SAN DIEGO GOLF NEWS - With his victory this past Sunday at the Buick Invitational hosted at Torrey Pines, Tiger Woods joined some elite company, even though at times it felt like he was putting on a self endorsed clinic with the other golfers playing a supporting role.

Tiger Woods is now in the elite golf company as he is tied with Arnold Palmer for fourth on the PGA Tour list with 62 career wins.

It wasn't a typical "Tiger Finish" as he bogeyed a three holes in a row down the stretch of the back nine. But, Tiger did provide some genuine golf shots with an improbable flop shot from behind the ninth green to save par. Also, Tiger drilled a 60-foot birdie putt that started in one direction and slid into the cup from the other.

The outcome was never in doubt at the Buick Invitational, only the final score. Tiger did provide the USGA with some strategies to toughen up the course for the upcoming 2008 US Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines in June.

Go Golf San Diego is positive that the USGA will try to "Tiger Proof" Torrey Pines this June. The problem is, what happens to the rest of the field...

San Diego residents and destination golfers have often asked Go Golf San Diego to post the "Must-Play" public golf courses in San Diego. Well, based on our staff's experience and some of our key community members, we have compiled a list of "Must-Play" courses for all of our members' reference. Currently, this list of SD public golf courses is in alpha order. Let us know how you would rank these particular courses or if we missed one or two, and if you would add any other SD courses to the "Must-Play" list.

It is that time of year again in San Diego and the ARC of San Diego is selling tickets to the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course, January 21 - 27, 2008.

ARC of San Diego is selling discounted Buick Invitational tickets are only $15 per day ($25 at the gate) and the ARC of San Diego gets to keep all of the proceeds from the ticket sales. The proceeds are going to be used to build new buildings for our people. The ARC of San Diego has been providing services for people with disabilities and their families since 1951.

Remember, the tickets are only $15 per day and it benefits charity, so please use the following link to purchase your tickets for the 2008 Buick Invitational.

2008 Buick Invitational Discounted Tickets

You just might see Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson win another tournament in San Diego! 

So, you're excited to play the South Course at Torrey Pines in June for San Diego's first hosted US Open golf tournament. Well, you need to qualify first Average Joe...

The good news for you is that any professional golfer or any amateur with a USGA men's handicap index of 1.4 or lower can attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open.

Many golfers are exempt from sectional qualifying, or exempt from local qualifying but not from sectional. Most of the exemptions are based on such things as performance in other majors, performance in other USGA championships, standing on the money list or world golf rankings, and so on.

Assuming you don't qualify for an exemption (which you, Average Joe, probably don't), then you'll have to take part in a local qualifier.

Local qualifiers are 18 holes in length, played at stroke play. Golfers who advance out of local qualifying move on to the sectional qualifiers, where they are also joined by golfers who were exempt from local qualifying.

Those who make it through sectional qualifying join the final field of 156 golfers for the U.S. Open, along with all the golfers who were exempt from any qualifying.

Morgan Run's Buick Invitational Package

With this package, you will see the PGA pros play Torrey Pines January 21-27, 2008 - site of the 2008 US Open. You'll stay in Rancho Santa Fe at Morgan Run Resort & Club and attend the Buick Invitational Golf tournament, for only $159.00 per person, per night based on double occupancy with a 2 night minimum stay.

The Buick Invitational Package includes:

• Patron Badge, which includes admission to the grounds, Century Club Pavilion hospitality tent, and VIP grandstand seating.
• VIP Season Preferred Parking Pass, park adjacent to the 12th hole, shuttle available to the 18th tee.
• Deluxe accommodations at Morgan Run Resort & Club.
• Also available but not included are golf, tennis, and spa services.

With the U.S. Open coming to San Diego’s Torrey Pines Golf Course in June of this year, this month's Buick Invitational at the La Jolla course will certainly have a different look and feel.

Though the most substantial changes to Torrey Pines Golf Course came in 2001, when a redesign by Rees Jones added nearly 300 yards to the South Course, players and spectators will see subtle differences when they arrive and walk the course.

According to Tom Wilson, Executive Director of the Century Club, "the city of San Diego has gone to great lengths to improve the golf course extensively in a lot of areas. It installed concrete cart paths wall-to-wall in March last year and carts have not been allowed off, which means the golf course conditions are great." 

Go Golf San Diego News Release

As of January 1, 2008, Go Golf San Diego is proud to announce that we are offering discount online tee time reservations for exclusive San Diego Golf Courses through our website (www.gogolfsandiego.com).

With Go Golf San Diego's online tee time reservation system, our San Diego golf community members now have full access to SD golf specials, tee time discounts, and other golf promotion deals. All you need to do to become a member of Go Golf San Diego is register through our website to start receiving all the golf benefits and tee time discounts.

It is a tremendous milestone for all of us at Go Golf San Diego to now be your Discount Tee Time Reservation Provider. This is another value-added product our Go Golf San Diego members will have access to.

Torrey Pines, host of the 2008 US Open Golf Tournament, recently received its complimentary 9-foot tower clock from Rolex.

The impressive Rolex clock was installed on a new concrete path between the putting greens in front of the Torrey Pines clubhouse. Currently, there are seasonal poinsettias in the surrounding planter. These poinsettias will most likely be replaced by more festive flowers during the June US Open golf tournament.