Here’s how to spend three nights in La Jolla and play both courses at Torrey Pines for only $1,500

At No. 20 on GOLF’s most recent ranking of the Top 100 Courses You Can Play, the South Course at Torrey Pines is a must-play for any golfer who wants to cross a top-rated course off his or her bucket list.

Not only do the North and South courses co-host an annual Tour stop, this week’s Farmers Insurance Open, the South course also hosted the famous 2008 U.S. Open won by Tiger Woods, and is scheduled to host again in 2021.

And if you need more convincing to book a trip to play these gems, did I mention they’re in La Jolla, Calif. — mere minutes from the temperate-weather paradise that is San Diego? Here’s how to spend a long weekend there — and play both Torrey Pines courses! — for $1,500.

San Diego’s airport is small, but direct flights are plentiful. For a long weekend in mid-March, a nonstop round trip from BOS or JFK is $344 and $397, respectively, while ORD and SEA are $272 and $177 (all prices via Expedia).

TOTAL AIRFARE: ~$300

The half-hour drive from SAN to Torrey Pines will only set you back $25 in an Uber, so it’s a no-brainer to use the ride-share service for this trip — especially when you can split the total cost in half!

TOTAL SPEND: $300 + $25 = $325

If you’re looking for proximity to Torrey at an affordable price, you can’t go wrong with the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, which literally overlooks the courses. Expedia has a great price for the three-night stay I attempted to book in late March: $218.24 per night. After taxes and resort fees, the total comes out to $827.85 for three nights, which is only $413.93 per person! And the rate is the same whether you book a king bed or two doubles.

TOTAL SPEND: $325 + $413.93 = $738.93

Like New York’s Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines has famously friendly green fees for local residents, but visitors have to pay a significantly heftier rate.

The going weekend rate at the South Course is $252, while the North Course is $152. Keep in mind, you’ll also have to pay extra to book your tee time in advance ($45) and throw in an additional $40 per golf cart. So, assuming you’re going to book Saturday and Sunday rounds on the North and South courses (and play in a cart), you can expect to spend a total of $534 each.

TOTAL SPEND: $738.93 + $534 = $1,272.93

To keep this trip within a reasonable budget, try to adhere to the dining breakdown below:

Arrival dinner: $45

Day 1 golf course lunch: $20

Day 1 dinner: $45

Day 2 golf course lunch: $20

Day 2 dinner: $45

Miscellaneous breakfasts and snacks: $50

TOTAL DINING: $225

TOTAL SPEND: $1,272.93 + $225 = $1,497.93

And there you have it! Three nights in La Jolla and two rounds of golf at Torrey Pines, all for under $1,500! Ready to book? Happy travels!

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