The Pinehurst Resort is preparing to unveil its first original championship course in almost 30 years, with No. 10 scheduled to open in Spring 2024 ahead of the U.S. Open’s return to the iconic North Carolina property for a fourth time.
Pinehurst is hailed as the Cradle of American Golf and boasts a whopping 171 holes of golf. But even that hasn’t been enough to meet surging demand, with not only elevated rounds but heightened interest in golf travel.
Enter Pinehurst No. 10.
The highly anticipated course, a Tom Doak design, is located less than five miles south of the resort’s main clubhouse.
Here’s a closer look at what to expect:
Pinehurst’s No. 10
It’s being built on land that was once home to a former sand mine as well as a polarizing golf course called The Pit. That layout closed back 2010 and was part of a 900-acre property that Pinehurst’s owners, the Dedman family, purchased in 2011.
For more than a decade, it was dormant. In that time, Pinehurst has been anything but.
The historic resort in 2011 overhauled its flagship No. 2 course and the following year opened its almost 2-acre Thistle Dhu putting course. In 2017, Pinehurst made its most modern play yet by debuting the super-popular par-3 course called The Cradle just outside the main clubhouse. That short course was built by Gil Hanse, who also unveiled his redesign of course No. 4 in 2018. More recently, No. 8 was the latest Pinehurst course to get a facelift.
But No. 10 will give Pinehurst something completely different.
The layout features 75 feet of elevation change as it winds through an extensive sandscape that’s defined by towering longleaf pines, rolling hills and native wiregrass. Doak and lead shaper Angela Moser have incorporated rugged dunes that were carved out by mining operations around the turn of the 20th century.
“No. 10 starts out fairly gentle, then it starts going into the old quarry works where it gets downright crazy for a little bit, then the course gets up on the hill and there’s a beautiful, sweeping view,” Doak says. “All of the holes coming in are challenging, even when you move down into the gentler terrain. It’s a dramatic golf course; more than I originally thought.”
There are a host of “half-par” holes – those that fall somewhere between a par-3 and par-4, or a par-4 and par-5 in terms of conventional yardage. And No. 10 has a drama-filled finish, with an elevated par-3 14th hole and then water coming into play on two of the final four holes, including the par-3 17th, which will have a long wooden bridge to get players from tee to green.
The project itself will be completed only about 15 months after construction began. Doak described it as a three-ring circus at times, with shaping, irrigation installation, and the growing of grass all going on simultaneously.
“We’re excited to show off Tom Doak’s masterful interpretation of Pinehurst golf,” said Pinehurst Resort President Tom Pashley. “Our very high expectations were exceeded, and we can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
Prepping for Pinehurst
Pinehurst is pretty much a year-round golf destination, but there’s still plenty of seasonality to prepare for. The spring and fall months are typically glorious for golf, and the summer is still popular even though it can be exceedingly hot and steamy. Preparation is key. Here are some items from FootJoy that will keep you comfortable on and off the course – from strolling the fairways of No. 2 to playing barefoot, fun golf with buddies at The Cradle with a drink in hand, and a late-day visit to the Pinehurst Brewery:
- ThermoSeries Hybrid Jacket: The perfect throw on or take off jacket for any golfer, the ThermoSeries Hybrid Jacket is fashionable both on and off the course giving you the adaptability you need to play well and look good.
- Tour Pants: Classic looks with performance features create the perfect pants for any golfer to enjoy a stroll around one of the game’s best resorts. If you happen to be visiting Pinehurst during the spring or summer season, check out the Lightweight 9” Inseam Shorts as the perfect alternative for warmer climates
- Lisle Feeder Stripe Self Collar: A classic golf shirt, the Lisle Feeder Stripe Self Collar wears extremely well and travels even better. These polos feature the ProDry fabrication that can keep you dry and comfortable during your round, and the crisp collar provides a sophisticated look that stands out on the course.