Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina has no fewer than nine 18-hole courses, a nine-hole course and a putting green.
It’s not stopping there, either. After nearly three decades, a 10th championship course, designed by Tom Doak, is set to open in spring 2024. No wonder it’s known as “The Cradle of American Golf.”
Despite the abundance of options, though, for most players, one of the resort’s courses stands alone – Pinehurst No.2.
The course was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1907, but it is now considered his masterpiece. Considering other Ross designs include East Lake, Pine Needles, Oak Hill and Seminole, it needed to beat some stiff competition for that honour.
Donald Ross designed the course, which opened in 1907
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Among Ross’ qualities was his meticulous attention to detail, and that is abundantly clear in his handling of Pinehurst No.2, which didn’t finish once it opened. Instead, he made tweaks to the course until he died in 1948, seeking perfection, which suggested he knew he had created something very special indeed.
By the 1960s, much of that magic had begun to fade, with the fairway bunkers no longer a serious consideration for most players, the greens more a chore than a challenge and a sameness to some of the holes.
That all changed in 2010 when the course was revitalised by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, who reshaped the fairways and bunkers and removed the rough but added sand and scrub to bring it closer to Ross’ original design.
Pinehurst No.2 is one of the most famous courses in the world
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Pinehurst No.2, like many Ross courses, has incredibly difficult domed green complexes that take their cues from Royal Dornoch in Scotland, where he once worked as a greens keeper. Those “turtleback” putting surfaces, which Johnny Miller once described as “like trying to hit a ball on top of a VW Beetle,” are also smaller than they look and need huge skill to negotiate. Approach shots need to be accurate, too, with shots that are short, often rolling back off them.
The greens complexes are well-known at Pinehurst No.2
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Before worrying about the devilish putting surfaces, though, there is some leeway for players with the often wide fairways. However, even then, strategy is a must, with strategically placed bunkers and deceptive undulations ready to test even the most accomplished player.
A look at the tournaments Pinehurst No.2 has hosted gives a clue to…
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