PINEHURST APRIL 7-14

[plus8]

Course Suggestions From Those Who've Been?

Hi,

The kid is going on a school trip during spring break and my wife and I are buzzing to Pinehurst for a 3-day, 2-night package we think. I've been given a list of course that are included and I get to choose three of the ones listed below. I've seen pics of some of them, but would be interested in your recommendations from below:

Tobacco Road,

Anderson Creek,

Bayonet at Puppy Creek,

Beacon Ridge,

Deercroft,

Foxfire,

Hyland Golf Club,

Longleaf,

Seven Lakes,

The Carolina,

Tot Hill Farm,

Whispering Pines,

Whispering Woods,

or Woodlake.

Tobacco Road looks GREAT, and Tot Hill Farm seems challenging...Any suggestions?

Thanks All!!!

[leoh923]

Tobacco Road is a great course, unlike anything you have probably seen. Playing it for the first time can be a little tough, because it is visually intimidating, but the landing areas are very generous, you just can't see that from the tee. I haven't played Tot Hill, but it's also a Mike Strantz course, similar to Tobacco Road, but it's about the furthest away from Pinehurst. Seven Lakes is very good, both courses at CC of Whispering Pines are good, Carolina is good too. Hyland has improved with new management, and is a fun course that won't beat you up too much. I haven't played out at Foxfire for about 2 years, but always enjoyed both courses there.

Really no terrible courses on the list, although I haven't played Anderson Creek or Bayonet. 2 courses I really like are Legacy and Southern Pines Country Club, and they are usually included in packages. You might want to inquire about them.

[gpt104]

Tobacco Road - definitely worth the trip. I'd play again on my next trip without a doubt
The Carolina - good course but I enjoyed Southern Pines significantly more
Woodlake (Maples) - good course and I enjoyed it. Clubhouse was very classy

[bu11dog]

Tobacco Road and Tot Hill are both similar. I'm not a fan, but many are. They're very different kinds of courses.

Longleaf is a decent course for the price.

I agree with gp above that the Carolina is a good course, but Southern Pines is better. If Southern Pines CC is in your price range I strongly recommend going there. It's not long, but it is very challenging and the conditions are usually impeccable.

The Carolina is very underrated imho.

I didn't think that Foxfire was all that impressive to be honest. It isn't bad for the price, but there are better options on your list imo.

[postfold]

How much driving do you want to do? If you're staying in Pinehurst, either in town or along US 15-501, some of these courses are a hike. Tot Hill Farm is in Asheboro, Bayonet in Fayetteville, Anderson Creek in Spring Lake, all 45+ minutes away iirc.

If you don't mind that, I'd rank them in this order:

Tobacco Road -- You have to play it at least once. Love it or hate it, I'm a fan.
Anderson Creek (but haven't played there in about 5 years)
Bayonet -- Played last year. It's a haul getting there but really liked the course.
The Carolina -- Haven't played there in 4 or 5 years. Liked it then.
Woodlake (Maples)-- Very solid.
Tot Hill Farm -- It's absolutely one of a kind. Visually stunning. Love it or hate it.
Seven Lakes -- Nice course.
Foxfire -- Doesn't get a lot of love but both 18s are quite solid.
Hyland (haven't played there since they reopened, new bermuda greens)
Longleaf -- Not a big fan. Merely OK.
Woodlake (Palmer) -- play the Maples. Much better.
Whispering Pines -- Has a better rep than this but it is my least favorite course so far.

Haven't played: Beacon Ridge, Deercroft, Whispering Woods

I would echo the advice given above -- if you can get on Southern Pines CC at little or no upcharge I'd do it in a second. It's my second favorite course in the area (of course I haven't played #2 yet) and is a great, challenging layout without being real long.

[avgjoe]

TR for sure... Woodlake is fine, not gaga about either really tho. been way too long to give info about any of the others

[plus8]

Thanks all. We will definitely do Tobacco Road -- as far as Tot Hill, looks cool with all the rocks as such, but I don't know how much fun it will be. I've played Stonehaus up in VA (same designer), and wasn't too impressed with the layout - too may blind shots and stupid greens for my taste. Wife is sort of a beginner, so I need to consider that as well. The Carolina is a definite as well. And Woodlake - that is a definite.


Thanks Again!

sc

[leoh923]

If your wife is a beginner, you may want to slot in one less challenging course for her. Tobacco Road and The Carolina are great, but can be very intimidating to a novice. Woodlake is less daunting, but Hyland or Longleaf might be a relief for her after your first two rounds.

[fairways4life]

For the wife, you might want to consider PInehurst #1 or #3. They are both very short courses (like 6,000 from the furthest tees) and set up well for beginners. And they don't require nearly the cost of #2, especially at twilight.

Plus, you can't take a golf trip to Pinehurst without stopping by the resort and seeing all there is to see there, even if you don't play any of the courses there.

[plus8]

You got it, thanks! We played today (she and I)....... she had a rough day. So I was wondering about just that....

We'll pencil in an easy one for her.

Thanks

sc

[stimpmeterp]

For those mentioning Southern Pines, are you referring to:

Southern Pines Golf Club
Southernpinesgc.com

thanks, there seem to be more than one!

[AltusBeliever]

FOr your wife's sake go to Hyland. IMO Carolina is the worst course in Moore County. The locals will not play it. Conditioning at Whispering Pines has been very suspect lately I am tolld by locals. I just played Legacy and their new Champion greens are fantastic. Unfortunately not on your list. The east course at Foxfire is good as is Seven Lakes. I played 36 one day years ago at Longleaf and found it enjoyable. I am in S Pines every three weeks or so therefore my info is current. You are going at a great time of year. You will have fun no matter where you play.

[caradz]

even though not on the list.. PINE NEEDLES is a MUST.. even for a beginning golfer.. it is very very fair to women at the up tees...

[lightningbolt444]

I love Tobacco Road. I also like Seven Lakes and Talamore. Neither Seven Lakes or Talamore were to challenging but they were both in pretty good shape even though I went down in mid February. The llamas are kind of cool at Talamore as well not that I would ever take them as caddies but it makes for a good story and you see them in certain parts of the course.

[K-Brown]

i could no do a pinehurst trip that did not include Pine Needles and Mid Pines.

[bu11dog]

[quote name='stimpmeterp' timestamp='1328144034' post='4194209']
For those mentioning Southern Pines, are you referring to:

Southern Pines Golf Club
Southernpinesgc.com

thanks, there seem to be more than one!
[/quote]

I was talking about [url="http://southernpinesgc.com/"]Southern Pines Country Club[/url]. It's a classic Donald Ross design...not long, but still challenging.

We went down last winter and it was in perfect shape. The guys in the pro shop are awesome too.

[Florida Gator]

Pinehurst #2, Pine Needles and Tobacco Road are my absolute favorites in that area. I say that while stating that I have not played Mid Pines or Southern Pines. For the money- if you get a deal- Tobacco Road is my favorite.

[dwoodgolf]

Pine Needles is one of my favorite golf course. National Golf Club is really good also. Legacy golf links use to be really good but not sure about it anymore. Personally not a fan of Tobacco road, I feel like it needs a ferris wheel and a clowns mouth to put thru.

[SPNCHeel]

A friend played Hyland in the last week or so and said the course was in poor condition. I like the layout and have played a number of times, but if the greens are as neglected as he says I wouldn't play there.

[ptjn1201]

Pine Needles is a wonderful layout. Pinehurst 2 is great fun and fair for all if you play the proper tees but has gotten so pricey. 1 & 3 are shorter but good fun.

[theinsider]

Add The Dormie Club to your list. Exceptional Coore & Crenshaw Course that is publicly accessible right now. A real treat.

[G_M_T]

Tobacco road is a very polarizing coarse (along w/ almost every other Mike Strantz design). Target golf, not killer long but lots of blind aproaches, and no matter what you think of the merits of the design, it is visually stunning. I love it but it is a debate every year wether our group wants it in the rotation.

Tot hill farm is another Strantz course and again I love it, more conventional than tobacco road (but still not really conventional).

The Carolina is a course that really makes me sad. It is a wonderful design, great greens and it's close to town. But it is terribly maintained, the clubhouse is an old double-wide construction trailer, it just looks like the whole property is falling apart.

National is one of my favorites, great shape, great design. We stayed at the villas on the course last year and it was great.

Legacy is another Jack Nickalus course (like national) and another really great track. It has the same Nickalus design elements, elevated of protected greens, risk reward, forced carries.

Bayonet is a nice course, a bit out of the way but worth the trip.


Also make reservations at the ironwood cafe, my favorite restaurant in the area. Its kind of a casual fine dining place great steaks, great wine list.
And try the fish and chips at dugans pup for a more casual night.

I get there on the 17th so repair your ball marks

[nitram]

2,4, & 8. Dormie and Tobacco Road.

[bcp]

I live in Raleigh, NC and get to play at Pinehurst quite often. You should know that several of the courses mentioned, specifically Tobacco Road and Tot Hill Farm are not really close to Pinehurst.

If you have the ability to get on the resort courses, I would strongly recommend doing so. My opinion is the following order, based on course conditions and atmosphere/ history:
#2, #4, #8*, #6*, #5, #7*, #3, #1. *#6, 7, and 8 are not on the Pinehurst resort.

Also would recommend the following:
Dormie, Mid Pines, Pine Needles, Forest Creek, Pinewild, Mid South

Not sure where you are staying, but you should definitely get to the Pinecrest Inn for at least a cocktail.

[Don Ross]

Southern Pines Country Club is a great value and a good course. Tobacco Road and Tot Hill migh be too much for the Mrs. Longleaf, Bayonet, Carolina and Whispering Pines are the weak sisters in the group. I am hearing good things about Fox Fire, fair prices and courses are looking good. I also suggest Legacy Links.

[lbhitter]

#2, #4, Pine Needles, Mid Pines, Dormie. All close and in great shape right now.
LB

[Scott@84]

I just got back from Pinehurst last night. We played Dormie Club, National, Mid Pines, Tobacco Road and Southern Pines. All were in great shape, especially Dormie. Dormie Club is a must play, fantastic staff and easily one of the top three courses I have played.