[Rob Miller]

I'll be traveling through RDU this fall with a long weekend free and a rental car ready to put on some miles. 

Need some help from the enlightened here on a golf itinerary.  I've played almost zero in NC so will be starting from scratch.  #2 is a priority, but beyond that how would you put together a three day golf-intensive trip? 

Thanks for the help. 

[Ryan Admussen]

I was there in April, Pine Needles/Mid Pines made for a great 36 hole day

[Ed Oden]

Rob, when exactly is your visit?

[Rob Miller]

Ed- last weekend of October.

[John Moore II]

Well, there are members on this site who are members of private clubs; they might be so kind as to invite you to play their courses, however, I will not mention their names. However, near Raleigh I would recommend (public) NCSU Lonnie Poole, The Neuse and River Ridge in that order. Haven't played much in Durham. In Greensboro, either course at Bryan Park is pretty good. Oak Hollow in High Point is an older Pete Dye course, perhaps not what you had in mind but a fair place. As far as in Pinehurst, the priority would probably go #2, #4, Pine Needles, Tobacco Road and so forth.

Are there any designers or particular styles that might interest you that perhaps can't be seen elsewhere?

As much as I rip on Tobacco Road, that is a must see, I think.
 

[Rob Miller]

Well, there are members on this site who are members of private clubs; they might be so kind as to invite you to play their courses, however, I will not mention their names. However, near Raleigh I would recommend (public) NCSU Lonnie Poole, The Neuse and River Ridge in that order. Haven't played much in Durham. In Greensboro, either course at Bryan Park is pretty good. Oak Hollow in High Point is an older Pete Dye course, perhaps not what you had in mind but a fair place. As far as in Pinehurst, the priority would probably go #2, #4, Pine Needles, Tobacco Road and so forth.

Are there any designers or particular styles that might interest you that perhaps can't be seen elsewhere?

 

John- I'm sure there are enough solid public and semi-private options to keep me happy for much longer than my trip allows.  

Three days with a theme is an interesting idea.  I'm guessing Donald Ross in the Pinehurst / Southern Pines area might be a good option.  Any suggestions?  Basically I'm just looking for some thoughts on navigating the area since I know there is a ton of NC expertise here.  Living and golfing in Asia for so long, it's a treat to be able to make the trip period so it will be tough to come away disappointed.    
 

[john_stiles]

Agree with previous suggestion by Ryan of Pine Needles and Mid Pines in one day.  PN is the broad long wide Ross with big greens, and M-P is a shorter tighter Ross with a good use of some tight ground features. 

Also second the suggestion by Moore to play Tobacco Road.

Another long day, on privates courses, would be to play each Forest Creek course.  Each is very good, and the quite a contrast from each other.

As a substitute for above privates,   try playing Pinehurst #2 followed by more modern #6 or #7.

It is cool in the fall, and fun to play 36.

[John Moore II]

Perhaps one 'theme' might be to study an evolution of golf: Donald Ross to Ellis Maples to Dan Maples; #2 by Ross, #5 by E. Maples, and The Pit by D. Maples. Then go to #6 to see a George Fazio/Tom Fazio course, #8 to see a Tom Fazio original, and then Tobacco Road by Strantz who worked for Fazio.  Not a selection of the overall best, but a good study in course architecture evolution perhaps.

A Robert Trent Jones/Rees Jones/Gene Hamm (Gene worked with RTJ to start) set could be had with Carolina Trace (can be booked and played through packagers), #7 and The Magnolia at Pinewild.

[Rob Miller]

Perhaps one 'theme' might be to study an evolution of golf: Donald Ross to Ellis Maples to Dan Maples; #2 by Ross, #5 by E. Maples, and The Pit by D. Maples. Then go to #6 to see a George Fazio/Tom Fazio course, #8 to see a Tom Fazio original, and then Tobacco Road by Strantz who worked for Fazio.  Not a selection of the overall best, but a good study in course architecture evolution perhaps.

A Robert Trent Jones/Rees Jones/Gene Hamm (Gene worked with RTJ to start) set could be had with Carolina Trace (can be booked and played through packagers), #7 and The Magnolia at Pinewild.

Excellent recommendation.  Thanks.

[Steve Kline]

#2 will be closing some time around late October/November for bunker rework. I would completely avoid #2 because of this. The greens aren't in good condition right now and I can't see them doing much to get them a lot better when they are going to close the course for 4 or 5 months anyway. Unless this will definitely be your only trip to Pinehurst I would wait to see #2 until after the restoration is complete. Also, the resort is struggling in general and you can tell they have significantly cut back on their maintenance budget.

Therefore, I would play other places. While the resort courses were in bad shape a few weeks ago, Pine Needles was in very good condition. I would make this your must play of the trip. Mid Pines is also worth a play. When I've traveled to the UK/Ireland I've really enjoyed playing more than one round on a course as I learn much more about the course and can remember the course better later. If that interests I would play Pine Needles more than once. Tobacco Road should be played. I really enjoy it and others hate it.

In my opinion, everything public after that is something you could see anywhere else. I have not played the other privates like Forest Creek or Country Club of North Carolina. Maybe I'm jaded because I've been going to Pinehurst for 20 years but courses like #4, 6, 7, and 8, Talamore, Mid-South, Pinewild etc. don't excite me. They aren't necessarily bad courses but they don't get the blood boiling for an immediate return to the first tee.

[John Moore II]

Hmmmm...if Steve is correct, that really limits your options as far as courses considering my little theme week was fairly heavy on the Resort. So, as a back-up, if you do it this way, the Ross/E. Maples/D. Maples courses could be Pine Needles, Quail Ridge (not really a must see by any stretch, but possibly the second best Maples in the area) and The Pit. The Fazio three-play goes out the window because there is not another George/Tom combination in the area and not another public Tom solo design other than Finley, and I wouldn't waste the money to drive there. Certainly keep Tobacco Road. And for the RTJ/Rees/Gene Hamm courses, go with Carolina Trace/Talamore/Pinewild. Without the resort, it is hard to get you a good variety staying in the Pinehurst area.

Steve-You're not jaded, none of those courses you list are anything exceptional in the world of golf.

[Ronald Montesano]

Of the courses that I played during our Sandhills junket in 2009, the ones that I would play twice in one day as learning tools would be reduced to Southern Pines and Tobacco Road.

[Steve Kline]

An interesting combo for play in one day would be Tobacco Road and the Pit (although they are 45 minutes apart). Both are built in old quarries. Both are quite quirky. I think one is really well done (TR) and the other is goofy (The Pit).

[PCCraig]

Pinehurst....

#2 (if open), Pine Needles, Mid Pines, Southern Pines, and Tobacco Road make for a pretty nice weekend.

[Bill Brightly]

Pinehurst....

#2 (if open), Pine Needles, Mid Pines, Southern Pines, and Tobacco Road make for a pretty nice weekend.

This is a good grouping. I made this trip two years ago and the tricky part is getting a tee time on #2 if you do not stay in the resort. I went with a buddy and we decided NOT to pony up the room and green fees to gurantee a tee time on two. Rather, we left two slots open in our itinerary and called Pinehurst the day before.; We ended up getting on #2 both times.

By playing all the "Pines" you get a real nice feel for Donald Ross. Then playing Tobacco Road on the way to the airport is a great change of pace. Definitely worth playing since the course is discussed so much on this site. I really liked it, but it is wild...

[Rob Miller]

All- thanks for the advice. 

Steve- Considering who is doing the work on #2, I'm sure it will be that much better when completed.  I'll probably hold off on playing this trip and have a good excuse to try and get back. 

[Jerry Kluger]

Rob: I don't know a course in NC that has the width of the courses at Bandon - do you think you can handle that?  I would check into the status of the Dormie Club as it is usually worth the effort to play a C & C course.  Jerry

[Steve Kline]

Given the level of play at the resort right now I would think it would be quite easy to get a tee time on #2. October might be different as that is the prime season.

[Steve Lang]

   I don't understand this Pit promo..  playing Southern Pines CC (The Elks) no matter what shape its in would be much better

[rjsimper]

That time of year, if you are up for the driving, I'd head to the mountains and take in something like Grove Park + Linville.

Do Pinehurst one day - #2, Pine Needles, Mid Pines in that order, conditions notwithstanding.

Nothing really "Wow" in the RDU area specifically, so stick close to here only out of convenience.

Tobacco Road could be paired with Pinehurst or it could be paired with something in the RDU area as well - it's 20 minutes from Pinehurst and an hour from RDU.

[Steve Kline]

  I don't understand this Pit promo..  playing Southern Pines CC (The Elks) no matter what shape its in would be much better

I'm not promoting the Pit.

[Chris Buie]

The schedule for closing #2 is from Nov. 15 until March 2.

[Steve Kline]

This just in from my dad on #2:

The greens on #2 are rapidly deteriorating.  Holes #7, 8 and 10 are just about gone.  I played #5 today and the greens were pretty good...but 2 is practically unplayable.  I gave up keeping score after six holes.

The weather is really hurting a lot of places. Pinehurst might be better off in the long run to shut #2 down early. I wonder if they still have the member-guest on it? It doesn't seem like it would be worth it. I was there two weeks ago and the greens weren't good but they weren't this bad. The last day I was there it was 100 degrees with a heat index of 118 degrees. Today my mom said that it has really turned hot and humid. I can't imagine what that means it is like now given what it was like while I was there.

[Ivan Lipko]

If at all possible drive some 200 miles more and play the Kiawah Island in SC.

Skip the no.2 if needed.

[Jason Topp]

We did a Ross/Strantz theme on our trip and it was pretty interesting to alternate between two almost diametrically opposite approaches to course design.

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