How to Play Golf at Pinehurst

Playing golf at Pinehurst is a pilgrimage to the heart of American golf, a walk through living history where legends have been made. This guide is your playbook for turning that dream into a reality. We'll give you a step-by-step game plan for booking your trip, selecting the right courses, and preparing your game for the unique set of challenges that await you in the Sandhills of North Carolina.

First Things First: How to Book Your Tee Times

Unlike your local municipal course, you can't just call a week ahead to book a tee time on Pinehurst’s most famous tracks. The resort operates primarily on a "stay and play" model. To guarantee a slot on premier courses like No. 2, No. 4, No. 10, etc., you generally need to book a golf package that includes accommodations at one of the resort's properties (like The Carolina Hotel, The Holly Inn, or The Manor).

Here’s the breakdown:

• Book a Golf Package: This is the most straightforward method. Packages typically include lodging, one or more rounds of golf, breakfast, and access to all resort amenities, including the incredible practice facilities. Booking a package gives you priority access to tee times. For peak seasons (spring and fall), plan to book at least 6-12 months in advance.
• The No. 2 Ballot System: Playing the U.S. Open host course, Pinehurst No. 2, is the main event for most visitors. While some high-end packages guarantee a time, many guests will enter a lottery system. If you have a tee time on another resort course, your group can enter a ballot for a chance to play No. 2 the next day. The resort concierge will guide you through this process upon check-in. It's a bit of a gamble, but it adds to the excitement. Your odds are often better during off-peak times.
• Non-Resort Guests: It's very difficult, but not impossible, for non-resort guests to secure a tee time. You can typically only book 24-48 hours in advance, and availability on the top courses is extremely limited. If you're serious about the core Pinehurst experience, staying at the resort is the way to go.

Choosing Your Courses: A Guide to the Pinehurst Roster

With 11 full-length courses (and the iconic short course, The Cradle), deciding where to play can feel overwhelming. Here's a look at the must-plays and what to expect from each.

The Main Event: Pinehurst No. 2

This is it. Donald Ross’s masterpiece and the spiritual center of the resort. It has hosted more major championships than any other course in America. Playing No. 2 is a test of precision, imagination, and mental fortitude. Forget what you think you know about difficult golf. The challenge here isn't outrageous length or thick rough, it’s one of the most brilliant and confounding green complexes ever designed.

What to Expect:

• Turtleback Greens: The course's main defense. The greens are bowl-shaped, but inverted. They repel all but the most perfectly executed approach shots, sending balls rolling off the edges into tight collection areas.
• Strategic Thinking: You have to find the correct part of the fairway to have the best angle into the green. Hitting the middle of the green is almost always the right play. Leave your pin-seeking desires for another day.
• It's a Walking Course: You will walk No. 2, and it’s a wonderful experience that connects you to the ground game Ross intended. Hiring a caddie (which we’ll get to) is almost essential for a first-timer.

The Stunning Counterpart: No. 4

Redesigned by Gil Hanse, No. 4 is a perfect complement to its older sibling. While No. 2 is subtle and cerebral, No. 4 is visually dramatic. It features expansive native sand scrub areas, dramatic elevation changes, and large, undulating greens. It feels more modern and bold, but it’s still firmly rooted in the sandhills landscape.

What to Expect:

• Waste Areas Galore: Hanse exposed the sandy soil that is native to the region. This creates a visually intimidating look, but often provides a better lie than deep rough would.
• Playable Greens: The greens are large and have plenty of movement, but they are far more receptive to approach shots than those on No. 2. You’ll be rewarded for good shots here.
• A Strategic Test from Tee to Green: You have to carefully consider your carries over bunkers and scrub to find the best spots on the fairway.

Beyond the Marquee Names: Other Can't-Miss Rounds

To truly experience Pinehurst, you need to venture beyond just No. 2 and No. 4.

• The Cradle: Do not, under any circumstances, skip The Cradle. This nine-hole par-3 short course is pure, unadulterated fun. Music plays from hidden speakers, and you’ll see groups of people playing with just a few clubs and a drink in hand. It's the social hub of the resort and perfect for a warm-up, a cool-down, or an emergency nine if you get rained out of a bigger course.
• Pinehurst No. 8: Designed by Tom Fazio to commemorate the resort's 100th anniversary, No. 8 feels more secluded and distinct from the other courses. It winds its way through wetlands and has a more classic Fazio feel with beautiful shaping and green complexes.
• Pinehurst No. 10: The newest addition, designed by Tom Doak, is already a rock star. It's built on rugged terrain with 75 feet of elevation change, using old quarry pits to create a wild and breathtaking design. It will feel different than anything else on the property.

Pre-Round Prep: Getting Your Game Ready for Pinehurst

Just showing up with your regular game might lead to a frustrating day, especially on No. 2. A little bit of focused practice beforehand will pay massive dividends.

Master the Ground Game: Your Short Game is Everything

This is not an exaggeration. The area from 10 yards off the green to the putting surface is where rounds are saved or lost at Pinehurst. Ross’s inverted saucer greens on No. 2 make traditional high-lofted pitch shots almost impossible to stop. You must practice the following:

• Putting from Off the Green: The fairway turf around the greens is mown so tightly that it’s often referred to as a "10th green." Your putter is frequently the highest percentage shot. Go to your local practice green and practice putting from 10, 20, even 30 feet off the fringe. Get comfortable with the feel.
• The Bump-and-Run: When putting isn't an option, you need a reliable low-running shot. Take a less-lofted club (like a 7, 8, or 9-iron) and treat it like a putt. The technique is simple:
  1. Use your putting grip.
  2. Stand closer to the ball with your weight slightly forward.
  3. Use a simple rhythm, rocking your shoulders back and through with no wrist action.
  4. Focus on landing the ball just a few feet onto the green and letting it release to the hole like a putt.
• Sand Play: The sand here is, well, sandy. It's often soft and fluffy. Practice hitting high, splash-style bunker shots where you can get the ball up quickly to land softly on those tricky greens.

Course Management is paramount

Leave your ego in the car. Pinehurst, especially No. 2, is a chess match. You win by out-thinking the course, not overpowering it.

• Aim for the Middle Fat: Forget the flags. Your target on virtually every approach shot should be the dead center of the green. This gives you the largest margin for error and greatly reduces your chances of rolling off into a collection area.
• Leave it Below the Hole: If you must favor one side of the center. always try to leave your ball short of the pin. Uphill putts have a much better chance and are far easier to manage speed on. Downhill putts on Ross’s greens can be lightning fast and impossible to stop near the cup.
• Embrace the Bogey: Making a bogey is not a failure here. Trying to be a hero and save par from a tough spot often leads to a double or triple bogey. Accept your medicine, chip it to a safe spot, two-putt for bogey, and walk to the next tee with your head held high.

Making the Most of the Full Experience

Finally, remember that a trip to Pinehurst is about more than the score you write down on your card.

Take a Caddie

On No. 2, a caddie is nearly essential for the first-time player. They are walking libraries of course knowledge. He or she will help you read the seemingly impossible greens, tell you where the "safe miss" is, keep your pace of play moving, and share wonderful stories about the history of the resort. It transforms a round of golf into a true experience.

Soak It All In

Walk through the halls of The Carolina Hotel and look at the photos. Spend time at the practice range, Maniac Hill, which has witnessed the swings of golf's greatest. After your round on No. 2, grab a drink at The Deuce, the bar that overlooks the famous 18th green, and watch other groups finish their round. You are in a special place, give yourself the time to appreciate it.

Final Thoughts.

Playing at Pinehurst represents a beautiful challenge that tests your skill, patience, and love for the game. By planning ahead, choosing your courses wisely, and preparing your short game for its unique demands, you can create a golf trip that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Whether you're strategizing how to play No. 2's turtleback greens or figuring out the best way to handle a tricky lie in the waste areas of No. 4, confidence comes from having a clear plan. That's what we want to help with. By giving you immediate, expert-level feedback and on-course strategy in seconds, Caddie AI acts as your personal course pro. It helps you think your way around the course, so you can spend less time guessing and more time executing great golf shots and enjoying every moment of your trip.