Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area of North Carolina: One of America’s best golf destinations

The Cradle at Pinehurst Resort

There are a few areas in the United States, let alone the world, that boast as much exceptional golf as the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area of North Carolina. 

This convenient destination is in the South-Central part of the state making it an easy location to get to via car for most people on the East Coast, or via plane into either Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) which is just over an hour away or into Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) which is around two hours away. 

With 37 golf courses in the area, many of which are open accessible to the public, this epic locale is a must-visit for any passionate golfer, and we recommend making it a regular part of your golf trip rotation.

Mid South Club

Pinehurst Resort 

Golfers who visit this destination can experience a high-end bucket list trip that is centered around the epicenter of this area: Pinehurst Resort.  This one-stop golf mecca features 10 courses, yes TEN, and is constantly looking for new ways to enhance your experience at this American treasure.  Any trip to Pinehurst Resort simply must include rounds at the following courses: 

  • No. 2 – The classic Donald Ross design was restored by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2010 and has played host to countless championships over the years.  It was recently named as the first anchor site for the U.S. Open as it will be hosting the championship here in 2024, 2029, 2035, 2041, and 2047. 
  • No. 4 – This course has seen many redesigns and restorations from the original Donald Ross design including some of the game’s top designers including Robert Trent Jones, Rees Jones, and Tom Fazio.  In 2018, the resort unveiled Gil Hanse’s redesign of the course and guests of the resort rave about his epic reimagining of this stretch of land.  It’s created a fun 1-2 combination where you can hear golfers around the resort debating which was their favorite course during the trip: No. 2 or No. 4
  • No. 8 – When you combine the genius of Tom Fazio with the class and sophistication of Pinehurst Resort, the result is a stunning design that encapsulates the feel of the Sandhills.  The course maintains that local look and feel, but with that subtle touch of Fazio that always seems to elevate the visual beauty a notch in a way that we love. 
  • The Cradle – As if Gil Hanse didn’t do enough with his redesign of No. 4, Hanse and the team at Pinehurst Resort created one of the most special plots of land in golf with The Cradle.  This 9-hole short course is so much fun it’s scary, and your walk around here features music playing, drinks flowing from the new Cradle Crossing bar and an open environment where resort guests and area visitors alike can play the course for $50 that includes replays that are subject to availability.  

One key item to keep in mind when booking your trip to the area is that if you want to play any of the Pinehurst Resort courses, then you’ll need to stay onsite at Pinehurst Resort (except for The Cradle, as that is open to all golfers).  If playing No. 2, No. 4, No. 8 or any of the other top-notch courses at Pinehurst Resort is a must for your trip, then be sure to plan accordingly and book your stay at the Resort. 

You’ll be glad that you did as Pinehurst has been investing heavily into recreating the lodging available on site including the recent renovation of The Manor.  The renovation features well-appointed rooms with a boutique hotel vibe, the new North & South Bar that features a wonderful selection of bourbons and a convenient location as it is mere steps away from The Brewery, another recent addition to the resort that has been a favorite among its golfing guests. 

In addition to the revamp of The Manor, beginning in late December 2021 Pinehurst Resort is going to start renovating rooms in small batches at the iconic Carolina Hotel.  We are anxiously awaiting these changes as the remodeling of The Manor was flawlessly executed, and you better believe that their team won’t leave any detail to chance while enhancing their marquee property. 

Area favorites 

We are obsessed with value in the world of golf travel.  We define that as getting maximum value for every dollar that you invest in your golf trip, and one of our favorite resorts in the country when it comes to value is Talamore Golf Resort

With two fantastic designs that exude the spirit of the Sandhills region, The New Course at Talamore and Mid South Club provide you with fun, challenging designs that feature lightning-fast greens, tree-lined fairways, and a dedication to service among the staff that leaves a lasting mark on their guests.  The golf courses here each have a different feel as the Rees Jones designed New Course at Talamore features some of the fastest and most treacherous greens that the area has to offer while being very fair from tee to green, while the Arnold Palmer layout at Mid South Club will test every club in your bag and places a premium on shot-making off the tee and into the green. 

In addition to the great golf here, Talamore offers some of our favorite accommodations in the area as golfers can enjoy multiple bedroom condos and villas as well as the Palmer Cottage, a 4-bedroom house that can comfortably sleep eight golfers.  Another benefit of booking your trip at Talamore Golf Resort is that they have access to help you book rounds at many of the other best courses in the area so they can serve as the perfect hub for your golf stay and play.

Classic Donald Ross designs

Speaking of these other top area courses, the trio of Donald Ross designed courses at Mid Pines, Pine Needles, and Southern Pines Golf Club are lauded as classic Ross designs that give you that classic era feeling similar to the most famous course in the area, Pinehurst No. 2

Over the years, each of these courses have been restored by Kyle Franz to bring back the luster of Ross’ original designs and he did so in an exceptional manner.  These restorations have received national acclaim, and frequent visitors of the area often have been known to rank Mid Pines and Pine Needles among their favorites in the destination. 

If you’re looking for a course that is completely unique in this area, then we recommend Tobacco Road Golf Club.  Tobacco Road is the vision of the gone-way-too-soon designer Mike Strantz who created an unforgettable layout on an old, abandoned sand quarry.  This location paved the way for interesting design features such as dramatic elevation changes and crazy undulating greens that require every facet of shot-making ability that you have.  It’s a course that every golfer needs to play at least once, and it’s conveniently located on the drive to and from Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) so we often recommend it to be played on your arrival or departure day. 

Recommendation 

Go.  It’s that simple.  The options are endless as the courses and accommodations in this area can cater to any type of budget that you and your group are looking for on your next trip. 

There’s a reason why Pinehurst Resort is so highly regarded, and you cannot go wrong centering your trip to this area around the destination’s iconic property.  In addition to this bucket list resort, the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen Area boasts a collection of some of the finest golf courses that you can play on your travels.  We highlighted a few of our favorites here for you, but to see all that the area has to offer be sure to visit www.HomeOfGolf.com/golf for a full list of all of the courses, accommodations, and activities that you can enjoy during your visit to the Home of American Golf.