First Timer’s Guide to Pinehurst
Welcome to the Home of American Golf! The Sandhills of North Carolina are anchored by the towns of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen. Although most visitors come here to play 18 holes, and there is
On the Golf Trail
Golf Trail
Welcome to the Home of American Golf!
Follow the Home of American Golf Trail to visit the highlights of golf in the Sandhills. The impact of golf starts centuries ago and continues to be a main attraction for visitors. With more than 40 golf courses in the area, golf is the essence of the Sandhills.
Accessibility:
This trail will best be explored in your personal vehicle with various stops.
USGA Golf House Pinehurst & Golf Experience
The USGA officially opening its second headquarters in the village of Pinehurst in late December 2023. More affectionately known as “HQ2,” this USGA complex houses administrative offices, testing center, welcome center and World Golf Hall of Fame, among other amenities. It is located on the Pinehurst Country Club campus on the south side of the circle between the club and the Carolina Hotel. Photo courtesy of the USGA.
Accessibility:
The USGA Experience is a 2-story experience, elevators available. Paved grounds and parking area with accessible parking.
USGA Golf Hall of Fame
Opened just prior to the 2024 U.S. Open in June, the WGHOF is making a return to its original home in Pinehurst. The USGA has deep experience in collecting and preserving golf history. The facility will be very convenient for visitors, resort guests and golfers. Displays will be created with flexibility to change them periodically, so an ever-evolving experience for all.
Accessibility:
This is a 2-story experience, elevators available. Paved grounds and parking area with accessible parking.
Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame
The Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) Hall of History is located inside the organization’s headquarters Southern Pines across the street from Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. The museum is free and open to the public during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Learn about our amateurs like Bill Joe Patton and Bill Harvey along with PGA professionals like Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Jay Haas and Lucas Glover, who all have Carolina roots.
Accessibility:
Thistle Dhu
1919 when James Wells Barber completed construction of a course on his Pinehurst estate in Moore County that the game most Americans would recognize today as miniature golf came into being this course would be name as Thistle Dhu and would be the first in miniature golf course. A perfect warm-up before a round, wind-down afterward or just a fun way to let the family share in one’s love of golf, Thistle Dhu is an 18-hole putting course made to make memories on. There are 18 greens here, but no greens fees, so any resort guest can simply bring a putter, drop a ball and take their chances aiming for pin after pin.
Accessibility:
Park at: 1 Carolina Vista Dr, Pinehurst, NC 28374
Accessible parking available. Paved road from the parking lot to the paved sidewalk, flat greens for playing.
Double Eagle Indoor Golf Simulator
For golf enthusiasts, there is no off-season. Find your fairway at Pinehurst’s first indoor golf facility and sports bar. Play at the world’s finest courses indoors.
Accessibility:
Accessible parking available. Paved road from the parking lot to Double Eagle. Large open space for maneuvering around inside. Simulators are wheelchair accessible.
Pine Needles
Home to several U.S. Women’s Opens and known for its superior golf instruction, cozy ambiance and immaculate Donald Ross course, Pine Needles lives up to its reputation as a sanctuary of excellence.
Accessibility:
Accessible parking available. Paved road from the parking lot to entrance, some elevation slight shifts on the property.
Golf Pride Retail Lab
A first of its kind, the Retail Lab in Golf Pride’s state-of-the-art Global Innovation Center (GIC) in Pinehurst, NC, has opened just inside the entrance to Pinehurst No. 8 golf course.
Accessibility:
Accessible parking available. Paved road from the parking lot to entrance.
Bottlebrush Course at Longleaf
Bottlebrush is a six-hole par 3 course located on the grounds of Longleaf Golf & Family Club. One of the first such “short courses” in the region, the holes range from 50 to 100 yards in length and offers a wide variety of well-contoured and picturesque holes to challenge any player, and also be enjoyable and playable for all.
The Bill Bergin designed layout keeps in place a white furlong fence that was once part of the horse track and farm that encompassed the property. The nod to history is part of the charm, but so is the commitment to the future, as you’ll often find families and young players enjoying time together improving their skills, in fun competition, and mostly, just loving taking part in the game.
Accessibility:
Accessible parking available. Paved road from the parking lot to entrance, slight grade change in the parking lot.
Area Golf Courses
With more than 40 courses to choose from there is a choice for every one.
Wee Pines at Olmsted Village
Opened in Spring 2024, Wee Pines at Olmsted Village is the only mini golf course in Moore County. Wee Pines is a classic design, featuring 36 holes, 18 of which are ADA compliant, a water hole, and giant boulders. All ages welcome and fun for the entire family.
Accessibility:
Accessible parking available. Paved road from the parking lot to entrance.
Both courses are ADA Compliant.
Selfie Moments with Golf Legends
Payne Stewart
Donald Ross
Putter Boy
The Fall Foursome (And Beyond)
They come from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and all points on the compass. The weather is starting to turn and cool off. The lure of the famous courses they’ve seen on television — Pinehurst No. 2
The Deuce: Tips & Tricks
Walk It Off
World Golf Hall of Fame
Pinehurst Area Basks in U.S. Open Glow
A rare bright spot during the eye of the pandemic came in early September 2020, when the United States Golf Association named Pinehurst Resort and Country Club’s legendary No. 2 course as its first “anchor
Village People
Noted golf writer, author and blogger Geoff Shackelford had not been to Pinehurst in the decade since the 2014 U.S. Open was held on No. 2.
The Shot
Final groups of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, a quarter-century apart. Payne Stewart in 1999 needs a par to hold off playing partner Phil Mickelson, but his tee shot on the uphill, par-4
The Coincidental Resort
The eyes of the sports and golf worlds will be upon Pinehurst the third week in June. The largesse of the Sandhills golf community will evoke awe and interest from across the nation and the
The Eve of the Open
It’s been 10 years since the last U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. What’s different about the golf course and infrastructure in one decade? So much. But then again, so little.
USGA Officially Opens Golf House Pinehurst
The United States Golf Association (USGA) today officially opened Golf House Pinehurst, its seven-acre campus located footsteps from the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club main clubhouse. The new location includes the organization’s equipment-testing and research
Architect’s Mosaic
“Getting the No. 6 job was a major step for us in the golf-design business,” Tom Fazio says of the mid-1970s assignment to build the resort’s first course away from its core operation in the
Count to Ten
Tom Doak was bitten by the golf bug as a youngster growing up in Stamford, Conn., first playing a local municipal course and then tagging along on his father’s business trips to esteemed golf destinations
Rebirth at Woodlake
A.B. Hardee was going to bring the ocean to the Sandhills. He was going to build a lake and a dam and install a wave-making machine on some swampy property in northeast Moore County. You
Pinehurst No. 2 Continues to Lead the Way in 2024
Pinehurst No. 2 has once again secured the top spot as the best golf course in the state as determined by the North Carolina Golf Panel. Pinehurst Resort will host the 2024 U.S. Open at
Sandhills Pours Double Dose
They came from across the Eastern states and even the Midwest on a crisp morning in October 2023, these aficionados of the golf course artistry of Mike Strantz. The venue was Tot Hill Farm, the
The Dynamic Decade
The last decade has seen an explosion in innovation in the golf and hospitality worlds. By June 2024, the Sandhills will have seen the launch and evolution of these top 10 stories for the last
A Dozen Master Strokes
No doubt the 20-footer Payne Stewart drained on the last shot of the 1999 U.S. Open is the most famous shot in a century and a quarter of golf in the Sandhills. But there have
Hall of Fame Take Two
This new, six-acre Golf House Pinehurst complex, just steps away from the opening tee shot on Pinehurst No. 2, features the USGA Experience Building and World Golf Hall of Fame.
Sandhills Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame arrives this spring. There is no Sandhills Golf Hall of Fame. But what if there were? Who might comprise the inaugural class of honorees? A dozen of must-haves could
Payne at 25
To the left of the putting green on Pinehurst No. 2’s 18th hole stands a bronze statue of Payne Stewart. The champion of the 1999 U.S. Open, the first ever held at Pinehurst, was captured
A U.S. Open Year
The Pinehurst elixir is two-fold. The village and club offer a blend of history and aesthetics and devotion to the game of golf that set a perfect table for such a competitive feast.
Golfers Gift Guide
The American national championship is the big story in 2024, so of course the pro shop at Pinehurst is stocked with merchandise adorned by the Open logo.
Pinehurst Holiday
On December 25th, there was Santa Claus. On the 27th, there was Donald Ross.
A “New” Pinehurst Welcomes the World in 2024
Even if you’ve made a recent visit to the Sandhills region of North Carolina — the “Home of American Golf,” Pinehurst, along with the bourgeoning Southern Pines and Aberdeen areas — you will quickly discover
An Artist in the Dirt
Tom Fazio was working at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, in the mid-1970s on some course renovations leading up to the 1979 U.S. Open when he noticed an ambitious and talented member of the course
Act Two for Tot Hill Farm
If Mike Strantz hadn’t died from tongue cancer in 2005 at the young age of 50, would he ever have made it to Pinehurst proper to design a golf course? We’ll never know, of course,
Loving Our Black & Whites
A vintage photograph showing Pinehurst owner Richard Tufts seated on a bench beside architect Donald Ross taken in the 1940s had long captured Tom Pashley’s fancy. Here was Tufts, third generation of the Pinehurst founding
Pinehurst Major-itis
The eight trophies sit in a glass display case at the east end of Heritage Hall in the Pinehurst Resort Clubhouse. To one side is the outside veranda and then the 18th green of Pinehurst
When They Were Young
Ben Hogan was a 30-year-old journeyman when the PGA Tour came to Pinehurst in March 1940. Hogan had been playing for eight years and didn’t have a win to show for it. He was out
Sleepy Summers No More
“It was sleepy during the summer for sure,” says Peggy Bell Miller, daughter of Warren and Peggy Kirk Bell. “All the staff went to Myrtle Beach. There was no business during the summer.” But, that
Kid You Not
Dan Van Horn was an engineer living in Atlanta and raising a family of three in the mid-1990s when it struck him how well the baseball equipment industry addressed the youth market and how poorly
Rock the Village
Pinehurst Business Partners, in collaboration with the Village of Pinehurst and the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, is thrilled to announce Rock the Village, an extraordinary art installation project designed to
1999 U.S. Open: A Look Back
A U.S. Open at Pinehurst seems old hat now. In about a year, the esteemed No. 2 course will be the venue for its fourth rendition of America’s national championship, following 1999 (won by Payne
2024 U.S. Open: A Look Ahead
The Village of Pinehurst, the broader Sandhills community and the revered No. 2 course are officially in countdown mode as the calendar swings to one year out from the 2024 U.S. Open. Where did 10
X Marks the 10-Spot
The Pinehurst Resort wanted to open its 10th course around the time Donald Ross’s masterpiece No. 2 hosts its fourth U.S. Open in June 2024. Tom Pashley, the resort’s president, contacted Doak in mid-2022, and
Pinehurst No. 2 Still Ranked Best Course in NC
Pinehurst No. 2 has once again secured the top spot as the best golf course in the state as determined by the North Carolina Golf Panel. Pinehurst Resort will host the 2024 U.S. Open at
Golf Pride Retail Lab
That connection is a recurring theme around Golf Pride’s 36,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Global Innovation Center and headquarters, which debuted in 2019 near the entrance of Pinehurst Resort’s No. 8 course.
A Few of Our Favorite (Golfing) Things
As we like to say around the Home of American Golf, “When the dogleg bites, when the bogey stings, when we’re feeling sad, we simply remember our favorite things, and then we don’t feel so
Southern Pines Golf Club Recognized
Southern Pines Golf Club, an original Donald Ross designed golf course built in 1906, has been recognized by raters from Golf Digest as one of the best renovation projects for 2022.
Pinehurst Resort Announces New Course to be Designed by Tom Doak
Pinehurst Resort has announced that it will be creating a brand-new golf courses for the first time in 28 years. Pinehurst No. 10 is set to open in 2024 and will be designed by acclaimed
Coore & Crenshaw Roots Run Deep
Golf architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw each have a significant tie to the Sandhills and Pinehurst No. 2 from their respective early days in golf. Coore was born in 1946 and grew up in
The Hanse Touch
Gil Hanse launched his golf design firm in 1993 and for nearly two decades carved a niche doing restoration work on classic courses across the United States, among them Merion, Winged Foot, Fishers Island, The
Jones Family Imprint
Jones Family Imprint Across The Sandhills of North Carolina with favorite courses such as Pinehurst No. 7 and CCNC's Cardinal Course.
The Big Three
It made for a great story in the heady days of the late-1980s golf boom: Arnie and Jack battling it out once again, staking their immense abilities and reputations face-to-face as they’d done so many
Pinehurst Area Buzzing with 2023 Excitement
Headed into 2023, there’s a palpable buzz pulsing throughout North Carolina’s Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area — or as it is more globally recognized, the “Home of American Golf.”Golf around Pinehurst boasts a storied
Maples Roots Run Deep in Sandhills Golf Design
“For me, Pinehurst is such a special place for golf,” says Fazio, who at 77 is still designing new courses and working on renovations of his earlier works. “Put Donald Ross in the equation and
“For me, Pinehurst is such a special place for golf!”- Tom Fazio
“For me, Pinehurst is such a special place for golf,” says Fazio, who at 77 is still designing new courses and working on renovations of his earlier works. “Put Donald Ross in the equation and
Talamore Resort Debuts New Toptracer Range
Autumn around the Village of Pinehurst area is the most popular time of year for a golf vacation. This fall, guests at Talamore Golf Resort in the “Home of American Golf” will be able to
What Goes Around…
The World Golf Fame will move back to Pinehurst and be located on the second floor of the new Golf House Pinehurst facility the USGA is building on land adjacent to the Pinehurst Resort &
Fall into Pinehurst Golf
Fall around the Home of American Golf may be the most enticing season of all, when there’s a nip in the air on the first tee and you’re out of your pullover by the turn.
No Resting on Laurels Around the Home of American Golf
Calling these “the best of times” around the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area of North Carolina might seem like it’s saying a lot, but sometimes the shoe simply fits. Just take a look at
Donald Ross Could Golf His Ball
Anyone who has ever teed it up in the Pinehurst area knows the name Donald Ross. A transplanted Scot, Donald Ross fused his home course knowledge (Royal Dornoch and its elevated, contoured greens) and his
From Cradle to Cradle
Nothing in 30 years has changed my early opinions: Pinehurst is the spiritual home of golf in the United States and St. Andrews the spiritual home of golf in Scotland — and for the rest
Waltzing on the Danube with Peggy Kirk Bell
Twenty-five years ago, I drew one of those assignments that happen in life — to the fortunate few. As a senior editor at LINKS magazine, I signed on to document the first golf cruise put
Grande Dame of Women’s Golf
Peggy Kirk Bell’s influence around the Sandhills, and on the game of golf, will be on full display during the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles.
Pine Needles Goes Back in Time
Following a restoration that took it back to its original Donald Ross design, Pine Needles will look and play much different than it did during its last U.S. Women’s Open in 2007.
Talamore Doing More for 2022
The popular resort in the Home of American Golf has numerous enhancements and new amenities arriving soon, including a Toptracer Range, cutting-edge EcoBunkers and a 15,000-square foot putting course.
Undiscovered Pinehurst
The history of golf in the Sandhills of North Carolina practically writes itself. National championships, titans of the game, legendary architects and award-winning golf course designs, all have their place in Pinehurst and the surrounding
Talamore and Mid South: History of Their Own
Tucked between the century-plus traditions of Pinehurst three miles to the west and Mid Pines one mile to the east, two 1990s era courses have established golfing bona fides of their own.
Dormie Club’s New Era
Bill Coore remembers walking the property of what would become Dormie Club around 2006 before engineers had delineated any wetlands on the land northwest of the Village of Pinehurst.
Nature’s Canvas: Tobacco Road
Tobacco Road is one of the Home of American Golf area’s most distinctive golf courses. It’s appropriate then that the club has one of the most cutting-edge social media presences.
Remarkable Golf Stays in The Pinehurst Area
While the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area of North Carolina boasts some of the best golf courses in the country, the variety of living quarters to enjoy during your stay is just as numerous.
2004 Ryder Cup That Wasn’t
With the 2023 Ryder Cup on tap for later in September in Italy, it’s fun and perhaps a bit revealing to hark back to Pinehurst’s two Ryder Cups — the one in 1951 that did
No. 2 Celebrates 10 Years
Ripping out grass on a U.S. Open golf course was, indeed, an extremist move. But Pinehurst owner Robert Dedman Jr., CEO Don Padgett II, and architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw were willing 11 years
Pinehurst’s Ryder Cup 1951
The PGA of America brought the 1951 Ryder Cup to Pinehurst No. 2 for the ninth rendition of the event launched in 1927 and originally sponsored by English seed merchant and entrepreneur Samuel Ryder.
Fall Renewal in the Sandhills
This fall, there is a sense of rebirth around the Home of American Golf.
Sandhills Embraces Walking Culture
For those who prefer to sling a bag over their shoulders, push a trolley or hire a caddie, the pendulum is swinging back in the early 2020s, both in how the game is played and
Episode 2: Golf Tips with Nick Bradley
In this golf tip, Nick talks about a simple 100-110 yard wedge shot that at times may not be so simple. Maybe it is a well protected green with bunkers where the ball must fly
Episode 1: Golf Tips with Nick Bradley
In an exclusive series with the Home of American Golf, world-renowned golf instructor Nick Bradley provides valuable golf tips for you to improve your enjoyment of the game.
Hunger Games – Sandhills Golfers Dining Guide
Memorable rounds at the Home of American Golf are fueled by great eats at breakfast, lunch, and dinner with dining and libations as varied and impressive as the area’s storied courses. Planning for early morning
“Bermuda Revolution” Around Sandhills Leads to Ideal Year-Round Golf
Many Sandhills area golf courses have converted their green complexes from bent grass to Bermuda over the past decade, creating greens that are perfect for putting.
Top 10 Places for a #Sandhills Selfie
Boasting an abundance of picturesque spaces and memorable places, Moore County — including the Southern Pines, Pinehurst, and Aberdeen communities — serves up plenty of opportunities for a #SandhillsSelfie. In 1996, Pinehurst was designated a
Franz Part 3: On Sandhills Topography
In part 3 of a multi-part Q&A series with golf writer Brad King, Kyle Franz discusses the unique topography around the Sandhills and what it was like working at Southern Pines Golf Club during one
Franz Part 2: The Legacy Continues
In part 2 of a multi-part Q&A series with golf writer Brad King, Kyle Franz discusses the various eras of Ross’s design work around the Sandhills and how Ross’s golf course design work compares to
