To enjoy The Pine Crest Inn you need to be part of a large group or at least a foursome. The drinks are cheap (unless your definition of "expensive" is something not chugged in the parking lot from a bottle purchased at the ABC store), the rooms are cheap ($120 includes breakfast and dinner), the decor is shabby, the rooms are downright strange (mini beds and strange toilets and off-kilter tubs and sawed off bed posters). It is basically a fraternity house with lots of obnoxious "brothers," a nearby bar to pick up sorority girls (Dugan's) and more than a few "Dean Wormers" sitting at the bar.
If you want to stay in the dorm, go to the Hampton Inn. I will take the Pinehurst any day.
This is, however, the first year I have seen a great improvement at all the local 19th holes. The folks at Southern Pines (still the best design/routing in the sandhills) were just wonderful. Mid Pines had a pre round bloody mary bar and a cheerful, friendly staff. Pine Needles was a little more formal but I, like Bill and Ben, just love the sunken bar. Their is another sunken bar in the Southern Pines area... can anybody else name it?