The golf courses at Mid Pines and Pine Needles were the 1920s offspring of a group of moneyed businessmen and regular visitors to Pinehurst who believed that the four courses at the resort weren’t enough for America’s most noted golf destination and that they were so popular that an alternative that operated at a more relaxed pace would be attractive.
There are slightly fewer than 2,500 hotel rooms in the Sandhills area ranging from the original lodging establishment that opened in 1895 to more recent facilities with brand names like Marriott and Hilton. All perform exactly as ordered – offering a comfortable bed and all the accouterments for golfers hopping from one world-renowned course to the next.
Pinehurst No. 2 has once again secured the top spot as the best golf course in the state in the annual Top 100 rankings as determined by the North Carolina Golf Panel.
You don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy a wide variety of delectable dining offerings as your heart and tastes aspire. Plan to stay awhile.
Pinehurst, the iconic golfing haven nestled in the heart of North Carolina’s Sandhills region, is a place where legends are made and stories come to life. Revered as the cradle of American golf, this historic destination has witnessed unforgettable moments and hosted legendary champions, carving its legacy deep into the sport’s heritage.
And yet, what has followed in Pinehurst Resort’s growth in the 10 years since might be even more impressive — all of it bookended by the decade between U.S. Opens, which returned to No. 2 for the fourth time in Pinehurst’s history in June 2024.
The Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame is a robust enclave of a hundred some-odd individuals who have left their imprint on the game of golf from Charleston to Linville and points in between or had indelible roots to the region while doing newsworthy golfing deeds nationally.
The Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame is just one of several interesting venues in the Sandhills for golf history buffs. The lobby of the Carolina Hotel, the anchor of the sprawling Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, is open to the public and chock full after a recent renovation of interesting visual elements — from vintage photos dating back more than a century to a timeline of significant golf milestones at the resort.
Whether you’re seeking legendary courses, luxurious golf packages, or hidden gems beyond the famed fairways, Pinehurst and the surrounding Moore County region offer an unforgettable golf getaway.
It was April 2020, and Matt Ginella had spent seven years collecting and producing golf travel content for the Golf Channel. But that spring, the world ground to a halt in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
