Why the $&!?# doesn't anyone talk about Pinehurst #3???

[PCCraig]

Bernie - The Cradle is a 100% win from all accounts, from resort guests to first timers. Have no idea what members think.  There is clearly room for it along with #1 and #3, in their current and future states. It along with Putterboy were the missing pieces and necessary given what the other top flight resorts were/are doing along the lines of short game and putting facilities.

The Cradle has obviously been a huge hit, both for resort and CC members.


It's been so busy they have now moved to mandatory tee times as of the New Year. Plus, you can't book a replay time until you get done with your previous round. At ~12-15 min intervals there aren't that many tee times. 

[PCCraig]

I know that this thread is focused on #3, but I want to put in another recommendation for #1.  After playing #2 one morning, our group went after lunch and had a great time on #1.  Yes, it could stand some dollars to clean it up, but I found the course to be great fun and well worth the 4 hours on it.  Short, but challenging enough--especially after being beaten up by the magnificent #2.

Jim -


A friend just bought a house on #1 (actually he's the only home inside of #1 - surrounded by holes 6, 8, 9, 10...).


That back corner of the property has some lovely holes (including the 9th, a par-3 designed and built by Bill Coore) and nice rolling property. It would be fantastic if Pinehurst put some $$$ into it. It wouldn't take much...a few new bunkers/sandscapes...new mowing lines would make a really cool course.


Then again after spending a couple weeks watching people pack the course day after day maybe they aren't too motivated to improve.


Would be something though to give it to a really good Ross architect like Tyler Rae or Jeff Mingay or Rich Mandell or Kyle Franz to come in and spruce it up. Would have to be a pretty low risk and low cost to the resort. Why waste a rolling, sandy site?

[Carl Rogers]

Why can't we all admit that P#1 through #4 all have interesting merits and just play them all?

[Steve Lang]

   Why doesn't anyone talk about how expensive the Pinehurst Resort's courses are, let alone staying there...  and there's 30+ other courses in the Moore Co. sandhills to sample, most sitting in much the same topography?


#1,3,& 5:  $100-130
#6,7,8,&9:  $190-285

#4:  $260-395
#2:  $320-495


Cradle : $50


link to 2021 Golf Rates by period



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[PCCraig]

Why can't we all admit that P#1 through #4 all have interesting merits and just play them all?

For sure.

[PCCraig]

  Why doesn't anyone talk about how expensive the Pinehurst Resort's courses are, let alone staying there...  and there's 30+ other courses in the Moore Co. sandhills to sample, most sitting in much the same topography?


#1,3,& 5:  $100-130
#6,7,8,&9:  $190-285

#4:  $260-395
#2:  $320-495


Cradle : $50


link to 2021 Golf Rates by period



https://d3j36fmfb8hh5l.cloudfront.net/content/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/29103450/2021_golfrates_attachments-scaled.jpg

It's not cheap. But then again the courses were packed the last couple of weeks...in January. They also manage a whole bunch of local members through the courses, so I'm guessing if you're not on a package through a hotel they probably don't have much room for public play.


Yes - there are many terrific options in the Sandhills that are great and not as expensive.

[Peter Sayegh]

I have yet to meet a PCC member or employee who gives more than a lukewarm review of #3. Apparently, it is the least played of the nine courses. The reason given most often is that the membership dislikes the small and difficult greensites on three. In the last thirteen months, I've never had a problem playing there.
I think the "bastardization" of the course has something to do with its second tier stature.


Played #1 for the first time last Wednesday and, to me, that should be the subject of this thread. Absolutely loved it. The stretch of 8-13 is among my favorites in the area.
Have some lovely pictures of the place if I ever figure out how to post them.
Unlike PCraig I see no need to "improve" it.

[Peter Sayegh]

Almost forgot.
 It seems PCC may be keen on elevating #3.Normally, #2, #4, and The Cradle are highlighted in the merchandise shop. This past week I noticed the inclusion of #3's yellow triangle flag logo appear on shirts and other items for the first time in the past year.

[PCCraig]

Almost forgot.
 It seems PCC may be keen on elevating #3.Normally, #2, #4, and The Cradle are highlighted in the merchandise shop. This past week I noticed the inclusion of #3's yellow triangle flag logo appear on shirts and other items for the first time in the past year.

I think they should. I thought #3 was more fun than the Cradle. Instead of hitting off a bunch of mats to targets 43 yards away they should try to promote #3 as a fun twilight option.

[PCCraig]

Played #1 for the first time last Wednesday and, to me, that should be the subject of this thread. Absolutely loved it. The stretch of 8-13 is among my favorites in the area.
Have some lovely pictures of the place if I ever figure out how to post them.
Unlike PCraig I see no need to "improve" it.

I think #1 is a bit tired. Some fresh bunkering and tree removal in order to restore the width of the playing corridors would go a really long way to sprucing that course up.


It has wonderful bones, but it doesn't seem to be a high priority for the resort at this time.

[Tyler Kearns]

I just got back from 5 days in Pinehurst and wanted to weigh in on Pinehurst No. 3.  All 6 players in our group scored higher in relation to par at this par 68, 5200 yard course then the following day at Forest Creek North.  I found the green complexes at No. 3 fascinating and only upon returning and reading this thread did I learn about the non-Ross work on the course.  The 6th green, benched into the hillside was my favourite on the course, and an Ellis Maples' creation that blends in nicely with the Ross & Goalby greens. However, the other 5 Maples' greens were not nearly as interesting.  The renovation/restoration work by Goalby has given the golf course a wonderful sand hills feel, much like No. 2, Mid Pines, Pine Needles and Southern Pines.


The runoffs around some of the greens are severe, and the already small surfaces play even smaller due to the contouring, which really creates the challenge here.  The biggest drawback, which didn't really become apparent until stepping on the 10th tee was the out-of-bounds on both sides of the remaining holes (except 14 & 15).  The OOB is far too prominent and really does limit some of the fun and freedom to play for angles on the back nine, as one is just happy to avoid hitting houses.  It certainly forces one to throttle back off the tee and make the course play longer, yielding longer approaches into these greens which adds a good bit of difficulty.


All in all, this golf course does not get much attention (see the thread title), but the collection of greens here certainly merits a round when visiting Pinehurst, and I will certainly play it again.  I can't help but wonder how much more enjoyable it would be without OB staring you in the face to punish misses left and right!


Tyler

[Richard Hetzel]

I have played most of the courses around Pinehurst save a few, but I have not played any of the PH Resort courses yet. I'll probably play #2, and # 4 last.


And, who says a fun golf course has to be over 7,000 yards? #3 will be the first one I play there! It looks pretty fun!