Pinehurst Golf

[Bill Brightly]

My buddy and I are planning a trip to the Pinehurst area this Spring. We want to play Mid Pines, Southern Pines, Pine Needles and Tobacco Road. Should we drop any of those in favor of the CC of NC (I have a good friend who belongs there and can get us on.)

Also, we want to play Pinehurst #2, but we have to stay two nights in the resort. What other course should we play there? My buddy says #4, but I have no idea.

Thanks.

[Cory Lewis]

I used to work at CCNC and they are two good courses.  But given the courses you already have setup I probably wouldn't change anything.  I might consider playing CCNC-Dogwood instead of Southern Pines, but other than that you have a pretty good trip planned.  The Pit is an experience, not a great golf course but an experience, the Magnolia at Pinewild is pretty good as is No.4 and obviously Forest Creek is better than all these options if you have access.

[Jay Flemma]

I've never been a huge fan of MId-Pines, especially not with Pine Needles being next door, in better condition, having far more interesting holes and being the same price...but that's just my personal taste...

[Chip Gaskins]

Bill-

Growing up in North Carolina I have done the Pinehurst trip a lot.  Matter of fact we are doing it again this May.  We do the same trip every time: Pit, Pine Needles (36), Mid-Pines (36), and Tobacco Road.

We stay at the same place every time as well.  Pine Crest Inn.  Best place in town.  Andy and Linda take care of you there.  Great old school bar and putting green outside.  Great location in the middle of the Village

So the courses you have are good ones in my mind.  Pine Needles and Tobacco Road are fantastic.  

#2 is great, but not worth spending the money for two nights at the hotel plus $425 green fees.  Pine Needles is a better course to me anyway.  

Southern Pines is a fun track to me...not ever in as good of condition as the others but a fun layout.

The Pit we use as a warm up round.  It was the "Tobacco Road" of its day.

Longleaf isn't very good at all.

Legacy is pretty solid, but very modern compared to the Ross courses.

[Sean_A]

I've never been a huge fan of MId-Pines, especially not with Pine Needles being next door, in better condition, having far more interesting holes and being the same price...but that's just my personal taste...

Jay

I think Pine Needles is something like $50 more than Mid-Pines in high season.  Thats about a 25% difference in price - fairly substantial imo.  Pine Needles is probably better, but I like the charm of Mid-Pines and it is a better walking course.  However, I won't go back to either course.  Both are just too expensive for what they are.  

I would take Southern Pines over both M-P & PN even at $75 a pop. I will always want to go back to Tobacco Road unless the prices start to get really juiced.  You just don't get a chance to play a course like The Road too often.  With all its faults its still fun.  

The next time I am in the vicinity of Pinehurst I think I will stay in Southern Pines.  I liked the feel of that town a lot more than Pinehurst.  There is a fairly new hotel in the centre of the town.
http://www.jeffersoninnsouthernpines.com/index.asp

What is Hyland Hills like?

Ciao
 

[paul cowley]

If I ever had to choose between playing #2 again [and having to stay at the resort]....or never being able to stay at the Pine Crest...............I would pick the Pine Crest over #2.

[John Moore II]

I would drop Mid Pines and play CCNC. Just my opinion but CCNC is a far better course, I personally think that Mid Pines is overrated. Tot Hill Farm up the road in Asheboro would not be a bad idea either, its another Strantz design and not as costly as TR. Southern Pines is far better today than many of you may remember if you played it more than 5 months ago. If you want to play any of the courses at the resort, you have to call morning of play and see if they have availability. Even #2 should be like that, if there is space available you can book morning of.

[Allan Long]

[What is Hyland Hills like?]

Sean,

With all the offerings in the Pinehurst area, Hyland Hills would be way down the list behind most of the courses mentioned so far.

Chip,

Although it doesn't get the recognition of some of the biggies, I really enjoyed the Pit. I do agree that Longleaf is a pass. It has one of of my least favorite stretches ever--a run of three par threes in four holes mixed in with a horrible par 5.

[John Moore II]

The Pit used to get plenty of recognition. I think at one time it was top 15 in the state according to Golf Digest, for whatever that is worth. It has fallen off in conditioning in recent years though, and that has caused it to fall out of those rankings. They opened up a new set of tees a few years ago to make the course like 7100 yards. Wow. Overall, I really think the Pit is overated by far. There are probably 15-20 better courses in the Pinehurst area.

[Allan Long]

Johnny,

Used to are the key words. In the last 15 years it has been overshadowed by a new crop of courses. I'm not saying it is one of the best, but it is an enjoyable course that was unique at the time it was built.

[hhuffines]

If your group is interested in Donald Ross why drop Mid Pines?  CCNC is more challenging but I would favor the Cardinal over the Dogwood, its more fun.  The newer course at Forest Creek would probably be the top draw.

No disrespect to Allan, but my group has enjoyed Hyland Hills and I look forward to going back sometime.  So. Pines is also a great round.

[John Moore II]

Allan-my purpose was to show that The Pit at one time was the next big thing in Pinehurst. It has fallen off due to mismanagement in the not to distant past. Dan Maples himself is managing the course now through his firm, I am not certain if that is a great thing, or just so-so. Overall, The Pit has grown in too much, its not as sandy and extreme as it once was, and it has only 3 holes of real scenic value.

[Allan Long]

hh-

I didn't mean to bash Hyland. By no means is it a dog track, it was o.k. All I was saying is that with the 15-20 other courses that have been mentioned, when you have only a couple of rounds, HH can't compare to a #2, or Pine Needles.

Johnny-

That's really too bad. I'm sorry to hear that the Pit has fallen off.

 

[John Moore II]

If the group is really interested in Donald Ross, I would stick with Mid Pines, but if you are looking for the best golf experience, I would certainly go for CCNC-Dogwood. Its a far better golf course than Mid Pines, if without the tradition. Forest Creek is probably the 3rd best in the sandhills, behind #2 and Pine Needles, but you probably will be unable to get on there. That said, CCNC is 4th best in the area.

[Ed Oden]

Bill, I would probably drop one of Mid Pines or Southern Pines and replace it with Forest Creek if you can access or CCNC if you can't.  Also, if you can find a Pinehurst member, they can get you on the resort courses without staying at the hotel, which would save a bunch of cash but provide less certainty.  In addition to #2, I'd recommend #4 and #8.  As others have suggested, stay at the Pine Crest unless you decide you've got to stay at the resort in order to play the Pinehurst courses.  Most of all, have fun!

Ed

[Ed Oden]

One more thing, don't forget to check out the Dormie Club site while you are there.

Ed

[John Moore II]

Ed-The site of the Dormie Club is nothing, there has been no land clearing or anything. It is unlikely you will be able to see anything of value just yet by going to the property. I drive by that property every day on my way to work. However, as I have told people in this area lately, if Coore and Crenshaw can build a course half as good as Sand Hills, Pinehurst #2 will no longer be the best in NC

[Ed Oden]

Johnny, I was really just joking about visiting the Dormie Club site.  But I agree that, from what I have heard, it has the potential to be the best.

Ed

[John Moore II]

The site of the Dormie Club is very accessible if you just want to see it, it borders 2 highways just outside of town. I can only hope that the developers give C&C the ability to go in and design the course first, using the best routing possible and then designing the housing around it. otherwise, we will be left with just another mid grade housing course and not the greatness that could have been.

[Brian Cenci]

Johnny,
     Pine Needles is much better than Mid Pines IMO.  If you can play #2 (we did the Acura package last year and it was very reasonable....so look into it to see if they still have that package....we ended up playing #2, #3, #4, #7 and #8, plus two nights lodging at the resort and bfast & dinner...total cost was aroounud $750).  Forest Creek is very good, if you can get on...I like the North course better than the south. Tobacco road is probably your best bet for value and quality of course...play 36 though.  For the Pinehurst courses...#8 was my favorite other than #2....#4 I felt was way overated.

-Brian

[Allan Long]

Speaking of Southern Pines....Does anyone know if the club ever reclaimed Course #2? Or plans to? What was left of it I think was called the Cardinal nine when it was last playable.

[rjsimper]

If you have 3 rounds and you have PN, MP, and TR, aside from #2 I don't see any reason to change them.  CCNC while private and decent to me is not at the level of the others.

MP is a great little course - compact, walkable, and enjoyable - an appropriate contrast to the brutal set of par 4s across the street at Pine Needles.

[Chip Gaskins]

I am surprised at some of the less than stellar reviews of Mid-Pines and Pine Needles.  Those courses seem to stand for a lot of the things many of the folks on this board post about loving. (certainly me included)

I realize they have become a little more pricey recently, but to me Pinehurst (minus #2) still represent the best value (great course for the money) in the country.

- tee / green proximity
- quirky and interesting (especially Mid-Pines)
- short grass around the greens
- not a bomber's paradise
- courses for the most part still honor what Ross wanted
- not a resort feel
- hard par 3s

I will always put Pine Needles in my world Top 10 (right beside RCD, PV, NGLA, etc) call me crazy

[David Stamm]

Question guys. I have some business in NC in the middle of March. I'll be just North of Charlotte. Given the courses mentioned, what's closest to get to? Also, what's the weather like that time of year?

[Greg Holland]

MP is a great little course - compact, walkable, and enjoyable - an appropriate contrast to the brutal set of par 4s across the street at Pine Needles.

I agree.  Pine Needles is definitely a better, sterner test than MP, but MP is a very fun course as well.  It is a good test, an easy walk, but doesn't beat you up like PN or others mentioned here can.  

Agree with Chip as well.  

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