Thinking about a trip to the home of American golf presents one brilliant, but tough, question: what are the best golf courses at Pinehurst? With nine 18-hole courses and the terrific cradle short course, choosing the right layout for your game and your budget can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down the most acclaimed courses at the resort, offering a golf coach's perspective on what makes each one special and how to approach playing them so you can find the perfect fit for your legendary trip.
There is no other place to begin. Pinehurst No. 2 is an icon, the centerpiece of the resort, and a course that has tested the greatest players in the world for over a century. Designed by the legendary Donald Ross, its most defining features are the famous crowned, or "turtleback," greens. These greens are designed to repel anything but a perfectly executed approach shot, sending golf balls rolling off the edges into tight collection areas.
Playing No. 2 is a mental test as much as a physical one. It’s a walking-only course, and taking a caddie is highly recommended, not just for the reads on the greens but for the history and stories they share along the way. The entire experience is a step back in time. You won't find pristine, perfectly manicured turf from tee to green, instead, you'll see native sandy areas with wiregrass, just as Ross intended. It's a raw, strategic, and profoundly rewarding round of golf.
The secret to scoring on No. 2 is to completely reframe your definition of a "good" shot. Forget about pin-hunting. Your target is a specific refrigerator-sized section in the middle of the green. From the fairway, hitting the green is your primary goal. Anything else is a bonus. If your ball hangs on, you’ve succeeded.
If No. 2 is Pinehurst's revered historicalArtifact, No. 4 is its spectacular modern sibling. Redesigned by Gil Hanse in 2018, No. 4 shares a similar landscape with its famous neighbor but presents a completely different challenge and aesthetic. Hanse exposed the sandy terrain, creating dramatic a visual appeal and sprawling waste areas that border nearly every hole.
The greens on No. 4 are large and undulating but lack the severe run-offs of No. 2, making them more receptive to approach shots. In many ways, it's more visually intimidating off the tee but a little more forgiving around the greens. The course offers sensational views and a sense of rugged beauty that feels both natural and thoughtfully designed. For many visitors, a round on No. 4 is just as memorable, if not more enjoyable, than one on No. 2.
While the waste areas look imposing, they are often very playable. The real challenge on No. 4 is getting your approach shots onto the correct tier of the massive greens.
Opened to celebrate Pinehurst's 100th anniversary, No. 8 is a Tom Fazio design that feels slightly separated from the resort's central hub, offering its own distinct personality. The course winds its way through natural wetlands and showcases Fazio's signature style of flowing bunkers and graceful green complexes. It's often regarded as one of the most playable and enjoyable courses at the resort for the average golfer.
While still a formidable test, No. 8 doesn’t beat you up in the same way No. 2 can. It presents a fantastic balance of challenging holes and genuine scoring opportunities. You’ll navigate tee shots over marshland and approach shots to well-guarded, but fair, greens. It's a beautiful walk in the park - a park that happens to be an exceptional golf course.
No. 8 is a course where good course management shines. It presents you with risk/reward choices throughout the round, and the player who thinks their way around a course will often come out on top.
You absolutely cannot visit Pinehurst without spending time at The Cradle. Period. This 9-hole, 789-yard par-3 course, also designed by Gil Hanse, is simply one of the most enjoyable experiences in golf. Music is playing, people are laughing, and everyone is carrying just a few clubs and a smile. The holes are inventive, short, and packed with character, featuring wild greens that mimic some of the classic contours found around the resort.
It’s the perfect warm-up, a laid-back afternoon round, or a place to settle bets. There’s a drink cart - the "Pinecone" - shaped like one of the resort's classic logos sitting right in the middle of the layout. More than just a "short course," The Cradle is a celebration of the community and happiness that golf can bring.
There is only one strategy: have fun. But if you must work on something, use it as the ultimate short-game practice ground.
So, with all of these fantastic options, how do you decide?
Pinehurst offers a golf course for every desire, from the historic challenge of Donald Ross to the modern artistry of Gil Hanse and the playable beauty of Tom Fazio. Choosing the right course simply means matching the layout's personality to the experience you want to have.
Walking onto the first tee of these legendary tracks feels even better when you have a confident plan. Our own Caddie AI acts as that on-demand golf brain, giving you smart strategies for any hole you face. Whether you need a smart plan for navigating No. 2’s daunting greens or want to get a professional opinion on a tricky bunker shot on No. 4, it's there to provide tour-level advice and help you play smarter, more confident golf.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
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Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
