First time playing the North course (3/30/13) and I really enjoyed the experience. I had played South before and I think the North compares favorably to South in almost every aspect from views to challenge level. Sure, North is a notch below South in length but there are some equally difficult holes on this course too.
Staff: Starter was very friendly and even tried to get us on earlier than our scheduled tee-time. Unfortunately for us, the group in front slowed everyone down by not only showing up late to the #1 tee-box but taking forever to play. The starter was also scrambling all over the place making sure people were teeing off on both courses. I saw some marshals from time to time but never saw them say anything to anyone.
Tee-boxes: Level and with plenty of green to tee-up on. This may have been as we were once again playing our skill level appropriate tee-boxes (white) and blue may have been a bit more chewed-up. Side note, I like the fact they don't put up black tee markers so as to not tempt the naive and cocky golfer into playing there and slowing down the round further.
Fairways: Really nice and green. Every shot I took from the fairway was clean and I rarely saw any areas of brown. No ground under repair that I could see.
Bunkers: Not the softest of sand but clean enough to hit out of and no pebbles or clumps to be found so that was good. People did a good job of raking the traps.
Rough: Really well kept and much less dense than the last time I played Torrey which was days after the Junior Amateur Championships. Still a hassle to hit out of, but at least there is an opportunity to get your ball back on the fairway.
Greens: Really lovely and green. They were moving at a medium-fast pace but nothing that would really leave you befuddled. The highlight of the course conditions.
Layout: Holes 5-7 are the gems on North and some of the holes on the back look the same as they just go back and forth down the same area of the course. Watch yourself for errant drives on almost every hole in the back 9 as they are really bunched together. I prefer the layout of South but North was very nice and cheaper too.
Pace: Surprisingly fast for twilight. Had it not been for the foursome in front of us, this may have been a 4 hour round. Overall though pace was really nice throughout the course.
If you are a SD resident and have a Resident Card, do yourself the favor of booking a tee-time here, you won't regret it.
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