Pinehurst Trip Recommendations

[Brian Finn]

Finally, someone said the magic words.
Pik N Pig.

The big 3 of the Pinehurst area.  PineCrest Inn bar
                                                          Track for breakfast
                                                           Pik N Pig for BBQ.
And Southern Pines is great golf.                                                         

This man knows his stuff.  I would not miss any of these 'big 3.'

[Philip Hensley]

That Yelp review is great.


"Got to the course, no one in the pro shop. Had to go to the restaurant to get help."
So you had to walk 5 feet through a doorway?


"Paid $200. Total rip off. No range balls, no ball washers, no service. I got golf and a cart."

NO BALL WASHERS!!! This review was definitely not written by Brad Klein. And how dare you pay for golf and a cart and only get a cart?!

"Course knowledge is definitely a must. Would not play again."


LOL

[Bill_McBride]

Finally, someone said the magic words.
Pik N Pig.

The big 3 of the Pinehurst area.  PineCrest Inn bar
                                                          Track for breakfast
                                                           Pik N Pig for BBQ.
And Southern Pines is great golf.                                                         

You got along with the blue hairs at the piano bar?  😀🍸

[Andrew Buck]

Play Dormie and then go to the Pik N Pig for barbecue.

missed it last year as my group was too worn out after the 103 degree afternoon at Tobacco Road to stop anywhere before a shower.  Trying to plan better this year. 

[Philip Hensley]

[size=78%]I'll add to the big 3.   A great watering hole with solid burgers is Maxie's Grill and tap room.  Where all the Pinehurst caddies and locals hang out.[/size]

This is spot on

[Andrew Buck]

Maxie's, another place we missed last year after it was recommended here.  It was the final round of the US Open prime time, we get in a cab and I say bring us to Maxie's.  He says that will be really load, you need to go to X, where he likely got a SPIFF.  The rest of my group basically said "The local cab driver has to know better than the guy who's never been here" so we ended up at a buffalo wild wings knock off on 501.  Thankfully as the trip went on we realized most of the service industry simply trades favors, and started following the recommendations of this website over cab drivers and our caddie, who insisted we always say "Danny sent you". 

[Bruce Wellmon]

Finally, someone said the magic words.
Pik N Pig.

The big 3 of the Pinehurst area.  PineCrest Inn bar
                                                          Track for breakfast
                                                           Pik N Pig for BBQ.
And Southern Pines is great golf.                                                         

You got along with the blue hairs at the piano bar?  😀🍸

They buy Quad and I drinks. 
I forgot Dugan's (Downstairs).
I've never been to Maxie's. Where is it?

[Craig Disher]

I've never been to Maxie's. Where is it?

From the town, drive out McCaskill Rd and turn right at the Public Services Dept (where the dumpsters used to be). You can't miss it.

There are very good eating options in Southern Pines (Ashten's, 195) but a cheery place with excellent food and not as far as SP is the Ironwood Cafe. It also accommodates large groups very well.

[Andrew Bernstein]

I've never been to Maxie's. Where is it?

From the town, drive out McCaskill Rd and turn right at the Public Services Dept (where the dumpsters used to be). You can't miss it.

There are very good eating options in Southern Pines (Ashten's, 195) but a cheery place with excellent food and not as far as SP is the Ironwood Cafe. It also accommodates large groups very well.

"Where the dumpsters used to be" is a great endorsement for any restaurant. That said, it's good.

[David Amarnek]

Thanks to all for your advice.  I'm quite excited both for the golf and the food & drinks!

[Bill_McBride]

I've never been to Maxie's. Where is it?

There are very good eating options in Southern Pines (Ashten's, 195) but a cheery place with excellent food and not as far as SP is the Ironwood Cafe. It also accommodates large groups very well.

Is the Ironwood where we went with Mike?   Very good food and nice ambience.

[Carl Rogers]

Southern Pines is a good bang for the buck .... and as much of a golf course as you would want to handle.
Tobacco Road is a hoot from start to finish.

Given that David & his buddies are flying in and out of Moore County I doubt they care much about bang for the buck.

The only course at the Resort I have played is No.2.  The inference I get from the Confidential Guide is that Southern Pines may well beat out the other courses at the Resort.  I have played TR, MP, PN & Dormie.  I recommend TR, MP & Dormie.  PN comes in a fair distance behind.

[MCirba]

David,

Order the crab cakes at the Pine Needles bar.  Trust me.

[David Amarnek]

MCirba,
Thanks, I do love a good crabcake.
So, as far as I can gather, it's Pine Needles and Pine Crest for the bar scene.
Track for breakfast
Maxie's, Ironwood Cafe and Pik N Pig for dinners. 
Brilliant!
BTW, I contacted Pine Needles/Mid Pines and the Pine Crest Inn and none were able to guarantee tee times on #2; the best they could offer was to try and book a time 3 days prior and we really need to have that all set in advance.  So, it looks as if we will be staying at the Pinehurst Resort (Holly Inn).
Hopefully some of us can play another course in the morning before #2.


I appreciate all your advice!

[Jamey Bryan]

All have been good recommendations, but I have to weigh in.....

Pine Crest's pork chop blows away any other dinner.
Pine Needles bar is nice, but doesn't compare to the Crest.  Where else do you chip into the fireplace?
You cannot miss MidPines, and Southern Pines is close (though the conditioning will be suspect).

Everything else is giblet gravy (and Southerners know how good that is).

Jamey

[Jay Mickle]

Finest breakfast is at Betsey's Crepes in Southern Pines. Best on weekdays or show up early on weekends as there is often a long wait if you come late.

[BHoover]

I went to the Cracker Barrel in Southern Pines.

[Bill_McBride]

I went to the Cracker Barrel in Southern Pines.

Couldn't find the Waffle House?

[BHoover]

I went to the Cracker Barrel in Southern Pines.

Couldn't find the Waffle House?

Prefer the Barrel

[David Davis]

+1 for Mid Pines, Dormie and Tobacco Road in addition to #2.

[Bill_McBride]

I went to the Cracker Barrel in Southern Pines.

Couldn't find the Waffle House?

Prefer the Barrel

Must be a Yankee....

[BHoover]

I went to the Cracker Barrel in Southern Pines.

Couldn't find the Waffle House?

Prefer the Barrel

Must be a Yankee....

And damn proud of it! Couldn't find a Bob Evans.

[Bill_McBride]

I went to the Cracker Barrel in Southern Pines.

Couldn't find the Waffle House?

Prefer the Barrel

Must be a Yankee....

And damn proud of it! Couldn't find a Bob Evans.

Who's he?

[Tom Fagerli]

As a frequent Sandhills visitor I feel,compelled to chime in on the food emporiums- I am a Sizzling Steak and Eggs fan for breakfast although The Track is very good as is Betsy's Crepes. For dinner I recommend Chef Warren's, 195 and Wolcott's. Ironwood is a fav and their brunch on Sunday is wonderful. For local charm and great grub go to Maxie's. Loud in there though.  For Italian go to Curt's Cucina in S Pines. I have also found the food at Pine Needles to be excellent.
Golf has been debated to death. However play Dormie and MidPines. SPGC is wonderful but conditioning an issue. Some crazy good holes though. It is hard to not play Pine Needles. It is a class operation without acting high falutin'
Enjoy that is the main thing.
Of course it is hard to top the Pine Crest Inn for drinks and BSing

[Jerry Kluger]

Played #2 on Friday and had dinner at Ironwood on Friday.  #2 was a wonderful experience playing with my son who just graduated from college and hasn't played in more than a year.  The new Bermuda greens are certainly firm and roll beautifully although they were a touch on the slow side and without a caddy I don't know that I would have really known the direction of the grain which was a significant factor in the speed of putts.  As an aside, we played at about 6350 yards and when I looked up the course rating and slope they were 70.7 and 126 - I would suggest that anyone looking for a good partner in a handicapped tournament look for someone who regularly plays #2.


Ironwood was good but not great and I thought a little pricey.  They were busy and the kitchen couldn't keep up so the service was extremely slow but we had plenty to talk about so it wasn't too bad.