Pine Needles/Mid Pines

[caniac6]

Has anyone stayed at either, and how was it?

[bluehose]

Haven’t stayed at either but my understanding is that the rooms at Mid Pines are a little “tired” and Pine Needles is a step up although still nothing luxurious or extremely up to date.  Had the choice of staying at either one this upcoming November and chose Pine Needles because prices were almost identical.

[JRSc]

On 8/1/2021 at 9:46 AM, caniac6 said:

Has anyone stayed at either, and how was it?

Yes.. stayed at PN many times. It’s not bad. It’s clean and the beds are comfortable. The food is good and the bar is pretty cool.

Have not stayed at MP but have heard the Inn needs some attention. However, I ate there not long ago and the food was very good.

[PGood]

Rented a house on 18 green at PN a few years back. Location was awesome and it is a short walk to the breakfast buffet that was amazing.

 

[TMadigolf]

Stayed at Mid Pines 1 night in July before moving to the Villas at Talamore. Yes the place is tired and in need of a reno. The bathroom was very small as well. With that said i enjoyed it for a 1 night stay, i enjoyed the old school feel of it all. The locker room was vintage 1960's and really cool. Our room looked out onto #18 as well. Wouldn't want to stay there for a week but for a night or 2 i would again, kinda cool to take in that history.

[sui generis]

On 8/2/2021 at 2:17 PM, JRSc said:

The food is good and the bar is pretty cool.

 

Amen, the bar is worth a visit even if you're not staying in the hotel. 🙂

[Jetsguy1792]

Just stayed at pine needles the past two nights. The rooms are fine and nothing special but for a golf trip do the job. The bar and food at both were great. If you stay at pine needles try and stay at room 132. You have a small patio that leads to a pretty private putting green. 

[caniac6]

Stopped by there for lunch, and it was so crummy looking, we left. The courses looked great, but both Pine Needles and Mid Pines looked like they need to be gutted and redone.

[Chilidog]

Both places are in need of major restoration. My Brother-In-Law is a member at both and I get to play it often. As much money as these places pull in, they have the cash to restore it. They just believe it’s history instead of seeing old. 

[wrwarner]

I hope they never “renovate” the locker room at Mid Pines. It’s original from the 1920s and still has the spike marks on the benches. The hotel upstairs does need work, but they need to keep the original look if they can.

[islesmb]

21 hours ago, wrwarner said:

I hope they never “renovate” the locker room at Mid Pines. It’s original from the 1920s and still has the spike marks on the benches. The hotel upstairs does need work, but they need to keep the original look if they can.

I kind of wish they would renovate the bathroom. I had an inch of space between myself and the door when I was doing my business.  🤣

[ND2005]

6 minutes ago, islesmb said:

I kind of wish they would renovate the bathroom. I had an inch of space between myself and the door when I was doing my business.  🤣

Agreed could barely even sit down in there! And no air flow 😭

[caniac6]

Some old things are cool, and some old things are just old. Both these places need to be updated, but with tradition in mind.

[aiyyer]

Seriously Mid Pines Inn looks haunted and needs a redo while still preserving history.

Great course though. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I stayed at Mid Pines some years ago, it was nice. I played Mid Pines (pre reno), Pine Needles and I also played the Pineneedles 4 hole practice course as well. Great place and fun golf. Mid Pines is even better now.

[JRSc]

Stayed at PN this past week. It was great.  Always clean and our bathroom had actually been updated. 
We ate at the bar. Hard to beat the view. Nice fire on a cold Sunday night. 
Will be back soon. 

[sui generis]

On 1/16/2022 at 2:40 PM, JRSc said:

We ate at the bar.

 

Mrs Sui reckons their mac and cheese is the best on the planet!

[PNB_Golf]

If you're interested in seeing the course at Mid Pines here are all 18 holes. I will have a video for Pine Needles out in a couple weeks.

[Oh Hi Carl]

Great video.  Nice par on 17.  

[tlknight]

The locker room bathrooms at Mid Pines were designed when Americans were all 5’9”, 125 pounds. 

[PNB_Golf]

Here is the video for Pine Needles:

 

 

[Notashank]

Pine needles to me is the most overrated course. It’s nice but I don’t consider it being one of the best in the area. 

[allparz]

On 1/30/2022 at 11:01 PM, Notashank said:

Pine needles to me is the most overrated course. It’s nice but I don’t consider it being one of the best in the area. 

 

Got to disagree with this take...Pine Needles is my favorite course in the Sandhills.  Actually think it is the most representative Donald Ross there is in Pinehurst, great risk reward Par 5's(1,10,15) , some excellent varied par 3's (3,5,13)  some good short 4's (8,9) and kick a** 4's (2,6,11,14,17).  Lots of land movement and uneven lies (1,2,4,6,10,11,12,18), some great green complexes (1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 16, 18).  Unbelievable driving range and wonderful clubhouse, bar, fireplace, setting, history and atmosphere...Can  be stretched to 7000yds (try playing those tees) and impossible if the greens over 11.

 

4 US Womens Opens held there

1 US Sr Womens Open

1 US Sr Womens Am

1 US Girls JR

[Notashank]

33 minutes ago, allparz said:

 

Got to disagree with this take...Pine Needles is my favorite course in the Sandhills.  Actually think it is the most representative Donald Ross there is in Pinehurst, great risk reward Par 5's(1,10,15) , some excellent varied par 3's (3,5,13)  some good short 4's (8,9) and kick a** 4's (2,6,11,14,17).  Lots of land movement and uneven lies (1,2,4,6,10,11,12,18), some great green complexes (1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 16, 18).  Unbelievable driving range and wonderful clubhouse, bar, fireplace, setting, history and atmosphere...Can  be stretched to 7000yds (try playing those tees) and impossible if the greens over 11.

 

4 US Womens Opens held there

1 US Sr Womens Open

1 US Sr Womens Am

1 US Girls JR

So you saying it’s a great course for women  by the tournaments played there. 

Edited February 2, 2022 by Notashank

[allparz]

US Womens Open has been played at the following courses- I would say that puts Pine Needles in pretty good company....

 

Olympic Club
CC of Charleston
Oakmont
Salem CC
Lancaster 
Pinehurst #2
Saucon Valley
Sebonack
Interlachen
Cherry Hills
Plainfield
Worcester CC
Winged Foot
Baltusrol

[JRSc]

18 hours ago, allparz said:

 

..Can  be stretched to 7000yds (try playing those tees) and impossible if the greens over 11.

 

Yes.. when those greens are fast distance is irrelevant. Fast Ross greens= heaven on earth. 

[gmayo11]

Just got back from playing Mid Pines, Pine Needles, and Southern Pines.  Stayed on property at Mid Pines.  The hotel is nothing special, but it is clean and fun environment.  Pop's Pub has a great staff of bartenders, and the team in the evening at the front desk is great.  We just needed a place to lay our heads at night, and it checked that box.  We also spent a few hours with drinks on the putting green at night.  

 

The Courses

Mid Pines:  If I had to choose just one course to play every day, this would probably be it.  It is not back breaking, but it is challenging.  Even though a little shorter, it utilizes the entire bag.  The par threes are great, and the greens are difficult, but I would say the most tame of the 3 courses.  Just an all around fun time.

 

Pine Needles:  If I was in the area and I could only play one round, it would probably be a toss up, but Pine Needles gets the nod for me.  It is a great test of golf.  We played the 1 up tee's and it just felt like a much bigger ballpark, even though the yardage is not far off from the tips at Mid Pines.  The greens were a bit more demanding, and a bit more elevation change to deal with.  It was cart path only, and we probably should have walked, but alas, we were pretty worn out by the end.  Also was our second round of the day.  The finish probably left a little to be desired, but again an enjoyable course.

 

Southern Pines:  This may end up being my favorite of the three once it matures.  The greens were very firm, and holding shots was impossible.  It is also the hardest/most difficult green complexes of the three.  The elevation changes were also more dramatic.  The greens probably need another year, but once they become more receptive, the course will be very fun.  Probably the most unique of the three, in my opinion. 

 

I think all three should be high on the must play list, and not sure I could be forced to rank them right now.  I think all provide a uniqueness from the others.  We went on the "Golf Lovers" package and hit the weather lottery, so we were quite spoiled.  Accommodations and golf at all three for $300 is hard to beat.  We also played the cradle when we got in on Wednesday afternoon which of course was a blast.