Pinehurst- The Cradle

[sdhayes135]

I apologize if this is answered earlier. What’s the best way to get on the Cradle as someone who is not staying at the Pinehurst Resort?

 

Can you make tee times? If we walk up on a Friday evening will it be packed?

[hangontight]

I apologize if this is answered earlier. What’s the best way to get on the Cradle as someone who is not staying at the Pinehurst Resort?

 

Can you make tee times? If we walk up on a Friday evening will it be packed?

 

Wow, I literally just logged on to ask the same thing! Heading to area in June, but staying at resort.

[Jarlaxle]

My understanding is the Cradle can only be booked on 24 hours notice for non-resort guests. The other courses are 5 days notice.

 

P.S. And by 24 hours that might actually mean same day, i.e. you can't make a tee time for Saturday afternoon until they open Saturday morning...

[krtgolfing]

My understanding is the Cradle can only be booked on 24 hours notice for non-resort guests. The other courses are 5 days notice.

 

P.S. And by 24 hours that might actually mean same day, i.e. you can't make a tee time for Saturday afternoon until they open Saturday morning...

 

Pinehurst number 2 is 24 hours as well.

[tarheel golf]

Played yesterday. I did not have an advanced tee time. Had to wait 45 minutes but was worth every minute of it. Remember your fee is good all day so you can play as many times as you want.

[hangontight]

Played yesterday. I did not have an advanced tee time. Had to wait 45 minutes but was worth every minute of it. Remember your fee is good all day so you can play as many times as you want.

 

How does repeat play work- get back in line? Or can you make a few tee times for same day in advance?

[brownm]

Pretty rare for the course to be booked all day. I'm a member of Pinehurst Country Club, courses 1-9, and can only book a time on the Cradle 48 hours out. Not sure how far out resort guests can book. I have never had an issue walking up and finding a time. If you have to wait an hour or so, it leaves the perfect amount of time to walk 300 yards away and go through the revised Thistle Dhu putting course, which is free.

[MichiganMan]

I'm playing The Cradle in two weeks. Heading to Pinehurst for my brother-in-laws birthday. Hoping to finally break my streak and make my first ace.

[hangontight]

I'm playing The Cradle in two weeks. Heading to Pinehurst for my brother-in-laws birthday. Hoping to finally break my streak and make my first ace.

 

Nice, please report back. I am playing in June , look forward to feedback!

[MichiganMan]

I'm playing The Cradle in two weeks. Heading to Pinehurst for my brother-in-laws birthday. Hoping to finally break my streak and make my first ace.

 

Nice, please report back. I am playing in June , look forward to feedback!

 

Will do! We’re playing The Cradle and No. 2 on Sunday and then No. 8 on Monday. Staying at the Holly Inn. He has no idea. We’re surprising him. Can’t wait.

[hangontight]

Trip planned for 2nd weekend in June to PInehurst. Will we have a problem getting on Saturday late afternoon? Not staying at resort , we are staying at Mid Pines. My son is excited to play the Cradle so I want to make sure we get it in but understand staying off resort we cannot book in advance. If it tends to be busy on Sat afternoons, maybe we should play on arrival Thursday afternoon?

[ceejay81]

Trip planned for 2nd weekend in June to PInehurst. Will we have a problem getting on Saturday late afternoon? Not staying at resort , we are staying at Mid Pines. My son is excited to play the Cradle so I want to make sure we get it in but understand staying off resort we cannot book in advance. If it tends to be busy on Sat afternoons, maybe we should play on arrival Thursday afternoon?

 

My buddy and I tried to get on the Cradle on Saturday evening on Easter weekend at around 5pm and they wouldn't let us out because they wanted the people on the course already to have a chance to replay it. The guy felt bad for turning us down. I'm not sure how much earlier we would have had to be there to get on. So instead we just putted and played around on Thistle Du for a couple of hours. I'd say play it Thursday afternoon just to be safe.

[hangontight]

Trip planned for 2nd weekend in June to PInehurst. Will we have a problem getting on Saturday late afternoon? Not staying at resort , we are staying at Mid Pines. My son is excited to play the Cradle so I want to make sure we get it in but understand staying off resort we cannot book in advance. If it tends to be busy on Sat afternoons, maybe we should play on arrival Thursday afternoon?

 

My buddy and I tried to get on the Cradle on Saturday evening on Easter weekend at around 5pm and they wouldn't let us out because they wanted the people on the course already to have a chance to replay it. The guy felt bad for turning us down. I'm not sure how much earlier we would have had to be there to get on. So instead we just putted and played around on Thistle Du for a couple of hours. I'd say play it Thursday afternoon just to be safe.

 

Thank you for the reply. I think the season tapers off some after May (at least our rates at Mid pines / pine needles did), so hopefully we won’t have big crowds. Will probably hit it Thursday to be safe. Also good to know they were making sure replays were an option, that’s good CS. We set would want to play a few loops.

[MichiganMan]

I was down at Pinehurst on Sunday/Monday. Played The Cradle 4 times on Sunday. Our first tee time was around 10 o'clock. My brother-in-law and I were paired with another twosome, although they did tell us we didn't "have to" play with them if we didn't want to. They husband only plays about 5 times a year and she was a true beginner and the four of us played in an hour and fifteen minutes. Nobody ever lost a ball. We then went back around as a twosome and played in 45 minutes.

 

The course is a ton of fun. Easily the most fun short course I've ever played. If you can get around a few times, it's well worth the $50. The greens are still VERY firm as they are so new, but it's still a lot of fun. They have a camper turned bar at the top of the hill between the 3rd green and 4th tee, which also happens to be between the 8th green and 9th tee. They've got music blasting through rock speakers all around the course. Just a really fun, relaxed atmosphere. They're currently teeing off mats, the really nice expensive kind, until the Bermuda grass comes in more. Longest hole is about 120 and shortest is about 45, though they vary quite a bit depending on the hole location, since the greens are fairly big for a short course.

 

All in all, it's a blast. If you're at the resort, this is a must play. On Sunday we went around The Cradle twice, had lunch, went over and played No 8, and then booked it back to The Cradle so we could play two more times before sunset. It was that much fun. Cannot recommend it enough.

[hangontight]

Played yesterday afternoon, what a blast. We played it our first day here (arrival). A great no pressure way To loosen up for the trip.

[68bronco]

Played 2 rounds at The Cradle on Sunday. Fantastic little course. Greens are very sloped and in terrific condition. Fairways are carpet. On course bar and music across the entire pitch as others have pointed out. Absolutely would play every visit to Pinehurst.

[hangontight]

April 5/6 - Likely hood of getting an afternoon tee time at Cradle? (24 Hours window, we are non-resort guests). I know it is a busy time of year. We are going to pencil in an afternoon at the Cradle, but trying to see what folks have experienced in busy season (April) - fat chance of getting one the day before, or will they be able to fit us in?

[MichiganMan]

April 5/6 - Likely hood of getting an afternoon tee time at Cradle? (24 Hours window, we are non-resort guests). I know it is a busy time of year. We are going to pencil in an afternoon at the Cradle, but trying to see what folks have experienced in busy season (April) - fat chance of getting one the day before, or will they be able to fit us in?

 

I think your chances are pretty good. My Dad and I drove down from Winston last fall the weekend after Labor Day. We called and got a tee time as non-resort guests with 24 hours notice and had no problem getting on. As great as The Cradle is, it's still not utilized nearly enough.

[hangontight]

April 5/6 - Likely hood of getting an afternoon tee time at Cradle? (24 Hours window, we are non-resort guests). I know it is a busy time of year. We are going to pencil in an afternoon at the Cradle, but trying to see what folks have experienced in busy season (April) - fat chance of getting one the day before, or will they be able to fit us in?

 

I think your chances are pretty good. My Dad and I drove down from Winston last fall the weekend after Labor Day. We called and got a tee time as non-resort guests with 24 hours notice and had no problem getting on. As great as The Cradle is, it's still not utilized nearly enough.

 

Thanks for the reply. We were there in May last year, and did the same thing without problem. However, I’m just thinking that April is high season and it is probably going to be tougher . We’ll see

[golfman79]

Heading down in mid March. As non-resort guests, really hoping to secure tee times on the Cradle and No. 2 on St. Patrick's Day.

[NCLancer]

I have a question regarding the logistics of The Cradle: Does one just carry a few clubs in their hands as they play or do you still carry a bag? If my wife and I play can I just take out her woods/hybrids/long irons and put in a few of my clubs and carry that one bag for both of us? Having never played a "short" course I'm not sure if I (or my wife) would enjoy it...

[NCgolf135]

Just take a few clubs out there with you, wedges putter, whatever you think she may need and they have small bags they give you that you can walk with.

[hangontight]

Just take a few clubs out there with you, wedges putter, whatever you think she may need and they have small bags they give you that you can walk with.

 

I found the bags to even be unnecessary and cumbersome . Easier to just carrry your three clubs rather than pull clubs in and out, bag up , bag down.

[tiderider]

distances are 40-120 yards, or thereabouts ... think there were some bunkers, but can't remember ... don't worry about logistics ... it's not augusta/shinnecock ... take some clubs and some balls and have some fun ... that's what it's about ...

[BMC]

They play music and there's a couple bars. It's all about fun.

[ceejay81]

Played 3 loops around the Cradle on Sunday. Such a fantastic spot and great atmosphere. The music was blaring, lots of folks were out on Thistle Dhu and the Cradle, and it was just a fun time. The 120 yard hole was playing dead into the wind. I could spend a whole day out there playing the Cradle and putting around on Thistle Dhu.

[Jarlaxle]

Even though card might say 120 that hole plays downhill, I ended up carrying at least two clubs I didn’t need. Next time I will just take my 100 yard and under clubs and just hit that one a little harder or just play it a little short and pitch on. All about minimizing and enjoying yourself. The fewer clubs the better.

[hangontight]

Even though card might say 120 that hole plays downhill, I ended up carrying at least two clubs I didn’t need. Next time I will just take my 100 yard and under clubs and just hit that one a little harder or just play it a little short and pitch on. All about minimizing and enjoying yourself. The fewer clubs the better.

 

Was going to say the same. Unless wind is up, the 120 plays closer to 100

[ceejay81]

Even though card might say 120 that hole plays downhill, I ended up carrying at least two clubs I didn’t need. Next time I will just take my 100 yard and under clubs and just hit that one a little harder or just play it a little short and pitch on. All about minimizing and enjoying yourself. The fewer clubs the better.

 

Was going to say the same. Unless wind is up, the 120 plays closer to 100

 

Was playing closer to 125ish for us with the 15-20 mph wind into our face. It was pretty wet for our few days at the resort, so they had pins in higher spots on the greens. Couldn't get super close to quite a few of the pins. Had a cross wind on a lot of holes. Such a blast.

[Jarlaxle]

Even though card might say 120 that hole plays downhill, I ended up carrying at least two clubs I didn’t need. Next time I will just take my 100 yard and under clubs and just hit that one a little harder or just play it a little short and pitch on. All about minimizing and enjoying yourself. The fewer clubs the better.

 

Was going to say the same. Unless wind is up, the 120 plays closer to 100

 

Was playing closer to 125ish for us with the 15-20 mph wind into our face. It was pretty wet for our few days at the resort, so they had pins in higher spots on the greens. Couldn't get super close to quite a few of the pins. Had a cross wind on a lot of holes. Such a blast.

Yeah, we played on a peaceful spring evening with almost no wind. So much fun no matter how/when you play it.