Golf & Travel ~ Pinehurst, North Carolina
With the U.S. Open returning to Pinehurst, North Carolina and
the famed #2 course, it’s only fitting that we pay tribute to
the Sandhills, one of the country’s premiere golf destinations.
Nestled in the rolling Sandhills of central North Carolina, the
Pinehurst region was the long-time home to the father of golf
course architecture, Donald Ross, and is home to many of his
masterpieces and some of golf’s most memorable moments.
Where to Play?
Did you know that there are 40 courses in Pinehurst, NC and the
surrounding area within a 15 mile radius? While we all dream of
playing a round of golf on the historic #2 course at Pinehurst
resort, there are countless “hidden gems” that are well worth the
trip down south.
Forest Creek Golf Club: If you’re looking to play 36-holes
in one day, look no further. The Forest Creek Golf Club is the only
golf community in the country with two golf courses ranked in the
Top 100 of Golfweek’s ‘Best Modern Courses’ and it offers golfers
a true taste of golf in the Sandhills. The rugged-looking North
Course, accentuated with waste bunkers and native grasses, has
some teeth at 7,209 yards with a slope rating of 144, including
two par-3s on the back nine that measure 212 and 215 yards.
Meanwhile, the South Course has a more traditional Pinehurst feel
with tall pines lining the generously sized fairways.
Dormie Club: Designed by Coore and Crenshaw, the
masterminds behind the redesign of Pinehurst #2, the Dormie
Club opened for play in 2010. Built on 307 acres of rolling sand
hills, there is a 110’ change in elevation across the property. It
has the unique feature of no bunkers on the entire course, with
all sand areas played as waste bunkers.
Where to Stay?
When it comes to true southern hospitality, the Pine Needles
Lodge is second to none. Overlooking the 1st tee and 18th green,
the Lodge welcomes you to experience a casual resort setting that
takes you back in time to its founding in 1927. The accommodations
are designed in chalet style lodges, and a chip shot away from the
Pine Needles Golf Club and clubhouse.
Where to Eat?
What’s a trip to the deep south without some true homemade
Bar-B-Que? And with a name like Pik-N-Pig, you can’t go wrong.
All of their meat is slow-cooked over a natural wood fire, giving
the meat a unique pinkish hue that intensifies the flavor. Their
specialty is the Smoked Chicken, seasoned with their signature
rub and slow smoked over hickory coals. Dig in!
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Connecticut State Golf Association