
- No. 6: This par 5 is the most birdie-able hole on the course, with 10.6% of Arccos golfers making it out under par.
- No. 18: The famous finishing par 5 has a birdie rate of 8.4% and 1% eagle rate as the downhill second shot tempts players to go for the green in two shots.
- No. 9: This is another par 5, a clear scoring opportunity.
