Golf Central

And so, after a 60-year hiatus, the US Open returns to the sunny shores of Southern California. Despite its undeniable beauty, make no mistake that Torrey Pines will be as stern a US Open test we've seen in recent years.  Golf's greatest virtue is that anyone can play it, and with Torrey Pines being a municipal course, this week's tournament is well and truly the people's US Open. Here's to California dreamin'...

1.) Torrey Pines is not your average muni
Torrey Pines is only the second municipal, or public course to host America’s most prestigious event, the first being Bethpage Black in 2002. Nestled on bluffs above the Pacific Ocean, a whopping 92,000 rounds of golf are played every year on Torrey Pines's north and south courses. Before being turned into a golf course, the land that would become venue for this week's tournament was Camp Callan,a military training centre. Designed by legendary course architect William F. Bell, Sr in 1957, the vision for Torrey Pines was to create a set of rugged, yet breathtaking courses that would play into the wind and sea.

2.) It's had more than a few tweaks for this week's US Open
As is de rigeur with all U.S. Open venues,"The Open Doctor" Rees Jones has completely re-designed the course, adding 28 bunkers, moving several greens, redesigning several holes and adding 500 yards in an exercise that cost $3.5 million. Even though the rough won't be as treacherous as it has been at recent venues - the longest will measure only 3 1/2 inches, nearly half the length of the last two years- the fairways will be typically narrow for a US Open venue, ranging in width from 24 yards to 33 yards at their widest. Couple that with stifling winds, harder than normal greens and lightning-fast fairways, it seems trumping Old Man Par will be as tricky as ever.
 
3.) It's scary long...
At 7,643 yards, the South Course is set to become the longest course in U.S. Open history. It will measure a hefty 379 yards longer than any other course on the rota, which, if you're 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk, won't be a problem. "You can't make golf courses long enough anymore," said he of the ugly swing, dull trouser and baggy shirt.

4.) Tiger is king at Torrey
Tiger knows Torrey Pines like the back of his mashie niblick and is a serial winner there. His record at the South Course is ridiculously good; not only does he hold the course record with a 62 at the 1999, but Woods has won 6 out of the 11 PGA Tour events he's played at Torrey Pines, including the last four Buick Invitationals on the trot. It's worth noting, however

5.) Not the kind of course for the Average Joe
Tiger Woods recently said that no 10-handicapper would be able to break 100 at last year's U.S Open venue, Oakmont. NFL quarterback Tony Romo and pop sensation Justin Timberlake proved Woods wrong (how often do you hear that?) by breaking 100 at a recent celebrity challenge at Torrey Pines. Romo, who plays off an impressive 2.2 handicap, carded an 84, which, come end of play on Thursday, some of the pros may well be happy with. Timberlake, a not too shabby 6-handicapper, shot 98, which leaves us with one thing to say: "In your face Tiger."

6.) Tiger won't be the only animal at Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines has got enough wildlife to keep even David Attenborough happy. Expect to see 15 types of different animal roaming the fairways and roughs of the South Course, the best of which we've picked out based on how funny their names are;Bobcat,Possum, Mule Deer, Red-tail, Great Blue Herron and Snowy Egret.

7.) Security is at an all time high at Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines seems to harbour an unfortunate history of being vandalised. Its bunkers, greens and water sprinklers have already been attacked  on two separate occasions this year. In 1999, vandals poured acid onto the 18th greens of both North and South courses just a few days before the Buick Invitational was due to be staged. The tournament organisers offered a $5,000 reward to help catch whoever burned deep gashes into the putting surfaces. The culprit/s were never found and the reward remained unclaimed.

8.) Craig Stadler's tried his hand at being a lumberjack
Probably the most famous moment in Torry Pines’ tournament history occurred in the 1978 Andy Williams Classic. Craig Stadler got himself disqualified after kneeling on a towel to protect his trousers while playing a shot from underneath the branches of a tree next to the South Course’s 14th fairway. Stadler got his revenge in 1995 when it was noticed that the tree was dying from a fungus and he was invited back to have at it with a chainsaw.

9.) And for anyone interested...
Our horticultural editor writes: The Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana), also called ‘Del Mar Pine’ and ‘Soledad Pine’ is the rarest pine tree in the United States. It is a broad, open-crowned tree growing to 8-15 metres tall, with 20-35 cm long leaves, or needles that come in groups of five, which is what makes the tree unique. The Torrey Pine grows slowly in the dry sandy soil and the seeds were an important food for the Kumeyaay tribe of Native American people.