Which Pine Needles course is better?

[youngun87]

Title says it all. Which course is a better course. Thebetter criteria defined here as the one that is the most "beautiful" or aesthetically pleasing not necessarily the tougher course. Thanks guys.

[Sixcat]

Mid Pines has been kept exactly the way Donald Ross left it with sandy waste areas and native fescue grasses lining the fairways. Pine Needles has been reworked through the years to remove the natural sandy waste areas and fescue and grass rough was added to meet the pine straw below the canopy of the pine trees.

You can't go wrong with either but Mid Pines is magnificent with its natural features.

http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/mid-pines/

http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/pine-needles/

[PGood]

Pine Needles is the more famous one of the two as its hosted some big tournaments. You can't lose with either one.

[good read!]

MidPines is better, more fun, different from other courses you will play. If you are choosing to play just on it's MP all day long.

[hollabachgt]

Prior to the restoration most would have said Pine Needles, But for me Mid Pines has always been the better course. After the restoration there is little in the area, not named No. 2, that is in the same league as Mid Pines.

[MarkCPA]

I'm playing Mid Pines a week from Saturday. It will be the first time I've seen it since the renovation. Pine Needles is a major championship course. Both are great and I'm very eager to see MP after all the great press the renovation is getting.

[CP_Circa62]

MP is easily the better golf course, but PN is prettier.

[allparz]

Pine Needles weaves it's way through some housing - (18,17,16, 8,7,4) - the routing is a huge loop, with the 1/2 way house on the 9th tee about a mile from the lodge - The routing at Mid Pines is more traditional - you pretty much see nothing but the golf course and other
holes - and 18 at MP's is neat the way you play back to the big Hotel/Clubhouse. The restoration at MP was much needed as the course was pretty plain, now it is spectacular.

So aesthetically, MP is now the prettier golf course - However I like playing Pine Needles more than MP - find it more challenging and the holes more interesting, I also think it is the best example of Donald Ross golf other than #2. Oh, and the lodge at Pine Needles has the better 19th hole bar.

Note - I belong to a Ross course in RI - lived in Pinehurst for 16 years. I'll bet I've played 50 Ross courses....

[sniper]

Play them both...best of both worlds and two of my favorite courses.

[youngun87]

Alright thanks for the responses guys. One more question. It looks like the week I am heading into the area Pineneedles will be closed anyway. If you all had to choose between Mid Pines and tobacco road which would it be? Also, anyone that has played at Pinehurst how would you rate the courses #2,#4,#8 and what comes after that. We are trying to find another course to fill out our 6 round trip. So far we are playing #2 twice, #4, #8, Dormie Club and have an open spot for the sixth round.

[PGood]

I would play both Mid Pines and Tobacco Road and leave out something else. I played TR today and it was as awesome as ever. Played mid pines last month and it's awesome as well. If you can swing both, do it!

[raottaviani]

Would play Mid Pines before Tobacco Road...not even close. MP is classic Ross. TR is blind shot after blind shot for 5 to 5-1/2 hours.

#2, #4, #8, #5, #6, #3, #1. Have played all except #1.
#7 is right up there with #4 in my book. Is a little harder to get on....I think you have to play with a member.
A lot of people like #9...it's not my favorite and again I think you need to play with a member.

[ohiowilly]

I'd find a way to squeeze Southern Pines GC into your rotation, if you need another course. It's the best bang for the buck for a Donald Ross course that you can find in the Sandhills, and the greens will likely be some of the best that you'll play.
If you're flying out, catch Tobacco Road on the way to Raleigh (making some assumptions on travel).

[PGood]

[quote name='raottaviani' timestamp='1431994009' post='11582146']Would play Mid Pines before Tobacco Road...not even close. MP is classic Ross. TR is blind shot after blind shot for 5 to 5-1/2 hours[/quote]

Maybe the OP is looking for something different than all the classic courses he is already playing. Just because you're not a fan of the blind shots, doesn't mean he isn't.

[youngun87]

I actually don't mind blind shots. Going to call both courses and see which have tee times that work with our schedules. Thanks guys

[Sixcat]

I am not a fan of Tobacco Road but others are. I would choose Mid Pines and Southern Pines. I have played many of the Pinehurst courses. You can't make a bad choice.

[allparz]

Mid Pines over Tobacco Road every day.....

Pinehurst Courses --- #2,#7,#4,#9,#8,#5 (forget 1,3,6)

But if you can find a way onto CCNC Dogwood or Forest Creek....they are also very good...

[SheriffBooth]

[quote name='youngun87' timestamp='1431983628' post='11581172']
Alright thanks for the responses guys. One more question. It looks like the week I am heading into the area Pineneedles will be closed anyway. If you all had to choose between Mid Pines and tobacco road which would it be? Also, anyone that has played at Pinehurst how would you rate the courses #2,#4,#8 and what comes after that. We are trying to find another course to fill out our 6 round trip. So far we are playing #2 twice, #4, #8, Dormie Club and have an open spot for the sixth round.
[/quote]

Too bad that Pine Needles will be closed. With #2 twice, plus Dormie, plus Mid Pines, you will be getting a healthy dose of "natural" golf. While I'd ordinarily say Mid-Pines over Tobacco Road in a heads up matchup, with your lineup Tobacco Road might be a fun diversion, especially if you've never played a Stranz design.

#7 comes next after #2, #4 and #8. Then probably #6 and #5 in a dead heat. #1 and #3 are short but fun.

[smith1124]

Definitely MP. Just a great historic course. It is definitely one I think of when I hear Pinehurst.... then I immediately have the found scent of pine and my heart rate slows. Never liked TR. Every trip for last 10 years has both PN and MP. One of the last trips included a visit down to the PM driving range from Peggy Kirk Bell. She was more than happy to chat and comment on some swings!

[tobaccoroad]

[quote name='ohiowilly' timestamp='1431998606' post='11582706']
I'd find a way to squeeze Southern Pines GC into your rotation, if you need another course. It's the best bang for the buck for a Donald Ross course that you can find in the Sandhills, and the greens will likely be some of the best that you'll play.
If you're flying out, catch Tobacco Road on the way to Raleigh (making some assumptions on travel).
[/quote]

I respect your opinion but respectfully and fully disagree about Southern Pines GC. Probably the worst fairways in Pinehurst. Almost feels more like being on clay than sand base.
If you can break away from the Ross mold, Talamore and Mid South are way superior to Southern Pines. Maybe if they hadn't let SP go for so long, the layout and green complexes are very good.

Absolutely agree on Mid Pines being the 2nd gem in Pinehurst. Easily one of my favorite courses that I have ever been on.

[Hokie2k5]

Two of my favorite courses, hard to say which I like better. Mid Pines since the renovation is an unbelievable track, looks so easy but it is NOT! It tests every part of your game! PN is just a great track, I love everything about it and usually playing well there helps.

You need to play both if you can, you cannot go wrong with either though!

[lefty-golfer]

I am kind of suprised by the responses. Mid Pines is a real nice golf course IMO but I like Needles much better. the green speeds at PN are much better, the pace of place is better and haveing played both several times I just enjoy the round more at PN.

The first 4 or 5 holes at MP bottleneck so bad that it just drives me crazy...the back 9 is far far better.

both courses are kind of must plays when you are in the area!

[golfheaven69]

Glad to hear the Reno had improved MP. Never been a fan of the course.

[prsgtrman]

played a pro am yesterday at tobacco road. there really are only a few blind shots. imo TR is a really fun course just refer to the yardage book and dont get "cute". i also played pine needles yesterday after the pro am and was very underwhelmed. the course had been hyped up a bunch and after teeing off at 5 pm and still paying over 100 bucks i just didnt feel it was worth the cash. decent course but only a couple memorable holes.

[snkstaff]

I thought mid pines was great. I played 5 rounds last year after the U.S. Open and I would rank the courses I played as follows

1.Dormie Club
2a. Mid Pines
2b. Tobacco Road
4 Southern Pines
5 Pinewild

I loved the Dormie Club

[mackdaddy59]

I live in Chapel Hill, NC (1 hr north of Pinehurst) and have had the pleasure of playing many of the courses in the Pinehurst area:

My favorites (in no particular order):
Pinehurst #2, #4, #8, and #9
Talamore
Mid South
Pine Needles
Tobacco Road (Most fun golf course I've ever played)

Overrated IMO:
Mid Pines (still a good course, just not as good as Pine Needles)
Pinehurst #1, #3, #5, #6

I have not played Pinehurst #7, Dormie Club, or Firefox but I've heard that these are great courses

[hdr_ric]

#1, stinks Needles is closed during your trip. Its awesome.
#2, Mid-Pines over TR every day of the week

[MarkCPA]

I just got back from a week in the Sand Hills. I played Tobacco Road, Mid Pines, Dormie, TPC Piper Glen, and Whispering Pines. I was very impressed with the Mid Pines renovation. Tobacco Road's new greens are good. The whole area needs some rain though.