No. 6 at the Pinehurst Golf Resortis sneaky good.
With eight courses to choose from, deciding where to tee it up at Pinehurst Golf Resort can seem like a daunting task, but it’s really quite simple. While most all of the Pinehurst golf courses are worthwhile (they don’t call it “the American St. Andrews” for nothing), the even-numbered courses, taken as a group, are the best bets.
After No. 2, the Donald Ross masterpiece that hosted the U.S. Open in 1999 and 2005, our first choice would be No. 4, a Tom Fazio design whose every hole offers unique variety, beauty…and challenge. It’s dotted with 180 sand traps, most of which are small pot bunkers clustered near fairway landing areas, at the bends of doglegs, and around the greens.
Nipping close at its heels is No. 8, a slightly more mounded and rolling Fazio design built in 1996 to celebrate Pinehurst’s centennial anniversary. Its greens lack the severity of No. 2, yet their subtle crowns honor Ross’ memory and roll fast and true. Some would argue that No. 8 deserves second-best status at Pinehurst Golf Resort, and you won’t hear us protest too much. In part, we give the nod to No. 4 as it is so easily walkable and located at the central clubhouse.
No. 6 is our choice for the best unheralded course at Pinehurst Golf Resort. Designed by George Fazio in 1979 with alterations by Tom Fazio in 1991, No. 6 commands hilly — often severe — terrain with steep falloffs and thick vegetation bordering several fairways. This is one Pinehurst golf course that consumes golf balls. And, although it’s set in a residential community with frequent out-of-bounds, No. 6 remains elegant and picturesque.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
#4 at Pinehurst is a Donald Ross design. Tom Fazio did some alterations, installing many sand traps and moving some tees but the layout and greens are pretty much as Mr. Ross originally designed them. Somewhere along the way, people have started calling #4 a Tom Fazio design , but #4 was there many , many years before Fazio touched it. I’ve played several rounds on #4 prior to the Fazio redo and several rounds after his alterations too. I wish that Mr. Ross would continue to be credited for #4. I’ve played all of the courses listed at Pinehurst, you didn’t mention #7 which I think ranks above #6. It’s also a course with a separate club house just as #6 is. I would rank the Pinehurst courses in this order #2, #8 ,#4 ,#7, #6,#5, #1, #3. #1 was just renovated and has just reopened. Frederick Smith, Winston-Salem, NC
I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with you, Fred. Pinehurst #4 WAS a Ross design. But Robert Trent Jones made major modifications to it in the early 70s, then Rees Jones made his changes in the 80s, then, of course, Fazio did his thing in 2000, which involved a lot more than just “sand traps and trees.” He also created five new holes and re-routed others. But don’t take my word for it. Pinehurst’s own website calls #4, “a brand new course.” Fazio did a great job of creating a TRIBUTE to Ross, but as far as Ross’ work goes, really only the general routing framework remains. (By the way, we really like #7, too, but we were just trying to point out that the even-numbered courses, as a group, are better than the odd-numbered ones.) Thanks for your comment!