Bunkered.com
Pinehurst - Golf Vacation to Pinehurst - North Carolina - US
For most of my adult life, I have wanted to take a golf trip to Pinehurst. Well I have finally completed it and it was not a disappointment. The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area is home to 43 of the finest North Carolina golf courses, all within a 15 mile radius! And while we were there we took a chance to play 4 rounds on three different courses.
This trip was with myself, my wife and two children. A golf buddy of mine went as well with his wife and one daughter. We had planned to be in the Pinehurst area for 4 complete days, with two travel days, but ended up extending it another day.
We all stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton which was less than one mile from the historic Village of Pinehurst and within minutes of nearly 50 of America's finest golf courses. Homewood Suites is an all suite facility which makes it much easier when you are traveling with family. I would have liked to stay at the History Pinehurst Inn, but staying here made the trip less expensive, plus easier on the wives as it was closer to shopping.
Within a short driving distance, was many shopping locales. Pinehurst has a village feel to it which makes the outdoor shopping experience fun for all, even if you do not buy anything. This makes the trip enjoyable for your whole family, even non-golfers.
Now, to the Golf.
On our first full day, we made an early exit from the hotel to play
the famous Pinehurst #2. It is rated as one of the top 10 courses
in the country, and site of more championships than any other course
in the country including the 2005 U.S. Open Championship.
#2 was built by Donald Ross in 1907 and is a very challenging course. Not so much because of it's length, topography, unruly routing, water features or green size, but the combination of all of the above makes it one of if not the most challenging course that I have played.
The first round of the day, and we were not off to great starts, I had a 96 and my friend has a 89. I carry a 9 handicap and he is a 2. So either the travel, or this course knocked us both off of our game. Either way, it was a great round and the feeling of knowing that you are walking where many of the greats of the game have walked adds much excitement to the round.
Well, back to the hotel for a quick bite to eat and out to The Golf Course at Longleaf, a public course about 2 miles from the center of Pinehurst. Third generation golf course architect Dan Maples, creator of the Award Winning Pit Golf Links, brings his talent back home to the Village of Pinehurst with Longleaf Golf & Country Club. Built on the site of one of the Village of Pinehurst's former horse training estates, Longleaf shines with Dan's love of tradition.
Well it was a much better round, but lacked some of the excitement of playing #2. We both shot much better, a 83 for me and a 76 for Dan. Not a bad day of golf.
Back at the hotel, we had dinner and and heard stories our our families travels. Sounded like a good day for all.
Submit Your Stories
Have a interesting golf trip or story that you would like to see posted here? EMail us at story@bunkered.com and we will post it here. Stories can be about anything golf related. Visit the perfect golf course or resort? Let our visitors now about it. Have a bad experience? We want to know. First hole in one!!! Tell us the story. Send your stories to story@bunkered.com