Bottlebrush: Pinehurst Area’s Best Kept Secret

The proliferation of par 3 courses in recent years is well-documented. The Par 3 course at Augusta National Golf Club is arguably the most recognized due to the attention it receives annually with the popular contest held there during Masters week.

Other short courses at Bandon Dunes and Big Cedar Lodge (among many more globally) have also gained in popularity in recent years as the trend for creative and fun concepts has been increasing.

Here, at the Home of American Golf, The Cradle at Pinehurst Resort, designed by Gil Hanse prior to his reimagination of Pinehurst No. 4, is a beautiful par three course that is 789 yards of pure fun and enjoyment with music playing, adult beverages flowing and a multi-generational blast for all skill levels.

But The Cradle is not the only par three course experience in the Pinehurst Area.

Bottlebrush, a six-hole par three course at Longleaf Golf & Family Club, is perhaps the best kept secret for golf in the Sandhills of North Carolina. Opened in 2016, Bottlebrush was created by Bill Bergin from Bergin Golf Designs and sits on 3.5 acres between the 13th and 16th holes of the main golf course owned by U.S. Kids Golf. The holes range from 50 to around 100 yards in length (about 450 yards total; see scorecard) so all you need is a wedge, or two, and a putter and prepare to have a blast! The course is well-contoured and the vestiges in the form of white furlongs from the old horse racetrack that once thrived on the property dissect the course.

Like The Cradle, Bottlebrush is a great place to introduce new players to golf, a testament to Longleaf Golf & Family Club’s mission to grow the game. When you consider the cost is only $8.00 to play the course, not only is it one of the best kept secrets in town, but also one of the best golf values as well.

Longleaf Golf & Family Club is located on Knoll Rd. between Midland Road and Airport Road in Southern Pines. The 18-hole main golf course is one of the best in the destination and is also home to the U.S. Kids Golf Academy and the organization’s Foundation.