Pinehurst Resort

This might be one of the best hours you can spend on a golf course. Conditioning like the championship layouts at Pinehurst, but playable by all levels, including expert players. That's right, you'll enjoy it if you're a good player and if you're not. It'd be pretty difficult to lose a ball on The Cradle, and there's nothing boring about it, despite the holes ranging from 50 yards or so to about 120 yards. And if you''ve never had a hole in one, this might be the course for you since there will undoubtedly be a pin position or two set up to catch a tee shot off a slope. Oh, and did I mention the course is beautiful. It's $50, but you can play it as many times as you want for the day (based on tee time availability).

If you love golf and appreciate the nuances of classic design, then No. 2 is a must, especially after the renovation/restoration a few years ago by Coore-Crenshaw. This is a golf course that has truly withstood the test of time. Of course, this isn't a course for novices. You don't have to be single digit, but you do need to be able to stop the ball on these upside-down saucer-like Donald Ross greens. I was able to do that, but I also putted one into a bunker, too, so you have to pay attention. And that's the beauty of a golf course like this. It's a whole new ballgame once you get to the greens. And this is where the caddie really helps, especially with reads and just determining whether a putt is downhill or uphill (it's really not that easy to tell at times).

Enjoyed the round here and conditions were good. Nice practice area and clubhouse. Tee shots were quite narrow in spots and this course is more difficult than No. 7. I prefer 7 but this is good and worth playing for sure when in the area. Greens are smaller and not as deep as other Pinehurst courses. This can make it hard to hold approaches on longer shots. I recommend playing a tee set shorter than you would usually play. Conditions were good and staff were nice. Of the courses I've played in the area, this wouldn't be in my top 3 but is still a good option and worth playing.

When I was told that the course was only 5100 yards after the redesign I was a little bummed out that it would have no character. I was first off the tee at 726 the day I played and alone so it made for a quick round. Since checkout was at 1200 from The Carolina quick was good. I was done by 940 and headed back to pack up my room with plenty of time to spare. So the course is short but I had a blast playing it. The two par 5's on the back were completely different from each other which was nice to see. All the par 3's will test either your iron play off the tee or your putting game on the shorter par 3's. They have taken out the rough in certain areas letting the sand and natural grasses grow back reminiscent of #2. The greens were awesome with their turtle back style. Come up short or go long and off the slope you go. I enjoyed the round and the course a lot. The value was not in line with what the course is though in my opinion. $75 for an executive style course is steep even for Pinehurst. If you want a quick round and great conditions then give it a shot. I'm glad I did.

I've played #1 a few times now and it doesn't disappoint. As others have said it is a fair course. It is not long at 6100 yards but you can't just rip driver every hole. There are a few blind shots from tees and #12 is a true test of a par 3. The course conditions have always been outstanding. It is Pinehurst so you get the hospitality, the practice facility, the clubhouse with all the history and the Deuce Grill is delicious food. I think it is worth your time to play the original at Pinehurst if you are in the area.

Played #5 twice in a 3 day stretch and it was awesome both times. It is Pinehurst for goodness sake so the course is naturally in excellent shape. The staff is the best I've experienced from Kapalua in Maui to Couer'Dalene Resort in Idaho to any course in the Myrtle Beach area. There are plenty of scoring holes and some that are harder than they look. If they ever decide to reduce the rough and let it go natural like they have on 2,3 and now 7 it will add some difficulty. Worth the play if you are staying at the resort or just passing through.

Got the chance to play #8 for the first time in about 10 years. Tee boxes, fairways, greens, bunkers, all in perfect condition. Greens were firm and fast, but most importantly they were fair. I would put this course up against the many that I have played in North Carolina. If making the bucket list trip to play the deuce, make sure #8 is your close second.

Played #1 with my 10 year old son. With the junior rate our total fee with cart was $165.00. Course was in perfect condition. The course is not tricked up and every shot is fair. The greens are challenging but two putts are the norm. Playing from the white tees my little guy had a blast. Everyone treated my son as a valued guest and made him feel that he was a member. (me too!) To date, it was the most fun and best experience we have had on a golf course together. We were both impressed by the staff, the clubhouse, the practice facility, and the course itself. The entire day gave us a father/son experience that we will always cherish.

The information on this course is wrong, It is a 5,155 yard (executive) course from the tips. To call it a Ross course is not fair to Mr. Ross. most of the holes are considerably different from his original layout and the recent additions are cramped and, occasionally, dangerous when you are standing on the next tee.

Sad to see such bad things done to such a great place.

No surprise here, when you think of the top courses under the Pinehurst umbrella #8 belongs there. The layout by Fazio is truly phenomenal. From waste areas to false fronts and drop off areas on every green, Fazio makes you work for a decent score. We played it the day after the USGA four ball was there and the greens were running about 12's which made for a tough scoring day but it didn't take away from the great experience at all. This course does battle with #7 as the second best course in the Pinehurst resort family. Put this one on your list of must plays when your venture to the Sandhills.

This is a typical Nicklaus course with hills all over the course forcing you to hit a lot of shots from lies that aren't flat. With scuttle evelation changes and optical illusions like bunkers in front of greens with 4-6 foot trees in them make it tough for you to feel comfortable over shots into the greens. He even makes you pay for hitting good tee shots on some holes, like 18, where I hit my tee shot left center in the fairway and ended up with the ball way above my feet as the fairway had a huge slope from left to right. The service was ok at #9, nothing to write home about. There is no snack area so you have to go wait st the bar to get anything, even a Powerade. The pace of play was not great as this was a five hour round and when we made the turn and headed to the 10th tee there were four groups on the hole, one on the green, one in the fairway and the we were the second group waiting on the tee. So, it wasn't the most enjoyable round for some of those reasons but I did enjoy the layout and the condition of the course.

Pinehurst #1 was first opened in 1898. Yep, it's almost 120 years old - just a few years younger than Chicago Golf Club, argued to be the oldest 18-hole course in the United States.

#1 is generally straightforward and just 6,100 yeards from the tips, but it's a fun course to play. Lots of room off the tee, but there are several holes where driver doesn't make sense. Greens aren't tricked up, but they can be tricky to read. Par 3's are pretty solid, especially #12.

#1 is a nice way to experience Pinehurst without the investment and challenge of #2. Same clubhouse, same practice facility, same friendly people. Definitely a good choice for a first round on property or as a second, casual round on a 36-hole day.

First time visiting pinehurst and what a great experience. Played course 4 on Saturday and course 2 on Sunday. The course could not have been in any more perfect condition. Caddie I had was fantastic. On a few greens I was like there is no way to breaks that much, but I believed the caddie and putted great. Take course medicine when you miss the greens. Just get in on the green and take your two putt for bogey. Do not be the guy hitting the impossible shot as a bad chip on this course could leave you in worst shape than before. I will be back soon!

Deceptively forgiving off the tee but even more deceptively penal around the greens. Fairways are generous and the waste areas are very playable. Precise approaches are rewarded but anything less than that will be rejected and makes for a difficult up and down. Greens are difficult to read but every putt stays on line. This was the most mentally taxing round of golf I've ever played, there are no "easy" holes.

The course is extremely walkable. If possible, would absolutely recommend walking and taking a caddie. One other thing that isn't immediately intuitive is that if you have enough length off the tee (i.e. If you hit driver more than 250), I would recommend playing the blue tees instead of the whites as you will frequently have better angles to the already reasonably wide fairways. This is particularly important as the angle of approaches to these challenging greens makes more difference than perhaps any other course I've played.

No. 2 is a true "bucket list" course. If you are able, I would not hesitate to play this truly unique track.

No. 2 will always be my favorite course among the resort's collection, but this was my second favorite. And now with the announcement of Hanse's renovation, I can't wait to see what No. 4 becomes. The first tee of No. 4 sits right beside the Thistle Du putting green, so arrive in plenty of time to experience it. Although No. 4 runs alongside No. 2, 4 has slightly more elevation change. The holes along the small lake - the par-3 4th, par-5 13th and par-3 14th - are standouts. The collections of par 5s are excellent, true three-shooters with virtually no chance of getting home in two. The last three holes make it tough to protect par en route to the house. The canvas is firmly in place. If Hanse restores No. 4 half as well as Coore/Crenshaw did No. 2, it will soar up the Top 100 public ranks.

My review isn't a negative one. It's just that No. 8 was my last round of the Pinehurst weekend, and followed rounds at No. 4 and No. 2. Just my opinion, but one thing that hurts No. 8 is that it is not on the main property. Because of that, it just didn't feel like Pinehurst to me. As for the course, it was very pleasant. We started on the back, and Nos. 10-12 were excellent holes. No. 14 offers a really cool risk/reward play off the tee, as does the par-5 17th on the second shot. The front nine is highlighted by its' short par 4s. Many locals I spoke with while staying in Pinehurst said No. 8 was their favorite of the resort's courses. If I'm being honest, despite being a solid track, this course's reputation benefits from being under the Pinehurst banner. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in my home state of Alabama offers courses that are at worst the equal of 8, and in my opinion better than 8. Seeing as how it fell out of the Top 100 American Course rankings, perhaps more players share this sentiment. Still, if staying at the resort, you must play No. 8, simply for the contrast it provides to the on-site courses.

No.2 is a very polarizing golf course. I think the players that don't have good things to say upon putting out on #18 has more to do with what they shot. My best advice to a player of any skill level before teeing up here is to temper your expectations in relation to the scorecard. I take my golf very seriously, especially on brass ring tracks, but telling myself that I was not going to get frustrated by my score at the end of the day was the best thing I could have done. My round was more about sharing this experience with my 14-year-old son. It was about listening to the stories our caddy shared about the course. It was about trying to beat the fading daylight walking up the 18th fairway to finish. It was about sitting in the glow of moonlight on the veranda a few minutes later and burning the day's round into my memory over a cold beer. Yes, the greens are diabolical. That's why you come. I, too, putted a ball across and off a green. Embrace it! I normally break 80, but shot 86 with three double bogies. Here's two more pieces of advice to anyone playing here for the first time: 1) play to the middle of greens. Shots will hold if struck well to the middle of most greens. 2) practice putting balls from off the green up dramatic slopes. That is a shot I am just not accustomed to playing in my area and are difficult to gauge. Being comfortable with this type of shot can save you 5 shots in my opinion.

Greens are 100% recovered from what sounds like a rough spell. Excellent condition. Now that I've played it 3 times, I really enjoy this layout. Challenging but fair. Must avoid bunkers and CLUB UP on approaches. It plays so much longer because of all the uphill shots. Cart guys are really great and practice areas are very good. Kudos to the grounds crew as the greens are perfect and they are showing little stress from the drought.

Course should be closed until greens are in adequate shape. We were told that holes 1-6 greens weren't in good shape. None of the rest were much better. Pace of play (over 5h) was just as bad.

Want to start by saying that I am hereby reviewing the golf course...not the total golf experience, which would include the clubhouse, the history (Ross, US Opens), the pro shop, the practice facilities, etc. So here we go: tee to green, quite good, esp. after the work done in '12 or '13...fair and playable. However, the greens are silly severe, primarily because they shave the slopes to encourage the ball to ran down, off, and away a significant distance. A great many players just cannot handle the contours...met a scratch golfer who, counting them all, shot 85. (I have a running bet with any of my friends who play it: I'll bet you can't get to within 10 shots of your handicap counting them all...no picking up and taking a double after you've just putted the ball off the green). Worth a play once for bucket list purposes, but just not worth the $ to me. Go play 7, 8, or 9(!), or Dormie or Mid South if the greens are rolling nice, at a fraction of the price of 2.