Pinehurst and beyond: The Carolina Sandhills are a golf destination you can return to again and again

Pine Needles

There isn’t a more vibrant front porch in American golf than the veranda at the Pinehurst Resort clubhouse. On a sunny fall day, you can stand out by the Payne Stewart statue near the 18th green and soak in a panoramic view into the pulse of golf in America.

Foursomes walking up the 18th hole with their caddies, hoping for one final par as scores of onlookers at the bar watch on (and, if earned, a nice cheer). 

In fact, The Deuce restaurant and bar is so close to the 18th hole that the bartenders admitted that a skulled sand shot from the 18th hole screams into the bar on occasion. Fore!  

Golf in PInehurst dates back to the 19th century, and today the spirit is alive and well, thanks in large part to a 21st century boom of new courses and restorations, both at the resort and throughout the area. A new USGA office is nearing completion near No. 2 as the governing body preps for the 2024 U.S Open.

Pinehurst and the Carolina Sandhills, encompassing the complementary charming towns of Southern Pines, as well as Aberdeen and Sanford up the road, is about as deep of a golf destination as there is in the world. Golf groups can return again and again and never have the same itinerary — even if there are sure to be some favorite courses amongst the group that demand replays. 

What’s particularly unique about a Pinehurst golf trip is that while you can splurge on Top 100 courses, there are so many courses in the area both old and modern, affordable and splurge-worthy, and such a wide array of accommodations from five-star resorts to affordable hotels and villas, that any budget can come get the full experience of the home of American golf. After all, this is a huge military hotbed with Fort Bragg less than an hour’s drive away. Courses throughout the area take pride in their veteran clientele, places such as the public Hyland Golf Club is veteran owned and a favorite for vets to enjoy their own buddies trips. 

The first step for a Pinehurst buddy trip when planning is whether or not to stay-and-play on a Pinehurst Resort package, or play the other area courses. The latter delivers a greater mix of courses, both in style and eras of design, not to mention more value. 

Here’s the best of Pinehurst outside the resort: 

Southern Pines

Mid Pines, Pine Needles and Southern Pines restorations 

Pinehurst is unquestionably the top golf destination in the world to experience the designs of architect Donald Ross. While his masterpiece is Pinehurst No. 2, three other Ross designs in the area are all standouts and would headline most other destinations in the world.

Better yet, all have received meticulous restorations by Ross historian and architect Kyle Franz in recent years, returning the Ross look and feel back after an era of more manicured presentation. 

Pine Needles is the best known of the trio thanks to the fact it’s the first course to host four U.S. Women’s Opens. It’s one of the most famous courses in the women’s game thanks largely to golf legend Peggy Kirk Bell purchasing the property in the 1940s and adding the lodge. 

Across the street, Mid Pines, the sister course of Pine Needles, plays a little shorter on a more intimate piece of property. Its layout is tactical and features novel green complexes, oftentimes elevated or with clever run-offs and bunkering. 

The latest of the Ross courses to be restored is Southern Pines. It’s Ross’ third oldest course, opening in 1906, and was purchased by the Mid Pines and Southern Pines group in 2020. Today the greens here have a reputation for being as bold and contoured as any in the area. And if you don’t get enough putts in over 18 holes, there is the 18-hole Overhills putting course available onsite.

Mid Pines

A fresh look at Talamore Golf Resort 

With so many of the classic courses reverting to exposed, wispy and sand areas, it makes the recent renovation of the New Course at Talamore all that more striking. Talamore, designed by Rees Jones and opened in 1993, made the bold decision during its more recent renovation to rebuild many of its remaining bunkers into deep, sod-walled pots reminiscent of Open Championship courses. It’s a stark contrast to the wire grass and waste areas that line the fairways of the Ross courses. If the bunkers don’t leave a lasting memory, the llamas who greet golfers on the back nine, certainly will. 

Across the street from Talamore is its sister facility, Mid South. It’s a members course that opens access to resort guests on a golf package and features a club vibe with a modern course designed by Arnold Palmer, which delivers a big, bold modern routing spread out across 500-plus acres and delivers a member-for-a-day vibe to visitors.

Talamore

Tobacco Road 

One of the newer darlings of the Sandhills golf scene is Tobacco Road, which has become one of the most photogenic courses in the world thanks to the brash design styles of late-architect Mike Strantz. The course was crafted out of a former tobacco farm turned sand quarry. The layout is full novel earth moving that creates elevation changes and blind shots. It’s unquestionably the one course on your itinerary that may give your group some mixed opinions. One thing’s for sure, it’s one of the most unique layouts in America, and the antithesis of the classical stylings of what Pinehurst is better known for. 

Tobacco Road is located in Sanford conveniently off Highway 501 between Raleigh and Pinehurst, so if you’re driving down from that area, consider adding it to your arrival or departure day. 

Tobacco Road

Pinehurst travel tips 

Expect to come back: There are a solid dozen must-play courses in Pinehurst and chances are you won’t get to them all on one trip. Plan a repeat visit. 

A wide variety of accommodations: Your group can really name your style and level of accommodation, from homes and multi-bedroom rentals onsite at golf courses, to more standard hotel accommodations at places like the Lodge Pine Needles. Even chain hotels know how to cater to hotels. The Hilton Garden Inn Southern Pines for example caters to buddies trips with hot meals (breakfast to dinner), a full bar open late and a putting green out front. And it’s easy to book a golf package to save money and hassle at many of them. 

Want a twilight nine? During our trip the weather was so perfect that 18 holes in the morning weren’t enough. Fortunately there are plenty of options to go hit balls or have a quick twilight nine. Pinehurst Resort’s new Cradle par-3 course is dazzling, but also extremely popular. So call ahead for a tee time and be aware that preference is given to resort guests. Affordable, relaxed and charming nine-hole courses like Knollwood and Midland scratched the evening golf itch. 

Rained out? Head to the Tufts Archives, the ultimate golf library that you’d expect to find in America’s most historic golf destination. It’s free to visit and browse many rare books, early Donald Ross designs, photos and more. 

Be mindful of the event calendar: Pinehurst is a favorite destination to host major tournaments both on the men’s and women’s side, including the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. It also regularly hosts qualifiers, collegiate and amateur staples like the annual North and South Amateur. These events can be a festive time to visit, but be sure to check the calendar and plan in advance.