Pinehurst 8

[Ira Fishman]

I am not in the anti-Fazio camp given I had played only two of his courses over 30 years ago (one was very good—the original Wild Dunes; one not so much—the other course there) until this week when we played Pinehurst 8. I thought the routing was good other than three of the Par 3s being similarly bland. The Par 5s a strong set, and Numbers 3, 9, 12, and 14 quite good Par 4s. Number 8 a challenging but fair Par 3. But the Homage to Ross green complexes were a huge turn off. They are relentlessly difficult but not strategically interesting. By the end of the round, it seemed as if we were just having the same experience over and over again—extreme false fronts and chips and putts that ran out even when well struck.


Ira

[Tommy Williamsen]

Ira, I have not played number 8 but some folks I trust say it is the second best course at the resort.

[Ira Fishman]

Tom,


We heard that from several people, including a couple of members and staff, but that is giving Number 8 a halo effect from being at same resort as Number 2. If it were not at Pinehurst, I am not sure Number 8 would get a lot of high praise. I am not a psychologist, but my sense is that when one makes the financial (and brand) commitment that Pinehurst requires, it is natural to want to find some of the other courses to be excellent too.


Ira

[Craig Disher]

The routing is awful. #16 finishes at the clubhouse. Then you turn away from it, play a non-descript 17 directly away from the clubhouse, then return, paralleling #17. Play is so slow that I finish the course about 1/3 of the time. I'll only play it if tee times at 2, 4, and 6 are inconvenient.

[Ira Fishman]

The routing is awful. #16 finishes at the clubhouse. Then you turn away from it, play a non-descript 17 directly away from the clubhouse, then return, paralleling #17. Play is so slow that I finish the course about 1/3 of the time. I'll only play it if tee times at 2, 4, and 6 are inconvenient.

Craig,


I liked 17, but agree that 18 added little—a repeat of Number 3 which I liked. I did not mention the slow play because this was our first play, but it was not a minute less than Five hours. Some of our frustrations with the greens is that we just wanted to get to the bar.


FWIW, we enjoyed time in the bar with a large group from the UK who spent more time talking about how much they liked Mid Pines and Pine Needles than on their views of PH8.


Ira

[Jay Mickle]

The routing is awful. #16 finishes at the clubhouse. Then you turn away from it, play a non-descript 17 directly away from the clubhouse, then return, paralleling #17.

Could not agree more. After walking 16 holes the last thing I want to do is pass the 18th green and make one more uninspired 2 hole loop.  The first 3 holes are also out of character with the next 15. There are some good holes and might surely appeal more to riders.

[Ira Fishman]

The routing is awful. #16 finishes at the clubhouse. Then you turn away from it, play a non-descript 17 directly away from the clubhouse, then return, paralleling #17.

Could not agree more. After walking 16 holes the last thing I want to do is pass the 18th green and make one more uninspired 2 hole loop.  The first 3 holes are also out of character with the next 15. There are some good holes and might surely appeal more to riders.

Jay,


We rode. Definitely not an enjoyable walking experience. Actually did not see a single person walking, even the UK contingent. It was very hot and humid, but doubt I would walk regardless. But then again, pretty confident that I will never choose to play it again.


Ira

[Joe Zucker]

I played #8 earlier this year and I agree that it would be an also-ran if it weren't attached to Pinehurst.  There are some good holes out there, but what stood out to me (compared to other courses at the resort) was that the holes looked very pretty.  The large pines framed every hole well and the mowing lines followed the movement of the land.  The course just looked good.


I thought the greens were uninteresting overall and nothing close to #2 or #4.  I'd say my favorite hole was the par five 6th.  The entire hole made me a bit uncomfortable.  The somewhat uphill drive was difficult to envision, I didn't know how much I could bite off on the lay up, and the wedge I had left to the green was awkward.  Many of the other shots on the course were straight forward and really only a test of execution.  Nothing to get the player out of his element.

[Joe Bausch]

Here is how my eyes and camera saw PH No. 8 in March of 2015:

http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/PinehurstNo8/index.html

[Jeff Spittel]

Headed there next week - the folks in my group who went last year insisted we play No. 8. Since we are skipping Mid Pines and Tobacco Road, I'm not thrilled about it. But I'll keep an open mind.

[Kalen Braley]

Sounds like Pinehurst 8 is the Bandon Dunes of Bandon Resort? 

[Craig Disher]

Here is how my eyes and camera saw PH No. 8 in March of 2015:

http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/PinehurstNo8/index.html

Joe,You captured the course very well. The presentation is very well done but to my eye there is no doubt where to play each shot. Many golfers prefer that to ambiguity or uncertainty. Some enjoy standing over a shot and thinking "I'm really not sure what to do here; let's try this and see what happens."

[Joe Bausch]

Here is how my eyes and camera saw PH No. 8 in March of 2015:

http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/PinehurstNo8/index.html

Joe,You captured the course very well. The presentation is very well done but to my eye there is no doubt where to play each shot. Many golfers prefer that to ambiguity or uncertainty. Some enjoy standing over a shot and thinking "I'm really not sure what to do here; let's try this and see what happens."

I think you summarized the course very nicely, Craig!

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

#8 is going to seem more and more out of character now that #2 and #4 have been retro'd, and I hear #5 might get that treatment next. But I respected Fazio's take on 8, and found it more sand hills like than old #4.


The 4th hole was my favorite, but in general thought the back nine was better. I agree with Jay that 1-3 were out of character and pretty bland

[David_Madison]

I've always thought that #8 was the "prettiest" of the Pinehurst courses, especially the back nine around the water holes, and most similar in many respects to the typical country club thing that we see from Tom Fazio. It's a nice enough golf course in and of itself, but it just feels out of character with what I visualize when I think of NC Sandhills golf. I'm happy to play it as I live nearby, but I wouldn't expect to travel to Pinehurst to see it, nor would I use up one of my rounds playing it if I traveled from afar to play Sandhill courses.

[Ira Fishman]

Sounds like Pinehurst 8 is the Bandon Dunes of Bandon Resort? 

Kalen,


Bandon Dunes is a legit top tier course. Pinehurst has more courses but far less depth of great ones. But it is easier to which to travel.


Ira