Earlier this summer, on the exact weekend that the U.S. Open will be played next year actually, I was relaxing poolside at The Lodge at Torrey Pines when I was introduced to a charming, attractive, middle-aged lady who had just finished her lunch and was starting to wind down her day. When I asked for her impressions on her stay at the Lodge, she stated she wasn’t actually a guest. Rather, she told me she lived in nearby Del Mar; an affluent community just up the coast and loves to come for the relaxation, the best lunch around, and the attentive service. Now, when a local resident chooses to spend her afternoons at a hotel rather than her home in Del Mar, it definitely enhances its reputation, which is already stellar. That is why it came as no surprise when I discovered that the hotel’s signature restaurant, A.R. Valentien, serves close to 60% local clientele daily. I’d go there every day myself, if I could!

My initial impressions of the Lodge at Torrey Pines came the first time I visited five years ago, and they were well beyond my expectations. The Lodge had just opened, and ever since that first visit I have found it difficult to choose anywhere else in San Diego for my temporary residence, and believe me there is a bounty of distinguished choices. But where else can you find a relaxing spa situated under the limbs of an ancient, beautiful, live Torrey Pines, right above the first tee of the South Course at Torrey Pines, staring down the first fairway as it stretches to the Pacific? The fact that it’s also adjacent to the saline pool right below the patio of the Lodge makes it the perfect place to spend your late afternoons, enjoying a sunset moment as you watch the golfers scramble to finish before dark.

Moments and amenities like this have made the Lodge very popular, but with the U.S. Open coming next June, I guess you could say that one tough ticket just got a lot tougher! When one thinks of the U.S. Open golf championships, you think of long, gnarly rough, fast, hard greens, tempers flaring, patience being tested, no time to relax, and serious stress. The 2008 Open coming to stoic and beautiful Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California will be no different in straining the nerves and testing the best players in the world’s ability to circumnavigate the 7,600 yard long arduous test, one that Fred Couples described as “a whole lot of golf course out there.” However, if they were able to get a room at the adjacent, luxurious Lodge at Torrey Pines, those dreadful memories and strained nerves would quickly be soothed in the subtle, serene surroundings of Southern California coastal living at its best.

Strolling about 6 acres of grounds and down the halls of the Lodge at Torrey Pines, one cannot help but notice the deep tones and richness of its structure. The Lodge is solid post and beam construction in the old style architecture of the 1900’s referred to as California Craftsman; best exemplified in the Gamble and Blacker designs of old Pasadena featuring framing of Jatoba woodwork. Each of the 170 rooms is neatly appointed in deep brown wood bed frames and tables. Baths feature deep soaking tubs, granite floors and counter tops, and you’ll find only the finest toiletries with sage and lemongrass soaps. Every guest room and the nine suites are also equipped with the latest in high-tech details for today’s business traveler, and the Lodge offers 13,000 sq. ft. of meeting space for business conferences, retreats and meetings.

Relaxation comes easily at the Lodge. The pool is filled with warm saline water and New-Age music plays underwater. The deck surrounding the pool is lined with supremely comfortable lounge furniture and elegant cream and green striped cabanas.

 The pool towels seem thicker than the rough on the golf course. The award winning 9,500 sq. ft. Spa has 14 treatment rooms and an excellent menu of treatments. Overstuffed couches and chairs invite you to relax by the fireplace in the lobby looking out over the pool and golf course, or in the lounge while enjoying a refreshing cocktail or beverage.  

Quality abounds at the Lodge, from the front door to the rooms to the lobby bar, with natural stone surfaces and hard wood floors, some that lead to the award-winning A.R. Valentien restaurant. It’s my choice as the finest restaurant in all of San Diego, and I am not alone with that opinion. Under the supervision of Executive Chef Jeff Jackson, this sublime, comfortably appointed eatery exudes freshness. Daily, Chef Jackson and his staff venture out to local organic farms to retrieve the finest in fresh vegetables and herbs to be served in their dining room that evening. Only the finest ever make it to Jeff’s kitchen.

The menu is extraordinary, with daily specials of fresh seafood, greens, fruits and vegetables, plus prime aged beef. There is a stress on healthy, light fare, and the soups are some of the tastiest to have ever crossed my lips. Everything is served in a unique style with outstanding presentation. The restaurant is named after the early 1900’s impressionist artist, Albert Robert Valentien, and proudly displays many of his artworks in and about its 90 seats. More artwork will arrive at your table courtesy of the hands of Chef Jackson, the former Executive Chef at the highly acclaimed Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica and winner of the prestigious Bocuse d’Or Culinary Gold Cup, far too much for me to describe here. A.R. Valentien carries an extensive wine list from California’s finest vintners, and you’ll get helpful suggestions from the attentive staff. After your sumptuous meal, make sure to test the desserts, for these will simply blow your mind. And if the chef ever saunters through the dining room, invite him over as we did on our last visit and you will feel you are in the company of greatness.

For more casual dining and lunch after golf, there is The Grill and Bar just off the putting green that serves lighter fare but is still excellent, and a terrific 19th hole.

And now for the awards ceremony! The Lodge at Torrey Pines has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, none more esteemed than the AAA Five-Diamond in each of the five years it has been pampering its guests. Awards and recognition also includes The Gold List in Conde N’ast Traveler, The 100 Best to Stay in Robb Report, Travel and Leisure’s World’s Best Hotels, and Golf Magazine included them in America’s Best Golf Resorts.

Golf is a major recreation at Torrey Pines, and tee times can be arranged through the Lodge’s golf services office. They suggest making reservations at least 21 days in advance, especially for the South Course at Torrey Pines, but they can often accommodate short notice tee times, as well.

For non-golf activities, I highly recommend the walk through the Torrey Pines State Reserve bordering the north end of the North Course, which leads down to a most relaxing, cliff lined beach. There is also the nightlife of San Diego and surrounding beach towns, and The Lodge has a pair of Mercedes-Benz vehicles available for guest use to and from the hotel. All of this can be arranged through the friendly concierge, of course. I encourage you to visit www.lodgetorreypines.com and take a virtual tour of the property to sweeten your appetite even more. It’s a shame you can’t inhale the aromas from A.R. Valentien on the website, but then again, wouldn’t you rather enjoy the surprise?

Take my advice and make your reservations to visit the Lodge at Torrey Pines. The greeting under the front door canopy from the men in their green tartan kilts is only the beginning of a great experience. Just don’t try to make reservations for the third week in June next year.
Personally, I’m already looking forward to my next visit to San Diego and the Lodge, where a moonlit night in the hot spa under the sprawling Torrey Pine with a cigar and a glass of delicious red wine is simply as good as it gets!