Pine Needles-Mid Pines Advice

[Mark Pritchett]

I am looking into a stay and play package this winter at Pine Needles-Mid Pines.  With regards to lodging which would you recommend?  I would guess both are fine and I shouldn't be in the room too much, but I am curious if you prefer one over the other. 

Also if you were going to split 4 rounds between the two, what ratio would you do? 

I have played Pine Needles once, but did not stay there.  Right now I am leaning on 3 rounds at PN and 1 at MP. 

I greatly appreciate any recommendations.

[Bill_McBride]

I've only stayed at Pine Needles, there wasn't anything special about the room.  The hotel at Mid Pines looks a lot more welcoming.

I'd split 4 rounds 2/2.  Mid Pines is terrific, a great walk with tees and greens on hill tops.  Pine Needles is more over the ridge, interesting as they are so close.

There is nothing to do at night, so head for the piano bar at the Pine Crest Inn downtown.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Like Bill, I've only stayed at PN, but in the winter I might opt for a 3/1 ratio in favor of MP for golf at that time of year. I feel it's easier to walk.

[Craig Disher]

Mark,
I agree with Bill on the split play. If I had the time to play only one of them I'd be hard pressed to decide. As for lodging, PN has a slight motel-like feel to it imo. I prefer the character of the hotel at MP. The food at both is not memorable - you can do far better at restaurants in Southern Pines or Pinehurst. But as for the golf, you'll have a great time.

[Jay Flemma]

I'll dissent, I like PN much better than MP.  Don't forget to play Tobaccco Road while you're in the area.

[PCCraig]

I would do 2 at PN, one at MP, and depending on what kind of budget you're on 1 round on either #2 or Tobacco Road. There is way too much good golf in the area for 2 rounds at Mid Pines IMO.

Make sure you make it to the Track Restaurant for breakfast one morning!

[Mark Pritchett]

Thanks for the advice so far, I really appreciate it.

To clarify, I have been to the Pinehurst area a few times and on this trip I am planning to play Tobacco Road and possibly Southern Pines GC, however for 2 days/nights I plan to stay/play at PN or MP-the deal includes unlimited golf each day.  So the price is same for 1 or 2 rounds each day.

I have played PN once and really enjoyed it, I am looking forward to playing MP as well and was wondering if people thought MP was worth more than one play.

While the lodging is not a big deal by any means, I was curious of this group's preference. 

I have been to the Pine Crest Inn bar, what a great place.

[Brent Hutto]

I found the "motel like" (admittedly) lodging we used at the Dixie Cup to be perfectly comfortable and adequate. But I have pretty generic taste and prefer clean and roomy to charming. I'm not so sure about the old hotel at Pine Needles, it didn't look all that great. I had a downstairs room with a sliding door that open a few dozen steps from the driving range and the shower was tall enough and had good water pressure. That plus a mattress that was in good shape pretty much defines my needs, lodging-wise!

[Greg Krueger]

Mark, I am a huge fan of Mid Pines, an absolute joy to play and a wonderful walk. As far as where to stay, I think the atmosphere at Mid Pines is nice and I agree that Pine Needles is a little Motelish, but I think you would be good either way.

[JR Potts]

See, I agree with Jay.  I really enjoyed Pine Needles and look forward to playing it again.  I wouldn't bat an eye if I never played Mid-Pines again.

[CJ Carder]

I think the 2/2 ratio is about right, though I don't think you could go wrong with 3 at PN and 1 at MP either.  I think the tie-breaker is how much you're feeling up to championship golf.  To me, Pine Needles is absolultely the "big boy" - the course that you could conceivably build a whole weekend around.  Whereas Mid Pines is more of the "fun" round on a solid course.

[Will Spivey]

Mark, I've been fortunate to stay and play both MP and PN several times.  I would certainly stay at MP -- I love the old hotel, and I believe it's been through a fairly recent update.  I agree the food isn't much to write home about.  The last time I was there we had a group of 8, all staying on property.  We made mid-week dinner reservations in the main dining room at MP for 7 pm.  We arrived and one of our group hadn't brought a jacket (required for dinner).  Of course, they found one for him and we were all seated.  We were the only people in the entire dining room!  (I do prefer the bar at PN however.)

If you're going in a group MP also has a row of "cottages" next to the 4th green.  While they're not much to look at, they are large, have a great deck and work very well for groups.  Also, our midnight putting challenge on the 5th green was very fun!

As for the golf, I'm one of the few who actually prefers MP.  The course has a wonderful, been there forever feel.  I suspect mid-handicappers like me (index 10.5) may find MP more enjoyable.  When I play PN I always think of it as a "championship layout," which really just means longer.  Both are fabulous, and I'd split my tee times 2/2.  Have fun!

[Steve Wilson]

Mark,

I can't speak to the hotels, but as for the golf I'd agree with Will Spivey in that I prefer Mid Pines but I'd split my rounds  3 to 1 for in its favor.  There are really good short par 4s at Mid Pines and there's a lot of quirk in the greens.
   

[Matt MacIver]

I would split them 2/2 and play each in the morning and afternoon; might be something different to learn or see on separate days and times. 

I've stayed in PN's lodge and it was fine; I would stay at MP hotel next time for variety, but I'm not extremely picky. 

If I had just one round to play I would play MP, for all the reasons already given. 

[Craig Van Egmond]

I much prefer the atmosphere at MP over PN so I would stay at MP and split the rounds 2/2. But that's just me. 

[Brad Tufts]

Another vote for 2/2.  I think PN is head and shoulders better than MP, but we are talking maybe 8-6.5 here so both layouts are good and fun, and you will score better at MP after getting beaten up a bit at PN!

[PCCraig]

If Golf is unlimited...why not try for 3/3! 

[Mark Pritchett]

If Golf is unlimited...why not try for 3/3! 

I like the way you think!

Actually we will be shooting for 45 holes, however not sure there will be enough daylight for it.

[Jay Flemma]

See, I agree with Jay.  I really enjoyed Pine Needles and look forward to playing it again.  I wouldn't bat an eye if I never played Mid-Pines again.

I agree, Ryan. I played it once and was underwhelmed, especially when I played Pine Needles right next door.  But I'd still rather play The Road before either of them.

How is the renovation of the MP hotel?  I liked staying at the Residence Inn becausde they have a HUGE jacuzzi.

[Sean_A]

I couldn't say one is better than the other, nor am I itching to play them again, but as a visitor I would take MP over PN 3 out of 5.  I would also say that Southern Pines is worth a look.  For me, it has a different feel  than the other two and I probably prefer it to either MP or PN.

Ciao

[mike_beene]

The food was much improved a few months ago.Pine Needles 3 to 1.Do you extra nine at mid pines because the nines loop back.Both have push carts.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Neither place seemed like much to stay at. Mid Pines has a cool building which in its day was probable great. There is a great place or 4 to stay at wihtout springing for big numbers. I loved Mid Pines course. It is 100 percent GCA. I enjoyed Pine Needles and would split the two but also you should play tobacco road while in the area.

[Mark Pritchett]

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I am planning to play Tobacco Road, stay at MP and most likely evenly split the rounds between PN/MP.

May also try to squeeze in Southern Pines GC.

[Greg Holland]

I agree with the comments above -- Pine Needles is clearly the better course, but there is just something about Mid Pines that I really enjoy.  It is fun, an easy walk, some great vistas, a couple of great short par 4s, greens that are more perplexing than they look, and the old inn is great.  I play in a tournament every year at MP, and the older guys in the group insist that we play all the rounds on MP, because they say PN is too hard. 

As to lodging, if you get the Ross Lodge at PN -- it is great with a driving range right outside the sliding glass door.

[Bruce Wellmon]

I very much enjoyed PN, loved it. I really didn't like MP. It always seemed wet, very wet actually, when PN wasn't at all.
I would go 3/1 PN.
We stayed at PN. Very rustic feel. My next trip we were considering staying at MP. But someone said the food's nothing special. If the foods the same, then what's the cost for lodging PN vs MP?