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Pinehurst Area Courses
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Beacon Ridge
Golf and Country Club Beacon Ridge Golf and Country Club, a Gene Hamm
design on rolling, wooded terrain, opened in 1988. This well-maintained
course has bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens.
About 10 minutes outside the main Pinehurst area, Beacon Ridge offers
some fine golf in a relaxed environment. It's part of a housing
development, but houses don't interfere with play too much, if at all.
You'll find that the back nine is less undulating than the front and,
therefore, a little less difficult by comparison. But overall, the course
is challenging without being impossible--a happy medium that will satisfy
golfers of all levels.
Perhaps what sets Beacon Ridge apart from a number of other area
courses is the variety. Just about every hole boasts its own character.
There isn't too much water to contend with, but when it comes into play,
it will definitely affect your plan of attack. There are plenty of bunkers
lurking to distract you as well--most of which are large and flat, with no
lip. The greens are mostly large and sloped. You'll find decent room off
the tee, but if you miss the fairway, you'll end up in deep rough and pine
trees and might not find your ball. Keep it in play and your score should
be sensible.
The most picturesque hole might be the par 4 13th, short at just 344
from the tips, and downhill off the tee with a bunker on the right hand
side of the fairway. There's water and a large tree to the left of the
green, which is also flanked by two large bunkers. A solid short hole
requiring more precision than pure muscle.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
bar, restaurant, rental clubs and a pro shop.
The course is walkable for the extremely fit, but you'll be better off
with a cart. Approximate cost, including cart, is $60 high season, $40
low. Country Club of Whispering Pines The Country Club of Whispering Pines opened the
East Course in 1959 and the West Course in 1970--both Ellis Maples
designs. The East Course is set on rolling terrain; the West Course is
relatively flat. In the fairways, you'll find bermudagrass; on the greens,
bentgrass.
The housing around the course is mostly owned by retirees who purchased
the club from the developers a few years ago. There's a big membership
push going on and the club is close to becoming private. The club offers a
limited number of on-site condos for rent. The clientele here is mostly
retirees.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
restaurant, rental clubs and a pro shop.
Both courses are walkable, but you must take a cart if you're not a
member. Approximate cost, including cart, is $66 high, $55 medium and $46
low. West Course Let's start with the West Course--newer, shorter
and tighter than its sister track. There's plenty of water to negotiate on
the back nine, and thus this course rewards accuracy and sound judgment
over big hitting. There's a great variety of interesting holes and
relatively few homes--the course is mature enough that tall pines tend to
obscure the back porch of Ted and Millie Morris' place.
The key from the tee is to keep the ball in play on the tight fairways;
the key to scoring from there is to avoid the many and mostly large
bunkers that protect the large greens. If you miss the green and the rough
is deep, then getting up and down requires a bit of good fortune.
Even though it's rated as the easiest hole on the course, the par 3
14th could yield a big number. The large green is set at 45 degrees to the
tee and is flanked by two bunkers. There's water short left and long
right, but at just 160 yards from the tips, it shouldn't cause too much
difficulty for the better player and could even yield a birdie.
With its emphasis on accuracy over brute length, the West course is set
up perfectly for the membership. East Course Speaking of accuracy versus distance, perhaps the
opposite could be said of the East Course, a track that's more than 7100
yards from the back tees. Of course, you don't have to play from the tips.
The course will play somewhat friendlier from other tees. The fairways are
mostly wide, and there seem to be quite a few of the epic and sweeping
doglegs that made Ellis Maples famous. The track is really extremely fair
and somewhat challenging, and most holes offer difficulties without
gimmicks.
On the back nine, you'll find a couple of holes where water comes into
play--it helps to be somewhat straight off the tee. You'll have plenty of
chances to risk aiming for a certain segment of the fairway--the reward
for a well-placed shot will be an easier approach. The greens are large,
sloped and protected primarily by large bunkers. There are quite a few
fairway bunkers. This fun and challenging course will test even the
scratch golfer (from the back tees).
The most interesting hole might be the par 5 11th, a whopping 583 yards
from the tips with water threatening off the tee and then the entire
left-hand side. Even though the tee shot is downhill, Maples designed it
to be a true three-shotter where par is gladly accepted. Cypress Lakes Golf Club Officials told us that Cypress Lakes opened in
1968, although we think (and we'll tell you why later) that it's much
older. L.B. Floyd designed the course on rolling, wooded terrain, with
bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens.
There are probably better golf courses in the greater Fayetteville
metropolitan area, but this one stands out because it was previously owned
by L.B. Floyd, father of golfing greats Raymond and Marlene Floyd. If
you've ever read Ray Floyd's From Sixty Yards In, you know about
young Raymond splashing about in the bunkers on his father's course. This
is where the younger Floyd learned how to get the ball up and down so
impressively . . . and so lucratively. Considering Raymond is
50-something, we think the course must have opened before 1968. The
scorecard amusingly describes Cypress Lakes as an "Open, Championship
Course."
The course itself has been under new ownership for quite some time, and
a renovation is complete. The layout is somewhat straightforward, and the
obvious hazards or difficulties that need to be negotiated are easily
visible from wherever you lie. Still, it's a fun track that's well worth a
visit if you're into finding out where the Floyds originally played golf.
The front nine ends with a tricky par 3, a whopping 245 from the tips,
mostly over water to a small green. Par this one and the hot dog at the
turn will taste like filet mignon.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
bar, restaurant, rental clubs and a pro shop.
You can walk your round and book a tee time anytime. Approximate cost,
including cart, is $25 on weekdays and $30 on weekends. Deercroft Golf and Country Club The golf course at Deercroft Golf and Country Club
opened in 1984. Gardner Gildy designed the track, which is set in wooded
and undulating terrain.
Deercroft is roughly 15 minutes south of Aberdeen on U.S. Hwy. 15/501.
As you approach the pro shop, a large sign tells you that Golf Week
Magazine hailed Deercroft as "One of America's Best Golf
Courses."
Deercroft is a course cut out of some fine and mature pine forest, thus
you'll always feel like you're far from civilization and all of its
accompanying hassles and distractions. The preponderance of trees means
you must keep the ball straight off the tee. Take whatever club you need
to keep it out of the woods and away from the out-of-bounds markers that
can often be quite close to the fairway. Adding to the fun are a number of
deep and nasty fairway bunkers that may keep your ball from skidding into
the woods but may also create an extra shot or two. There isn't a huge
amount of water here at Deercroft. Among local cognoscenti, Deercroft is
feared as a difficult and demanding golf course.
Most of the greens are large and sloped and often surrounded by a
series of flat bunkers with little or no significant face. A good player
will probably not find it too difficult to get up and down. The real
challenge here at Deercroft comes from keeping it long and straight off
the tee, especially on some of the more muscular par 4s: There are six
two-shotters of more than 400 yards from the tips, including the 18th,
which is a 470-yard par 4.
Deercroft is walkable for the fit, and you can walk when the course
isn't too crowded. You can book a tee time at your convenience.
Approximate cost, including cart, is $65 during the high season and $37
during the low season. Foxfire Resort and Country Club First, a note about the resort and accommodations:
Plenty of people live all year at Foxfire, but many visit for a conference
or just for golf. There are plenty of condominiums for rent, each with
various bedroom/bathroom configurations. Call (800) 736-9347 for a
brochure with all the details. Foxfire also specializes in conferences,
tournaments and outings.
Once you've completed all your business, spend some quality time on the
golf course. The resort's new management, as part of its extensive
renovation plan, built a completely new and spacious clubhouse. Everyone
here is friendly, and if you're looking for a relaxed setting for whatever
sort of golf outing suits your fancy, you can't go wrong at Foxfire. With
an advance call to the pro shop, the public can get a tee time on either
course. Despite all the recent improvements (and accompanying rate hikes),
Foxfire still represents one of the better values in Pinehurst.
Now, on to the golf courses. Gene Hamm designed both of them. The East
Course opened in 1968 and the West Course in 1973. Both are set in rolling
terrain, with pine forest bordering the bermudagrass fairways. Greens are
covered with bentgrass.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
bar, restaurant, rental clubs and a pro shop.
Both courses are walkable for the fit, and the management now
encourages walking at most times. Approximate cost, including cart, is $77
high, $65 medium and $51 low. East Course Let's start with the East Course. You'll begin with
the No. 1 handicap hole, a medium-length par 5. There's plenty of length
from the back tees and plenty of width on most of the fairways. If you
spray it a little off the tee, you may find either deep rough or a nasty
bunker, heavily infiltrated with love grass. You'll find some of those
same bunkers around many of the greens. The greens are primarily large and
sloped. You can push or pull the ball a little, be pin high and still have
a long putt for birdie. Water could prove irritating if you miss a shot
badly. You might enjoy the back nine a little more than the front: It's
completely undeveloped, and you really feel like you're away from it all.
Some of the finest holes are on the back nine and require your best form
and behavior. Most intimidating is the par 3 12th, 212 from the tips to a
green where anything left means bogey and anything right means triple. West Course The West Course is fun, well designed and perhaps a
little easier in places than its counterpart, although it's plenty
difficult in other spots. Water comes into play on a few holes but
shouldn't pose much of a problem unless you're particularly wayward. The
greens are large and mostly flat, as are the bunkers. The challenges are
evident; there's nothing tricked-up or artificial. If we had to choose
between the two courses, we'd probably pick the East, but you'll be just
as satisfied with the West, which has a bit more eccentricity, quirkiness,
and undulation. Foxfire is fortunate to have two good golf courses at its
disposal.
The most memorable hole might be the 9th, a 519-yard par 5 with a
difficult tee shot downhill; club selection is critical as it's important
to clear the trees and thus leave a clear second shot to the green. Hyland Hills Golf Club Hyland Hills Golf Club opened in 1973. Tom Jackson
designed the course on rolling, wooded terrain bordered by houses and pine
forest. Fairways are bermudagrass; greens, bentgrass.
Just north of Southern Pines, Hyland Hills offers a fine and fun golf
course in a pleasant, primarily open setting. It's one of Tom Jackson's
earlier efforts and offers plenty of well-designed holes. You won't find
too much trouble off the tee, although wayward shots might find the deep
rough in the summer, some nasty bunkers or the occasional small mound.
Around the large and interestingly shaped greens are bunkers, more mounds
and some greens with considerable slope and undulation. The greens pose
the most difficulty, so bring your best putting game.
Hyland Hills offers a little more undulation than its local
counterparts, a facet that is particularly noticeable on the downhill 5th,
a precipitous 409 yards to a large green. The bold will try to cut the
corner.
Overall, Hyland Hills provides outstanding variety. It's a good example
of what made Tom Jackson such a sought-after designer. Mid- to low
handicappers should play the course from the back tees for the full effect
and the most challenge. The course is an excellent value and justifiably
popular.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
bar, restaurant, rental clubs and a pro shop.
The course is walkable for the extremely fit, but walking is
restricted. Approximate cost, including cart, ranges from $60 down to $41. Keith Hills Country Club Keith Hills opened in 1977. Ellis Maples designed
the course, and Dan Maples, his son, assisted. The course is set in
primarily rolling, wooded terrain bordered by houses, with bermudagrass
fairways and bentgrass greens.
Keith Hills is a well-regarded course that's owned and operated by
Campbell University, so if you see a camel wandering across the first
fairway, you'll understand why (and if you don't understand--the
university's mascot is a camel). The course is so popular that it's often
difficult to get a tee time during peak seasons.
This beautiful course has the reputation for being kept in excellent
condition. The fairways are wide, but the rough can get thick. The greens
are large and sloped. A couple of elevated tees make for some dramatic tee
shots. There's a reason why a course that's a little off the beaten track
is so busy--it's not necessarily the hot dogs in the snack bar.
In October 1995, Keith Hills opened the largest practice facility in
North Carolina, designed by Dan Maples. There's also an indoor teaching
center. If you're in the Buies Creek or Sandhills area, check out Keith
Hills.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
snack bar, rental clubs and a pro shop.
The course is walkable, and you can walk anytime, although in the busy
seasons you will be charged a cart fee whether you ride or not. Make sure
you call ahead for that tee time. Approximate cost, including cart, is $35
weekdays and $40 on the weekend. King's Grant Golf and Country Club Jim Holmes designed King's Grant Golf and Country
Club, which opened in 1990. The course is set in rolling, wooded terrain
bordered by houses. In the fairways, you'll find bermudagrass; on the
greens, bentgrass.
Fayetteville is best known throughout the world as home to one of the
largest army bases in the United States: Fort Bragg. This is where you'll
find paratroopers and green berets. You'll also find King's Grant, a
housing-development course that's quite a challenge, particularly from the
back tees. Many of the holes are extremely close to the houses, but if you
ignore the back tees and the out-of-bounds markers, you'll find some fine,
well-designed holes offering lots of challenge and interest.
The final hole is a 510-yard par 5 with water running along the entire
right hand side of the fairway and coming into play on the left-hand side
off the tee. The big hitters could reach the green in two, but they'll
have to be dead accurate. It's a solid closing hole that could yield
anything from a three to a snowman.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
snack bar and a pro shop.
You can walk anytime. Book a tee time three days in advance.
Approximate cost, including cart, is $35 on weekdays and $40 on weekends. Knollwood Fairways Golf Club C.A. Pitts designed Knollwood Fairways. The course
is set on flat terrain bordered by pine trees and condos. In the fairways,
you'll find bermudagrass, while bentgrass blankets the greens.
Knollwood Fairways is a fun, short and entertaining layout that's great
for a practice round or for the beginning or seasoned golfer who doesn't
want to play a huge course. You start off with a short par 3 over water
followed by a longer par 3 over land. Then you begin a series of short,
tight par 4s. A local pro told us that he and his friends play the course
with one rule: You must use your driver on every par 4. You might
not have that same degree of control with your big stick, so take a little
less club with you. The course boasts a couple of full-length holes in the
middle of the course. The massive driving range is popular with locals.
Knollwood Fairways is a great place for an after-work practice round.
You can walk anytime, and you should walk here. You can book a tee time
anytime you choose. Approximate cost, including cart, is $24 for 18 holes. Legacy Golf Links Legacy Golf Links opened in 1992. Jack Nicklaus II,
son of the Golden Bear, designed the course on rolling, wooded terrain,
with bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens.
Jack Nicklaus II is perhaps best known as his father's son, but don't
underestimate the design skill of the "second edition." Don't
underestimate his golfing skill either: The younger bear won the North and
South Amateur Championship in 1985.
After graduating from the University of North Carolina, Jack II tried
various pro circuits but soon decided to concentrate on working with his
father's golf architecture business. His other efforts include Ibis Golf
and Country Club in Florida and Hanbury Manor in England.
At Legacy, Jack II created a course that's extremely well respected
among locals, who will not hesitate to recommend that their out-of-town
friends visit this course. Legacy is a totally public course with an
upper-market atmosphere. At the bag drop, an attendant takes care of
placing your bag on the cart, and there's a shoeshine waiting for you
after the round.
The course is a good one--one of the better tests in the area,
particularly from the back tees. Jack II and his design team built
challenging, fun and playable holes. Water comes into play frequently and
could lead to a big score if you're not careful. Off the tee, stick to the
middle of the fairway; however, balls struck to the left and right
sometimes come back to the middle due to favorable mounding. It's not
death to miss the fairway here, but you may find a bad lie or your view of
the green obstructed by a pine tree. The course is not heavily bunkered.
The greens are large and mostly sloped. Some of the par 3s are flanked by
large slopes that could prove very nasty.
The closing hole is a massive 459-yard par 4 with an uphill blind tee
shot. However, a well-struck wood should get plenty of roll once it gets
over the crest of the hill. The second shot has to be one of the most
difficult in the area, probably a long iron or fairway wood downhill over
water to one of the largest greens on the course. A huge four.
Golf Digest praised the layout and the course's value --a true
rarity. If you like sensible and playable modern tracks, you'll enjoy
Legacy. Play it and you'll understand why locals give it well-deserved
kudos. Make sure you book well ahead in the peak season as the course is
immensely popular.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
bar, restaurant, rental clubs, a beverage cart, shoeshine and a pro shop.
Carts are required. Approximate cost, including cart, is $95 high, $75
medium and $60 low. Little River Farm Little River Farm opened in 1996. Dan Maples
designed the course. It's set in wooded terrain just north of Pinehurst on
the road to Carthage. You'll find bermudagrass in the fairways and
bentgrass on the greens.
Little River Farm is Dan Maples' third course in the Pinehurst area,
and the three couldn't be much more different. You'll find full
descriptions of The Pit and Longleaf (his other Pinehurst courses) in this
chapter. The big factor at Little River is the soil; unlike the Pinehurst
courses, the soil here at Little River Farm is Piedmont clay, thus there's
more of a traditional park land feel to the track. There are more hardwood
trees here than pines.
Little River Farm features some significant elevation changes, much
more compared to other courses. The fairways vary in width, so be careful
to leave some room for error on the tighter holes. In general, there's
more room on the front nine, but the back nine gets tighter and a little
more difficult. Difficulty off the tee comes in the form of
ball-swallowing wetlands--make sure you know where they are.
Greens are not as large as some found on new courses, and they are more
sloped than severely undulating. The greens are not tricked up in any way,
and the head pro here thinks these are Dan Maples' best greens. Unlike
many courses, the shorter par 4s feature greens that are banked away from
the fairway. The courses are not overly bunkered, but traps are
strategically placed around each green. We'd certainly take a look at
Little River Farm, an interesting addition to the Pinehurst portfolio.
Little River Farm is walkable for the fit, and you can walk anytime.
Approximate cost, including cart, is $70 during the high season and $40
during the low season. Longleaf Country Club Dan Maples designed the golf course at Longleaf
Country Club, which opened in 1988. The back nine is set in rolling,
wooded terrain bordered with houses; the front is generally open. Fairways
are bermudagrass, and greens are bentgrass.
As you drive down Midland Road for the first time, likely awed by the
sheer number of golf courses concentrated on one road, you may pass
Longleaf thinking it's a horse farm. Actually, the front nine is built on
a former horse-training facility and Dan Maples kept many of the old
fences and hedges intact. The 100-, 150- and 200-yard markers are furlong
markers. In case you're wondering why Dan Maples was chosen as the
designer, he's part of the partnership that's developing this course.
The front and back nines at Longleaf are very different. It's sort of
like Kyle Petty's hair: short front, long back. The front is wide open.
The back is wooded and somewhat tight in places due to the intrusion of
homes. There's a bit of water on the back nine, and one hole includes a
tree right in the middle of the fairway--a Dan Maples eccentricity.
There's plenty of room off the tee, and you should have lots of fun
driving the ball. The greens are predominantly large, subtly undulating
and well guarded in places. The fairways feature some mounds and the
occasional bunker. Overall, this fun course is suitable for all golfers.
There's a lot more interest to the back nine, but the par 5 5th on the
front has to be one of the prettiest holes on the entire course. It's a
solid 525 yards, and big hitters could reach it in two, seeing as the
second shot is predominantly downhill. It's rated the most difficult hole
on the course, but the 14th is more likely to incur a big number.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
bar, restaurant, rental clubs and a pro shop.
The front nine is very walkable, and the back nine is walkable for the
fit; you can walk anytime but still must pay a cart fee. Approximate cost,
including cart, is $70 high, $60 medium and $45 low. Midland Country Club Tom Jackson designed this nine-hole course on flat
terrain bordered by houses. In the fairways, you'll find bermudagrass; on
the greens, you'll find bentgrass.
Midland is owned by the same crew that's in charge of Knollwood, and
you'll find the same ambiance and similar characteristics: fun, walkable,
decently challenging, tight in places and an excellent value. While this
is not one of Jackson's extravaganzas, the course is wonderfully playable
and well worth the approximately $25 per round. Before and/or after your
round, challenge the Dunes Restaurant, just a lob wedge from the pro shop.
Amenities include a practice green, restaurant and rental clubs.
The course is extremely walkable, so walk if you can. Approximate cost,
including cart, is $25 for 18 holes. Mid Pines Golf Resort The golf course at Mid Pines Golf Resort, a Donald
Ross design, opened in 1921. The course is set in rolling, wooded terrain,
with bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens.
First, a word or two about the resort: Mid Pines is well known in the
Carolinas as a great place for corporate meetings and conferences.
Adjacent to the course are numerous houses available for rent; these
wonderful old homes are a pleasant change from the typical hotel setting.
Should you want more of a hotel atmosphere, Mid Pines offers one of the
most attractive and well-run facilities in the area. The rooms are
traditionally appointed, many with antiques. We can't think of a more
wonderful setting for a conference or weekend getaway. There's also some
great food and drink. Other amenities include a lounge, outdoor deck,
bikes, indoor game room, volleyball, baby-sitting services, outdoor
swimming pool, tennis courts, a children's play area and shuffleboard. You
can also organize or be part of a golf clinic.
Until recently, word was that the course was not in the best condition.
That's all changed since Peggy Kirk Bell and some investors purchased Mid
Pines in 1994. Bell also owns Pine Needles, and you can read more about
her in the Pine Needles review below. The same superintendent who keeps
Pine Needles in such great shape has been at work at Mid Pines. The result
of this union: A great Donald Ross layout is enjoying a well-deserved
renaissance.
Mid Pines offers classic Ross resort golf on a course with some
intriguing quirks and difficulties that combine to make it less forgiving
than its sister, Pine Needles. Still, you'll find all the characteristics
that made Ross so great: plenty of room off the tee, wonderful landscaping
and tough greens rippled with subtle undulations. It's exciting that such
an excellent design is back on the map. And although you're more likely to
get a good tee time if you stay at the resort, the course is open to
public play.
The opener will test only the wayward, yet the second has to be one of
the most demanding par 3s in the Pinehurst area and could easily ruin a
round very early on. It's 160 yards from the middle tees over a ravine to
an L-shaped and very undulating green. The first shot is difficult enough,
as club selection will play such a pivotal role, but it's the second shot
that will prove the most demanding. Don't be too disappointed with a four.
Mid Pines ends with a wonderful par 4 of 411 yards, downhill to a
narrow fairway. Miss the flag above the hole with your approach shot and
par is virtually out of the question. The 18th at Mid Pines is regarded as
one of the best finishing holes in the region.
If you're a fan of Donald Ross layouts and you enjoy a more traditional
course, you'll really enjoy Mid Pines. And make sure you visit the locker
room--one of the oldest, most traditional and untouched in the area, it's
like stepping back into the 1920s.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
bar, restaurant, rental clubs, a beverage cart and a pro shop.
You may walk the course at any time. Approximate cost, including cart,
is $110 high, $78 medium and $60 low. Pine Needles Resort The golf course at Pine Needles Resort opened in
1927. Donald Ross designed the course on rolling, wooded terrain, with
bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens. The course has hosted numerous
significant tournaments and in 1996 was the site of the U.S. Women's Open,
which it will host again in 2001.
Speaking of the resort, you're best off staying here if you want to
play Pine Needles during the spring and fall seasons. The course has
opened its doors to the public during the summer and winter but
public-access tee-times are rare in the busy seasons. Like its relative,
Mid Pines, Pine Needles is an excellent corporate retreat or weekend
getaway. The resort has villas and apartments for rent, and you'll find
the accommodations welcoming and well appointed. Instruction is big here
at Pine Needles: One of the finest teaching facilities in the Southeast is
just seconds from the accommodations and is staffed by some fine
instructors, including one of the most famous in the country: Peggy Kirk
Bell. The course is also home to touring professional Pat McGowan, who is
married to the former Bonnie Bell, a relative of Peggy Kirk Bell. A family
atmosphere predominates; you'll feel right at home at Pine Needles. The
place exudes golf, relaxation and Southern hospitality.
Pine Needles is one of the southeast's great golf courses. Pinehurst #2
receives more accolades and some of the more modern tracks in the area are
more treacherous, but Pine Needles stands head and shoulders above the
crowd for a number of reasons.
First, it's a mostly untouched Donald Ross classic on a perfect piece
of land. Anyone who loves Donald Ross courses should visit Pine Needles to
view for themselves the architectural features normally associated with
Ross: the sensible width of the fairways; the inverted saucer greens; the
open approaches to the green complexes; reachable par 5s; superb par 3s;
solid two-shot holes; subtle, tricky putting surfaces; grass-faced traps;
and almost impossible up-and-downs from behind the greens.
Second, the routing is near perfect. The par 5s may be short, but they
both require long, uphill shots. The longer par 4s are mostly downhill,
while approach shots on the shorter par 4s are only easy if the drive has
been precise. The best spot in the fairway is often perilously close to a
massive fairway bunker.
Third, Pine Needles is a fine example of a fair, strategic golf course
without the need for gimmicks. It's not long by modern standards, yet it
will not necessarily yield to the big hitter who will likely be outfoxed
by the straight-hitting thinker who can find the best spots in the
fairways and around the greens from which to score. That's one reason why
Annika Sorenstam won the U.S. Women's Open here in 1996 while Laura Davies
struggled at times, even bogeying the short par 5 10th on one occasion
during the tournament.
Fourth--ambiance. Great golf courses have a great and stately air.
There's something special about Pine Needles.
Fifth--history and tradition. The short par 3 third is a devilish hole
that's completely untouched since Ross' day. Look around the reserved yet
elegant clubhouse and you'll see photos of all the great golfers who have
played here. When you play at Pine Needles, you're walking in the
footsteps of the greats.
Sixth, you can walk in the footsteps of the greats--anytime you
choose. Carts are not required.
Seventh--Peggy Kirk Bell, one of the most important and influential
figures in the game. She's the keeper of this great course and it shows.
Every hole at Pine Needles is solid, yet more than a couple stand out.
The aforementioned par 3rd, just a short iron or wedge to a narrow green,
is the most photographed hole on the course, but the most difficult par 3
comes just two holes later and registers a severe 210 from the tips. The
green is well bunkered and has to be one of the most difficult on the
course, especially if you're above the hole; par is a great score. Another
well-documented hole is the par 5 10th, with its drive over water, the
shortcut to the green protected to the left by a nasty bunker. Even for
mere mortals, it's a birdie hole. Another fine yet under-appreciated par 3
is the 16th, about 170 from the middle tees, ever so slightly uphill to a
long and narrow green flanked by some of the deepest bunkers on the
course.
The 16th is one of four tough closing holes culminating in the par 4
18th, another solid medium-length par 4 all downhill.
Today's PGA Tour player with his titanium driver and hot ball would
probably bring Pine Needles to its knees, but so what? Pine Needles boasts
more than enough charm, challenge, tradition and outstanding golf to make
up for whatever length it might lack. Anyone who visits the Pinehurst area
should make the time to play this old and wonderful golf course. Play it
once, and you'll want to play here each and every time you visit.
Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room,
bar, restaurant, rental clubs and a pro shop.
You can now walk anytime at Pine Needles. Approximate cost, including
cart, is $110 high and $85 low.
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