Pinehurst: the complete guide to the cradle of American golf
Ten courses in one storied village, led by Donald Ross's No. 2 — now a permanent home of the US Open. How to play No. 2, the Doak-designed No. 10 and The Cradle, when to go, and how to get there.
Pinehurst calls itself the Cradle of American Golf, and for once the marketing is fair. This historic village in North Carolina's Sandhills is home to ten 18-hole courses, a beloved par-3 short course and an antique putting green — all radiating out from a walkable, time-warp village. Its masterpiece, Donald Ross's No. 2, has hosted more of golf's biggest championships than any course in America, and in 2020 the USGA made Pinehurst the first-ever permanent 'anchor site' for the US Open.
It's less a resort trip than a pilgrimage into golf history and architecture — Ross's crowned greens, the Coore & Crenshaw restoration that stripped No. 2 back to sand and strategy, Gil Hanse's reimagined No. 4, and the brand-new Tom Doak No. 10. Here's how to plan it: the courses that matter, when to go, how to get there, where to stay, and the kit the Sandhills demand.
Where
Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina Sandhills, USA
Courses
Ten 18-hole courses (Nos. 1–10) + The Cradle (par 3) + Thistle Dhu putting course
Nearest airport
Raleigh-Durham (RDU) ~1h20; Fayetteville (FAY) closer; Charlotte (CLT) farther
Best time
Spring (Apr–May) & fall (Sep–Oct); summer hot & humid, winter quiet
Signature
No. 2 — Donald Ross, permanent US Open anchor site
Donald Ross (restored by Coore & Crenshaw) · 1907; restored 2011 · 18 holes · Sandhills
The only course to host all five USGA flagship championships; permanent US Open anchor site
Ross's magnum opus, and the reason you come. Its famously domed, crowned 'turtleback' greens repel anything but the crispest approach, and the 2011 Coore & Crenshaw restoration tore out the rough to bring back the sandy, scrubby, strategic course Ross intended. It has hosted the US Open in 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024, and is slated to return through 2047.
The newest course, built on more dramatic, rolling land than the rest of the property (the former site of The Pit). Bold, rugged and walking-only — the modern-design counterpoint to Ross's classicism, and an instant highlight.
Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner · Ross original 1919; reimagined 2018 · 18 holes · Sandhills
Hanse's 2018 rebuild swapped decades of manicured parkland for vast native sand waste areas and bold strategy, including a Pine Valley-style cross-bunker on the 9th. Often praised as the resort's most purely enjoyable round, and the natural pairing with No. 2.
The Cradle & Thistle Dhu
Gil Hanse (The Cradle) · 2017 (The Cradle) · 9 par 3s + an 18-hole putting course holes · Short course & putting
The Cradle is a nine-hole par-3 course by the clubhouse that helped launch the modern short-course boom — fast, fun, often played with music and a drink. Thistle Dhu (say it aloud: 'this'll do') is a rolling free putting course for the evenings. Between them, the ideal way to round out a day.
When to go
The Sandhills are playable year-round, but the sweet spots are clear: spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) bring comfortable temperatures, lower humidity and the best turf — and they're peak season and peak rates for it. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, so book the earliest tee time. Winter is quiet, cooler and cheaper — a genuine value pick if you don't mind a breezy round in the 50s.
Getting there
A car is essentially required — Pinehurst is a small village with no major airport of its own. Raleigh-Durham (RDU) is the usual gateway, about 70 miles / an hour and twenty minutes away and with the most flights. Fayetteville (FAY) is closer with fewer options, and Charlotte (CLT) is a bigger hub a couple of hours west. Rent a car on arrival; ride-share is thin once you're in the village.
Where to stay & eat
The resort's lodging is part of the experience: The Carolina, the grand 'Queen of the South' hotel; the Holly Inn, Pinehurst's original from 1895; plus cottages and villas for groups. The village itself is walkable, with dining and shops beyond the resort restaurants.
Caddies and forecaddies are a signature part of playing No. 2 and No. 4 (a walking caddie is included on No. 2), and No. 10 is walking-only — this is a place that rewards taking the game on foot.
How to play it
A classic Pinehurst trip is three or four nights and three to five rounds, built around the marquee names. No. 2 is the must-play — walk it with a caddie for the full Ross experience — paired with No. 4 and the new No. 10 for the design contrast. Slot The Cradle into a late afternoon and Thistle Dhu into the evenings.
The real spine of the trip is the history: Ross's legacy, the restoration philosophy that brought back sandy, strategic golf, and the USGA's permanent presence at the new Golf House Pinehurst. Come for the golf; stay for the story.
See it for yourself
A glimpse of the Pinehurst turf from the resort's own feed — championship Sandhills golf, here on No. 6:
Pinehurst is warm, sandy, walkable Sandhills golf — sun, the odd summer storm, and plenty of time on your feet. Pack for heat and glare more than cold:
Ten 18-hole courses (Nos. 1–10), plus The Cradle — a nine-hole par-3 course — and Thistle Dhu, an 18-hole putting course. No. 10, by Tom Doak, is the newest, opened in 2024.
Can you play Pinehurst No. 2?
Yes — No. 2 is a public-access resort course, typically played via a resort stay-and-play package. Demand is high and tee times are limited, so book well ahead. A walking caddie is included with the round.
What is the best time to visit Pinehurst?
Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) offer the most comfortable weather and best conditions, though they're peak season. Summer is hot and humid; winter is quieter and cheaper but cooler.
What is The Cradle at Pinehurst?
The Cradle is a nine-hole par-3 short course by Gil Hanse, opened in 2017, right by the main clubhouse. It's a fast, fun, walkable loop — often played with music and a drink — and helped spark the modern boom in par-3 courses.
How far is Pinehurst from Raleigh airport?
Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) is about 70 miles from Pinehurst, roughly an hour and twenty minutes by car. It's the most common arrival airport, and a rental car is recommended.
