Rank the Pines courses, please.

[mike_malone]

I haven’t been to the Sandhills of Carolina. How do these courses stack up for you?

[Bill Gayne]

Off top of my head and the ones I've played:


#2
Pine Needles
Dormie Club
Mid Pines
#4
Southern Pines (This may change with a re-visit)
#8
Cradle
Tobacco Road
[size=78%]The Pit (I don't know if it's reopened)[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Talamore[/size]
[/size]

[Philip Caccamise]

I haven’t been to the Sandhills of Carolina. How do these courses stack up for you?

I have played a few, looking forward to seeing more. The list there is incredibly deep and wonderful.


#2
Pine Needles
Mid Pines
Forest Creek (North)
Dormie Club
Tobacco Road (need to see it again?)
#6
#1

[David_Tepper]

At the risk of threadjacking just a bit, I don't recall every seeing much (or any) discussion of the courses at the Country Club of North Carolina here. How do those courses fit into the mix of this golf-rich region?

https://www.ccofnc.com/
 

[mike_malone]

At the risk of threadjacking just a bit, I don't recall every seeing much (or any) discussion of the courses at the Country Club of North Carolina here. How do those courses fit into the mix of this golf-rich region?

https://www.ccofnc.com/

No problem David. I saw it on the map close by and wondered as well.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

Let's see… In no particular order, really, except at the tier level.

Tier 1

• Pine Needles
• Southern Pines
• Mid-Pines
• Dormie Club

Tier 2

• #4
• Mid-South
• Talamore
• Anderson Creek
• #9
• Tobacco Road
• Longleaf

[Tommy Williamsen]

Quickly
#2
Dormie
Mid Pines
#4
Pine Needles.
Tobacco Road
Forest Creek North and South
Southern Pines
CC of NC Cardinal
#8
Mid South
#7
$5

[Daryl David]

Let's see… In no particular order, really, except at the tier level.

Tier 1

• Pine Needles
• Southern Pines
• Mid-Pines
• Dormie Club

Tier 2

• #4
• Mid-South
• Talamore
• Anderson Creek
• #9
• Tobacco Road
• Longleaf

So #2 is 3rd tier? Or 4th?

[Erik J. Barzeski]

So #2 is 3rd tier? Or 4th?

Haven't played it. It's expensive. 

[DFarron]

At the risk of threadjacking just a bit, I don't recall every seeing much (or any) discussion of the courses at the Country Club of North Carolina here. How do those courses fit into the mix of this golf-rich region?

https://www.ccofnc.com/

When I was younger CCNC was on all the lists, almost never hear about it any more.

[Chris Mavros]

From the ones I played, I have them


#2
Mid Pines
Tobacco Road
#3
Southern Pines (pre-reno)
Pine Needles
#4
Dormie Club


Cradle unranked.  It's fun any time you can fit it in. 

[Andrew Bernstein]

Having played the vast majority of courses in the area, here's my list:


#2
Mid Pines
Pine Needles
Forest Creek - North
#4
Dormie Club
Tobacco Road
CCNC - Dogwood
Forest Creek - South
#8
Southern Pines
CCNC - Cardinal


After those, I'm not sure it's worth ranking.


I have Southern Pines lower than most, especially for someone who has played the renovated course half a dozen times already. As Ran mentioned in his review, the course isn't as presentable as it (hopefully) will be in the future. That has definitely taken away from my enjoyment of playing the course.


One course that isn't ranked is #3. Same with the Cradle, though #3 gets a little less buzz these days. Both should be experienced.

[Ira Fishman]

On a five point scale just comparing among these courses, not an absolute scale comparing courses outside the Sandhills:


#2–5 points post renovation (2 plays)
Mid Pines—4.5 points (a dozen or so plays)
Pine Needles—4.4 points (a dozen or so plays)
Southern Pines—4 (one play, post renovation)
#4–3 points (one play, post renovation)
#8–1/2 point (one and almost certainly only play)

[hhuffines]

You guys are going overboard on Mid Pines.  I first played it in 1978 or so and it’s a favorite but it just doesn’t  compete with the other courses listed.  Spence did a great job at CCNC and the members are happy - what else would you want?  You can’t beat 18 on the Dogwood followed by the Cardinal inside 9.  Both in great condition and very walkable.  Solid membership too.


The reason the Dogwood isn’t ranked like it used to be is because they quit giving the Golf Digest grifters free room, board and liquor.  The bass fishing there is better than the golf.  No joke.


As for Mid Pines, how can you rate it highly until they address the third fairway?  The ninth belongs on an executive course and the sixth and tenth aren’t so special either.  Just my opinion…. I think Kyle is fantastic.

[Scott Warren]

Cradle
Tobacco Road

For real? This seems like an absurd take.

[Bill Gayne]

Cradle
Tobacco Road

For real? This seems like an absurd take.

I will take the Cradle everyday over the 5-6 hour rounds at TR. More fun!

[Andrew Bernstein]

Cradle
Tobacco Road

For real? This seems like an absurd take.

I will take the Cradle everyday over the 5-6 hour rounds at TR. More fun!

The pace of play on the Cradle isn't that much better.

[Ronald Montesano]

My top six, in no particular order. Can't go wrong playing any combination of the three


Dormie
Mid Pines
Pine Needles
Pinehurst #2
Southern Pines
Tobacco Road

[Bill Gayne]

Cradle
Tobacco Road

For real? This seems like an absurd take.

I will take the Cradle everyday over the 5-6 hour rounds at TR. More fun!

The pace of play on the Cradle isn't that much better.

I don't want to make this too much about Mike Strantz courses and I know many of you appreciate his boldness and artistic style. I've played five Strantz courses and have no interest in going back to Royal New Kent, Stonehouse, and Tobacco Road. I did enjoy True Blue and Caledonia and would gladly return. The boldness (exaggerated) of the design loses functionality and enjoyment to me. Functionality includes walkability, a reasonable pace of play, and a maintainable golf course under normal conditions.


Yes, I did have more fun on the Cradle than TR. I get that it's not a regulation 18 hole golf course.

[Jerry Kluger]

CCNC is an outstanding members club with 2 really good courses.  Both courses are fun and they have really good practice facilities. NC has so many outstanding courses which makes it tough for CCNC to get back into the top 10 in GD for the state.


I believe that once more golfers get to play the "new" Southern Pines that it will move up the rankings. Most would say that much of their list is interchangeable except for Tobacco Road for which most have a very strong opinion.

[Mike Hendren]

Rarely is #1mentioned - I suspect few play it.   I’d like to read more about it here.


Mike

[Tommy Williamsen]

Rarely is #1mentioned - I suspect few play it.   I’d like to read more about it here.


Mike

I only played #1 twice and that was 20 years ago. It is short and fun, a good place to shoot a good score.

[Mike_Trenham]

Rarely is #1mentioned - I suspect few play it.   I’d like to read more about it here.


Mike

I only played #1 twice and that was 20 years ago. It is short and fun, a good place to shoot a good score.

It’s on some really nice ground for golf.  It seems like maybe it was short to start and was compromised by expansions of things around the clubhouse.


When the USGA plans were announced I hoped they would have occupied the polo fields and also found some space for another few hundred yards for #1.

[PCCraig]

Rarely is #1mentioned - I suspect few play it.   I’d like to read more about it here.


Mike

Mike -


A buddy of mine owns the only home that sits within #1, he's right between 6 tee, 8 green, 9 tee, 10 tee. We stayed down there about 18 months ago for a couple of weeks and I walked around #1 quite a bit.


Overall it's a pleasant golf course with a tough throwback set of greens, if not a bit of a hodgepodge. The 9th hole is a Bill Coore or Gil Hanse original par-3, I believe, built when one of them was taking away a hole elsewhere. The 6th is a wonderfully attractive dogleg left, the 8th has a cool blind tee shot, The 3rd/4th play next to the old horsetrack, the 12th is a monster Ross-designed long par-3...


Some cool stuff out there although I can't imagine going out of your way to play it over about 15 other courses in Pinehurst.


The course is always full with members, but it would be a great candidate for a gentle restoration (trees, restore greens, fairway mowing lines, new bunkers, expose more sand, etc.).

[Peter Sayegh]

My list (purely subjective) from those played multiple times:
SP (pre-reno)
MP
TR
#9
#1
PN
SP (post-reno)
#3
Mid South
#4
Midland CC
#7
#5
#6
#8
The Cradle
(I can't rank #2. When I play it, it's too much for my game. I appreciate much more seeing it played in the North/South).
CCNC, Forest Creek, Dormie are the three I haven't yet visited.
A few sleepers in the area:
Whispering Woods (don't expect great conditioning but a few cool half par holes).
Whispering Pines-either course.

No one has mentioned the courses at Pinewild. Anyone played there? I've heard positive things, especially about the par three course.

Rarely is #1mentioned - I suspect few play it.   I’d like to read more about it here.


Mike

Mike, I have played #1 more than any other area course-maybe thirty times in the last 2 1/2 years. Holes 1 and 2 may be too easy an opening. 6 is a bear. 8 is a blind tee shot but a decent drive will find the backside of the raised fairway and leave a short-but very elevated, and mostly blind, approach. The ninth is wedged into the routing (you have to retrace the hole to reach the tee on 10) but a solid par three. 10-12 is a beast of a trio.
Never realized it before last month, but #1 has the longest par three and the shortest par five at PCC .
It does get a lot of play-in the warmer months. It's a very playable and interesting course. I wouldn't term it a pushover.
Two biggest reasons I love playing #1:
1)Watching the trotters practice along holes 2-4 in the early morning.
2)The relaxed nature of those playing it. The members are there because they love and enjoy it. Resort guests don't take it as "seriously" as the other courses on their docket.

PCCraig, I respectfully disagree with you. #1 "would be a great candidate..." TO BE LEFT AS IS.