Can You Play Torrey Pines South on Trackman? Here’s How

Torrey Pines South is a municipal golf course. That is the most surprising thing about it. The same course that hosted the 2021 US Open where Jon Rahm drained an 18-foot putt on the 18th hole is a public golf course in San Diego. You can play it for $200 to $300 depending on the season. That is a lot for a muni. It is a bargain for a course that has hosted a major championship.

On Trackman, Torrey Pines South is an officially licensed LIDAR build. The cliffside setting, the Torrey Pines trees, the ocean views — they are all captured with professional-grade data. The course plays 7,800 yards from the tips. It is the longest course on the PGA Tour schedule outside of the majors. On Trackman, you feel every yard.

Why Torrey Pines Works on Trackman

Torrey Pines is a course of two halves. The front nine plays along the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. The back nine turns inland through the Torrey Pines State Reserve. The contrast is the defining feature of the course — ocean views on one side, tree-lined fairways on the other.

Trackman’s LIDAR data captures the elevation changes that make Torrey Pines distinctive. The course sits on the cliffs above the Pacific, and the drop-offs are significant. The 3rd hole, a 140-yard par 3 that plays directly toward the ocean, is one of the most visually dramatic holes in sim golf. On Trackman, the elevation data makes the club selection a genuine puzzle. The wind coming off the ocean changes the yardage. The cliffside setting affects the trajectory. You hit a wedge and hope the wind does not carry it into the water.

The length is the other defining feature. Torrey Pines South is 7,800 yards from the championship tees. That is an absurd amount of golf course. On Trackman, the fairways are generous enough that you can hit driver on most holes. The challenge is the approach shots. They are long. The greens are hard to hold. The poa annua surface is as unpredictable as it is in real life.

Trackman’s radar physics engine handles the long-iron approaches correctly. When you hit a 3-iron from 220 yards into a firm green, the ball flight, spin, and landing angle all matter. Trackman calculates them using the same algorithms that the PGA Tour uses. The ball stops if you hit it well. It runs through if you do not. That is how real golf works.

How to Access It

Open Trackman Virtual Golf. Navigate to the course library. Search “Torrey Pines South.” The officially licensed version is the only option. Both the South and North courses are available — make sure you select the South for the US Open layout.

Load it from the championship tees. Set conditions to firm. Set wind to 10-15 mph. Play it in the afternoon for the full poa annua experience.

The Holes That Define the Round

The 3rd Hole — The Par 3 with the Ocean: 140 yards from the championship tees, playing directly toward the Pacific Ocean. The green is raised. The ocean is behind it. The wind is in your face. On Trackman, this is as close to perfect as a sim hole gets. The view is spectacular. The shot is demanding. The result is never guaranteed. Hit a wedge, hold your breath, and watch the ball ride the wind toward the green.

The 12th Hole — The Par 3 with the Canyon: A 180-yard par 3 playing across a canyon. The green is surrounded by bunkers and the canyon is deep enough to swallow any ball that misses short. On Trackman, the canyon depth is captured in the LIDAR data. You will feel the nerves. Hit it long, hit it short, or hit it perfect. There is no in-between.

The 18th Hole — The Finisher: The hole where Rahm made history. A 570-yard par 5 with the fairway sloping right to left. The approach is to a raised green with the clubhouse in the background. On Trackman, the second shot is the decision point. The fairway is generous. The green is reachable in two if you hit a perfect drive and the wind helps. The layup is the smart play. The hero play is the fun play. You know which one you are going to choose.

How It Compares to Other Versions

GSPro has community builds of Torrey Pines South that are excellent. The ocean views are rendered well. The 3rd hole plays beautifully. The course is one of the most visually rewarding in the GSPro library.

Trackman’s version is professionally licensed. The LIDAR data is higher resolution. The elevation changes on the cliffside holes are more accurate. The ocean rendering is more realistic.

The difference is most noticeable on the 3rd hole. On GSPro, the hole plays well. On Trackman, the wind calculation and the elevation data combine to create a shot that feels exactly like the real thing. If you are using Torrey Pines as a training tool, Trackman is the better choice. If you just want to enjoy the views, GSPro is perfectly adequate.

The Bottom Line

Torrey Pines South on Trackman is the most accurate sim version of this course available. The combination of professional LIDAR data, Trackman’s radar physics, and the official course access makes it the definitive version for serious golfers.

The $29,490 price of entry is the barrier. If you have a Trackman at your club or a local facility, play the 3rd hole at sunset. Hit the shot. Watch the ball against the Pacific sky. That is why sim golf exists.

For the full list of courses worth playing on Trackman, read The Best Courses on Trackman Performance. Need the full software breakdown? Check our Best Courses on Trackman Performance guide for the complete breakdown.