Pinehurst is located in North Carolina and is consistently ranked amongst the world top 100 courses. The resort has several other courses designed by some of the best course architects in the world and is a popular golf destination. I visited during april and had fantastic weather. The facilities are good, nothing spectacular, but as expected on a facility like this. The clubhouse has some displays of the history connected to Pinehurst with some of the memories from past championships.
I stayed at the Manor Inn which was conveniently located. Nothing special and seems quite old, but fine for a nights stay. The breakfast is served at the main hotel and I would probably stay there the next time.
The cradle
driving range
The driving range is designed in true Pinehurst style with the same waste areas as you will experience on #2.
the course
The opening hole at Pinehurst #2 is relatively “soft”, but still requires a good drive to stay in the fairway. I hit my drive into the waste area on the right hand side, but had a decent lie. Generally I did not hit many fairways, but overall found some decent lies and even though the fairway is preferable, it is not too bad to end up in the waste area. My second shot ended up right off the green and made bogey.
The greens were in good shape and running fast. Quite hard, so difficult to get any real spin.
The course is very true to its design and seem very similar from many of the tee boxes.
The second hole was one of the few fairways I hit, but still managed to make double bogey. Was in the bunker on my second and rolled over the green from there. Poor chip and a 6 on the card. It pretty much sums up my round and my game was just not sharp enough to get around in a decent score.
A short par 4, where a lay up is required. I hit a rescue club, but just ran out of fairway.
I hit a poor second shot and ended up short of the green with above approach. Just ran over the green and another double.
long par 4
One of the longer par 4s and you need two good shots to get on the green. I was in the greenside bunker in 2.
The first par 5 on the course. I hit a decent drive and was on the fairway. However as with pretty much all the holes it is around the greens where the trouble start.
It is difficult to see how tough the green is, but basically you cannot miss the green on either side and especially not left. I thought my approach shot was perfect and even though it landed on the right part, it still ran down a run off and I made bogey.
Playing a bit into the wind and my fade went into the greenside bunker.
My caddie did say dont miss left and as you can see from above picture a difficult shot. I hit a decent bunker shot onto the green, but missed my par putt.
A well designed par 3 and difficult to get it close to the hole. However my playing partners manage to land the ball middle of the green and feed the ball towards the hole. I came up short and into the bunker with what I would determine as a pretty impossible shot to a downhill green towards the hole. Hit a good bunker shot that rolled over the green and made 5.
the back nine at Pinehurst #2
Pretty good lie in the waste area and still gives you a shot at the green.
my experience
The condition of Pinehurst #2 was really good and even though we played from the back tees it is not that difficult a driving course. It is all about the greens and run off areas. It is the most difficult course with regards to approach shots that I have played so far and I can only imagine how tough this course can be setup for tournaments. My game was extremely poor which did not make the challenge any easier, but I am sure the score can be improved. I will return to try again some day.
my score
[…] club during the month of March to play the Cardinal course. I have been to the area before to play Pinehurst #2 and Pinehurst #4. We arrived in the morning and had a bit to eat before heading to the range to hit […]