The North Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, US, has reopened following a nine-month renovation project led by Tom Weiskopf Designs.

Tom Weiskopf was on site this week to reopen the course following a project that cost more than US$12 million to complete.

Owned by the City of San Diego, the North Course at Torrey Pines was originally designed by William F Bell and opened in 1957.

The renovation project included a reduction in the number of bunkers on the course, from 59 to 41.

The average green size has been significantly increased, and all 18 greens have been reconstructed to United States Golf Association standards. Existing poa annua grasses on the greens have been replaced with Tyee 007 blend bentgrass.

The front and back nines have also been switched.

“Switching the nines is very significant because the back nine is so iconic with its incredible views,” Weiskopf said. “The larger greens allow for more pin placements and more variety, and we've taken out bunkers but kept others that are strategically placed.”

The North Course now features five sets of tees, meaning it can be played as long as 7,258 yards or as short as 5,197 yards.

“I tried to bring the North Course into the 21st century,” Weiskopf said. “It was built in the 1950s, and nothing of significance had ever been done to it. Everything we did in the redesign was to bring it up to current standards. It's now a top-of-the-line golf course.”