They say good things come to those who wait, and it sounds like that’s exactly what we are in store for at Pinehurst Resort.
Pinehurst announced that it will be opening a new 18-hole golf course under the impeccable eye of Tom Doak, with the course slated to open in late Spring 2024.
This coincides with the U.S. Open returning to Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024, as the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen area continues to solidify its position as the Home of American Golf.
In addition, the area will also inherit the USGA’s new campus and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2024.
Doak will make his mark
Tom Doak is a phenomenal choice for this project as he joins a stable of legends who have left their mark on Pinehurst Resort. Doak has designed some of the best golf courses in the world including Pacific Dunes (Bandon Dunes), Tara Iti, Streamsong Resort’s Blue Course, Old Macdonald (Bandon Dunes), and Sebonack Golf Club. Here’s what Doak had to say about this project per a press release from Pinehurst Resort:
“The site is topographically distinct and drastically different from anywhere in Pinehurst. It’s bigger, bolder and more dramatic. There’s about 75 feet of elevation change, and we’ll work our way up to it around the mid-point of the layout. You’ll have expansive views from this apex over the rest of the course. It will be an unforgettable experience for golfers.”
Pinehurst Resort has been enjoying a sort of renaissance over the last 12 years that began with the restoration of Pinehurst No. 2 by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. This project kicked off a series of enhancements to the property that have included the renovation of No. 4 by Gil Hanse; recent agronomic and infrastructure enhancements to Tom Fazio’s No. 8; the addition of The Cradle short course that is open for resort and non-resort guests to play for a mere $50; major renovations of the onsite lodging including the famous Carolina Hotel and The Manor; and the addition of new dining venues most notably The Brewery and The Deuce, which is located at the main clubhouse.
The new Tom Doak design is located at the site that once hosted the previously Dan Maples-design course known as The Pit. The course was always well liked by visiting golfers, but the financial crisis of the late 2000s ended up being the undoing of this great piece of land. Pinehurst Resort purchased the property and had been waiting for the right time and project in order to repurpose the land.
That time is now.
In addition to Doak’s design, the resort will be working with town officials to discuss additional projects on the 900 total acres of land in the Aberdeen area that they own including potentially additional golf, a short course, clubhouse, guest cottages, and other lodging.
Even with nine golf courses and The Cradle already in the mix at Pinehurst Resort, demand has arguably never been higher as the last few years have seen an influx of vacationing golfers coinciding with a boost in membership that has kept the tee sheets relatively full over the last couple of years.
This new Doak design and Aberdeen area development will fit right in, and one of the best golf experiences in the world will continue to get better.
