Planning a trip to Pinehurst in late August...pretty much the only HAVE TO is play #2 but will be in the area for 3 days for nothing but golf......any information would be helpful. Do you have to stay at Pinehurst to play...what other courses (that you can get on) do you recommend. Have some reciprocating I could negotiate for the private courses...if need be. ANY recommendations would be helpful...have never been there before.

Pine Needles is a great track. Also if can get onto the private courses, go for Forest Creek. The North course maybe the best course in the area. Pinehurst is about $350 if you are not staying in the hotel.

You have to stay at one of the resort hotels (the Carolina is one, I don't recall the name of the other) in Pinehurst to get on #2, or any of the Pinehurst courses for that matter. Quite often you are better off calling them and getting on a golf package rather than doing it ala cart. Enjoy, #2 is unbelievable.

Tobacco Road in Sanford is a really fun course to play, just make sure you buy a yardage book.
The Pit is also a fun track
Check out Legacy, Talamore, Pinewild, and Little River Farm as well.
It's really pretty hard to go wrong with any of these.
I have played a lot of golf in that area, and it's hard to pick a bad course.
Tobacco Road is a love it or hate it type course. Stratz's designs are visually spectacular, and Tobacco Road is pretty intimidating to look at, but I think it's very fair.
Legacy is just a pure, simple track, you see everything you need to see from the tee on most holes, and just has a great, challenging layout that is almost always in great condition.
The Pit is a little gimmicky in spots, but is a very fun course, and is always in great shape as well.
Pinewild, the Magnolia course, is a very very good old tree lined track that can be pretty tough.

I went on a golf trip with my father a couple of years ago to Pinehurst. We stayed in the main hotel, I highly reccomend it. There is so much history there, the food is good, and the nineteenth hole bar is a lot of fun. Number 2 is all it is cracked up to be, you will not believe how difficult the greens are. Make sure you play number 8, it was my favorite course there. Hope you have a great time and play good.

You have to stay in the main hotel. It is a must for any golfer. Also #8 is said to be just as good or even better than #2. I only got to play #6 which wasn't that great but, hey its Pinehurst! They have shops and restaurants in the little village next to the main hotel. It is a blast. Have fun!

Thanks for all of the feedback....so far we are getting in on Saturday (too late to play..but we are going to stay on site)...playing #8 on Sunday, #2 and #4 on Monday, and #5 on Tuesday (limited courses available on Tuesday...#5 or #3 and #3 looks like a pitch and putt....although that may be nice after playin #2 and #4 back to back. Jury still out on staying another day and playing Tobacco, the Pit....or The National (which I heard is great). Any more info is appreciated. This is such a great site to find ANYTHING there is to know about golf. Thanks

A great course I don't think anybody has mentioned is Mid Pines. It's right across the street from Pine Needles, and is one of the top 5 or 6 (#2, #4, #8, Pine Needles, Forest Creek) in the area. Also, I would highly encourage not staying at the Resort. I've gone to Pinehurst at least twice a year for the last 12 years and always stay at the Pine Crest Inn. I want to say that this used to be where Donald Ross lived, but I know he owned it for a while. It has amazing food, and a great golf atmosphere. Payne Stewart's autograph is up on the bathroom wall from the 99 Open. I believe during past US Open's this is where a good number of players stayed. I wouldn't pass it up, but that's just me

Tobacco Road is a bit of a hike from Pinehurst but far more interesting that the Pit which I have also played. Tobacco Road is alot like Whistling Straights without Lake Michigan and its winds. You cannot go wrong on a trip to Pinehurst as it definitely is historic and you can feel that walking around the place. Enjoy.

I agree with The Pit, Tobacco Road and #8 at Pinehurst. I looked into a package with Pinehurst and it was definately pricey. 1000/player golf and lodging for two days. Oh yeah #2 was and extra 150.

I have been to Pinehurst numerous times. MidSouth is a great golf course so is Talamore. You also should play Pinewild CC another awesome course as well as Pine Needles. As far as Pinehurst Resort courses I have a guy that gets me on any course except for 2 for 75.00. I played 8 several times it really isnt worth 250.00 150 yes but not 250.00 4 is worth 250.00

Went down last year and played five courses in three days. I can't remember the fifth, which says something about it, but here's my opinion of the other four.
Mid-South = Awesome, great shape, playable, picturesque
Mid-Pines = Decent, lots of history there
The Pit = Penal and gimmicky, no one had fun, even the better players (I'm a 5 index)
Little River = Average, conditioning was suspect, nice place to stay though

Agreed Mid South is a absolutly incredible golf course.... I was very fortunate to meet someone who worked at Pinehurst and got us out on 4,7 & 8 for 75.00 a piece me and me frined tipped him 50.00 a piece.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83266


Worth every damn penny.