Pinehurst Advice

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

Planning my first visit to Pinehurst next year. With 3 rounds to play, and #2 a given, what are the other 2 you'd recommend?

Probably going to squeeze in one other round off-resort. Any suggestions there?

Thanks

[PCCraig]

Ryan,

I wouldn't bother to play any of the Pinehurst resort courses other than #2. Play #2 then play two rounds at any one of the following: Dormie, Mid Pines, Southern Pines, Pine Needles, Tobacco Road.

[Matt Bielawa]

#4 and #8 get the most attention.  Personally, I prefer #8, but I'm sure many others would prefer #4.  #4 is at the main clubhouse, so it feels more like a Pinehurst round, but I thought #8 was a better course.  Most of the others are shorter courses, but some are Ross's if you're into that.  I think #7 is only open to members, but I could be wrong.

Off-site, Dormie or Mid Pines, with Tobacco Road road on your way back to the airport (if you're going out of RDU).

[Bill_McBride]

Tobacco Road is part of a GCA's education, but it will be shocking the first time around, it's very edgy.  I've played it four times now and pretty much over it.  It is a masterpiece of illusory intimidation. 

[Tyler Kearns]

Ryan,

In addition to No. 2, I played Mid-Pines, Dormie Club & Tobacco Road last year and enjoyed them all very much.

TK

[Keith Phillips]

Played #2,3,4 and Dormie in May...headed tomorrow to play #2,8,Dormie, Pine Needles and CCNC Dogwood - #2 lives up to the hype, which is saying something, Dormie was awesome though tee/fairway conditions reflect difficult economics; #4 was 'nice' but greens were very slow and #3 was merely a good intro round.  Great resort, mixed golf!

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

How would you all rank Southern Pines, Mid Pines, and Pine Needles, in order?

[Rees Milikin]

I played the following and I would play them all again in a heartbeat: #2, Mid Pines, Pine Needles, Southern Pines, Dormie, Tobacco Road

[Dan Kettler]

Assuming no private access and only 3 rounds...#2, Dormie and Mid Pines.

[Rees Milikin]

How would you all rank Southern Pines, Mid Pines, and Pine Needles, in order?

1. Mid Pines was the most fun, not as hard as the other two, but I enjoyed it the most behind #2
2. Southern Pines or Pine Needles...it was a toss up to me.  However, I remember more holes from Southern Pines than I do Pine Needles (if that means anything).

[Ronald Montesano]

MidPines #1
Southern Pines #2
Pine Needles #3

Big fan of Toe Road and Dormie.

If you play those five, you don't need to play the deuce.

[Matt Bielawa]

How would you all rank Southern Pines, Mid Pines, and Pine Needles, in order?

I haven't played Southern Pines yet, but Pine Needles is definitely behind Mid Pines in my opinion.

[Ben Hollerbach]

How would you all rank Southern Pines, Mid Pines, and Pine Needles, in order?

I haven't played Southern Pines yet, but Pine Needles is definitely behind Mid Pines in my opinion.

Before the renovations at Mid Pines, Pine Needles was probably a better option. But after I'm not sure there is a course in the area better than Mid Pines, not named No. 2 of course. Granted as I'm saying that I know a couple of Mid Pines members that have been less than pleased at the work done to Mid Pines and are spending more time across Midland Rd. than they use to.

[Tyler Kearns]

How would you all rank Southern Pines, Mid Pines, and Pine Needles, in order?

I haven't played Southern Pines yet, but Pine Needles is definitely behind Mid Pines in my opinion.

Before the renovations at Mid Pines, Pine Needles was probably a better option. But after I'm not sure there is a course in the area better than Mid Pines, not named No. 2 of course. Granted as I'm saying that I know a couple of Mid Pines members that have been less than pleased at the work done to Mid Pines and are spending more time across Midland Rd. than they use to.

Ben,

What are your friends' objections to the work at Mid Pines?  I played Mid Pines, and only walked Pine Needles as there was only about 2 hours of sunlight left when I arrived.  With that being said, I'de split 10 rounds 7-3 in favour of Mid-Pines.  Pine Needles is certainly a more demanding golf course, but I thought the set-up was weaker, most notably the mowing lines which often left bunkers 10 yards into the rough in spots.  I also thought the greens had more internal movement at Mid-Pines, which I prefer, and the bunkers were much more visually appealing. 

TK 

[Steve Lang]

  Look at it this way... no matter which ones you play, you'll want to come back.  So don't fret over the choice too much, you can correct things later.

I'm very partial to Southern Pines having played there dozens of times over 25 years of visits to the area versus Mid-Pines a handful of times.. can't say about after the rehab.. but you can't go wrong there as initiation rounds.  Save TR for a later return and ditch the resort, as most any of the motels or condo's there can arrange a very nice week of play / replays AM/PM till you drop

Enjoy

[Andy Stamm]

How would you all rank Southern Pines, Mid Pines, and Pine Needles, in order?

Mid Pines is definitely first. Pine Needles and Southern Pines are about the same, but I prefer Southern Pines because there are houses around a bunch of holes at Pine Needles. Pine Needles is a more "classy" operation with a terrific range, clubhouse, etc., whereas Southern Pines is more bare bones (but cheaper), so I'm sure a lot of people would say that Pine Needles is better. But the courses are pretty equivalent in quality.

I'm in disagreement with some others above in that from the same distance tees, Mid Pines is definitely the hardest of the three courses. The greens are much more difficult than the other two. Pine Needles is the only one that you can play at 7000 yards, but other than that Mid Pines is definitely more challenging. The course ratings reflect this I think (and I'm not sure that they reflect the new tees added to Mid Pines).

[Greg Holland]

I too love MIdPines.  I have played there for years, and have always enjoyed, but I loved the course even more after the renovation.  I played several rounds there a few weeks ago, and it was in the best condition I have ever seen it.  Pine Needles is solid and feels more like a championship test, but MidPines is just so much fun, and a great test as well.  You will not lose a ball, but you will wonder why you didn't score better at the end of the round. 

[Jason Topp]

My advice - stay a couple more days!  You will enjoy all of the courses listed by others.  Where you should play is really a matter of preference,  Here is how I would distinguish the main candidates.  Think of the list as a menu rather than a ranking because on any given day I might prefer to play any one of these:

Southern Pines - is the best value - true Ross that I suspect charges less because its yardage is pretty short.  It provides plenty of challenge regardless and seems to play longer than the number on the scorecard.

Mid Pines - my favorite place - I loved the property and the course.

Pine Needles - very good course but the use of bent grass greens and the rough lines take away some of the charm compared to Mid Pines.

Dormie - very enjoyable but seems like a Coore/Crenshaw course rather than a Pinehurst area course.  If you have not played many Coore/Crenshaw courses prioritize it.  If you have played a bunch, play Ross courses in Pinehurst.

Tobacco Road - worth the experience but I am less of a fan of its architecture with repeat exposure.  It looks far more intimidating than it plays and I find the par 3s too similar. 

I have never seen anything about the other Pinehurst Resort courses that has made me want to pony up the substantial money they charge.

[Sean_A]

I like Jason's approach simply because the menu specials list is too big for one long weekend. 

#2 is a given if one has the cash to splash on a Michelin star or two.

Southern Pines is the grits of Pinehurst (nothing comes cheap in Pinehurst) for the those using the Rough Guide to Good Golf in and Around Pinehurst ; despite the inflated green fee, the golf is good and good Ross.

Tobacco Road would be the best value if it wasn't highly recommended to order it twice to ensure it was the course which is polarizing, fun and at times frustrating.

Mid-Pines is sublime and is the course which should probably be ordered on every visit.

Dormie Club is probably the second best course on the menu and can be had on special, if so, order it.

Pine Needles is the traditional Ross recipe which may be a bit pricey considering what else is on the menu. 

Ciao

[Dean DiBerardino]

Played #2,3,4 and Dormie in May...headed tomorrow to play #2,8,Dormie, Pine Needles and CCNC Dogwood - #2 lives up to the hype, which is saying something, Dormie was awesome though tee/fairway conditions reflect difficult economics; #4 was 'nice' but greens were very slow and #3 was merely a good intro round.  Great resort, mixed golf!

Keith:

I played Dormie yesterday and the golf course was in wonderful condition from tee to green. The 9th green had just been recently aerified. Other than that, everything was great.

Dean

[David_Madison]

Mid Pines is a definite must play, especially when the greens are firm (as they now typically are with the bermuda greens). The course plays a lot tougher and longer than the yardage on the card because the par-5's are short. All but #10 are pretty easily reachable in two, which makes them really interesting. The added length from the back tees isn't as much about making the holes just longer. The carries now to fly past some of the tee trouble are beyond most players. That narrows the available fairway and makes it much tougher to properly position your tee shot to have the right angle in to the green.

The course is a good deal harder to score on than any of the others that are showing up here. Yard for yard it might be 3-4 shots tougher for a mid single digit handicapper than Pine Needles. A couple of weeks ago there was a college women's event (Ross Classic, or something like that) and the scores were really high.

[Ronald Montesano]

Tobacco Road - worth the experience but I am less of a fan of its architecture with repeat exposure.  It looks far more intimidating than it plays and I find the par 3s too similar. 

#3-Biarritzian
#6-Cauldron (my designation)
#8-Flying L
#14-KneeKnocker
#17-Better now w/tree removal behind

I respectfully disagree with this statement. I don't see any shared similarity beyond tee and putting surface. My thinking with Toe Road is, you can't play one set of tees. You have to move around, in order to have a long one here, a middie there and a shawty from time to time.

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

Thanks for the feedback.

Based on suggestions it looks like I may change my itinerary to stay one night at Pinehurst to play #2, and then maybe move over to the Pine Crest Inn and play Mid Pines, Dormie, and if time allows, Southern Pines.

[Kevin_D]

Thanks for the feedback.

Based on suggestions it looks like I may change my itinerary to stay one night at Pinehurst to play #2, and then maybe move over to the Pine Crest Inn and play Mid Pines, Dormie, and if time allows, Southern Pines.

Ryan,

If you can, I might suggest reversing the plan.  Other than #2, I only played Mid Pines - while a good, fun course that I would recommend playing, it was still a bit of a letdown after playing #2 (and late March conditions were noticeably worse when I was there).  My reaction might have been different if I used Mid Pines as my warm up for #2 instead of the other way around.

Kevin

[Mark Pritchett]

Thanks for the feedback.

Based on suggestions it looks like I may change my itinerary to stay one night at Pinehurst to play #2, and then maybe move over to the Pine Crest Inn and play Mid Pines, Dormie, and if time allows, Southern Pines.

This is a great line-up (in any order) and the Pine Crest Inn is a must.