Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal)

For much of golf’s history, the idea of a hole measuring 700 yards or more would have seemed excessive. Today, such distances are no longer quite so extraordinary. The world’s longest holes are an eclectic group, spread across very different landscapes and created for very different reasons. Some belong to expansive resort courses, others to championship layouts, while a handful have become famous largely because of the sheer scale of the challenge they present. From a former world-record holder in North Carolina to an extraordinary par 7 measuring over 1km in South Korea, these are the 10 longest golf holes in the world. 10. Black Mountain Golf Club (North Carolina, USA) Hole 17 | 747 yards (683m) | Par 6 The 17th at Black Mountain is one of the survivors from an era when exceptionally long golf holes were still something of a novelty. At 747 yards, the par six was once recognised as the longest golf hole in the world - a distinction that helped put this small North Carolina club on the golfing map. The hole is part of Black Mountain's older nine-hole layout, which dates back to the 1960s, and its extraordinary length was a deliberate feature rather than an accident of modern championship-course design. From the back tees, the fairway climbs and falls through the foothills, with the green sitting far enough away that it disappears from view for much of the hole. For a course that otherwise has a relatively modest footprint, the 17th is an impressive piece of real estate. Its 747 yards are now exceeded by several holes built in the decades since, but the hole retains its place in golf's long-hole folklore. It is also a reminder of how quickly perceptions of distance have changed. What was once a world record is now the shortest hole in this particular top ten. 9. TPC Colorado (Colorado, USA) Hole 13 | 773 yards (707m) | Par 5 TPC Colorado opened in 2018 at Heron Lakes near Berthoud, with Arthur Schaupeter’s design set against open Colorado terrain and views towards the Front Range. The 7,991-yard course was built with tournament golf in mind and has since become a regular Korn Ferry Tour venue. The 13th, named “Longer Still”, is its defining hole. At 773 yards from the TOUR tees, it is the longest hole on a PGA TOUR course and the longest par five in PGA TOUR golf. Its principal feature is the enormous 108-yard Hell Bunker, which runs along the left side of the fairway and creates the key decision after the drive: challenge it to gain ground or lay back and accept a longer approach. At altitude, the hole does not play quite as severely as the yardage suggests, but its scale remains remarkable. More importantly, the length is integrated into the design rather than simply added as a spectacle, giving No. 13 a strategic identity that has made it one of the most recognisable holes in modern American golf. 8. The Reserve at Moonlight Basin (Montana, USA) Hole 17 | 777 yards (710m) | Par 5 Set at 7,500 feet above Big Sky in the Rocky Mountains, The Reserve at Moonlight Basin is one of Jack Nicklaus’ most dramatic mountain courses. Built across the former Moonlight Basin ski area, the 8,000-yard layout moves through forest and open mountain terrain, with more than 1,000 feet of elevation change across the property. The 17th is the signature expression of that setting. At 777 yards, it is already extraordinary on the card, but the hole plunges downhill towards the green, with the change in elevation and thin mountain air making the distance considerably less daunting than it first appears. A large fairway bunker sits around 370 yards from the back tee, beyond which the fairway reveals the full scale of the descent towards the green. It is a fittingly theatrical hole for a course where elevation is central to the experience. The 17th was also one of the holes that came to wider attention when Moonlight Basin hosted The Match in 2021 – when Bryson DeChambeau and Aaron Rodgers defeated Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady – putting its spectacular setting and remarkable yardage on national television. 7. Penati Golf Resort - Legend course (Trnava Region, Slovakia) Hole 15 | 783 yards (716m) | Par 6 Opened in 2012, the Legend Course at Penati occupies a sandy, pine-covered site near Senica, with Nicklaus Design using the natural character of the property to create wide, undulating fairways and extensive waste areas. The course forms part of Slovakia’s largest golf resort and was the first Nicklaus Design course in the country. The 15th is the course’s defining feature. It has 11 teeing positions, allowing it to be played at very different lengths, but from the back tees, it stretches to 783 yards and becomes a par 6. The fairway is split by a large waste bunker, with further bunkering framing the second landing area before the hole finally turns towards the green. The hole gained international attention when the European Challenge Tour used the full 783-yard version during the Slovakia Challenge in 2015, 2016 and 2019. In regular play, however, it is generally shortened and played as a par 5 - a useful reminder that the extraordinary version seen on the professional circuit is only one interpretation of Central Europe’s longest hole. 6. Theodora Golf Club (Transylvania, Romania) Hole 18 | 804 yards (735m) | Par 6 Theodora Golf Club sits outside Alba Iulia on the banks of the Mureș, occupying a remarkably flat 56-hectare site. Opened in 2018, the resort was created around an 18-hole championship course, with a large lake excavated in front of the clubhouse providing material to shape the otherwise level ground. That lake is central to the character of the closing hole. The 18th stretches over 800 yards from the back tees, with the approach eventually leading to an island green shared with the 9th. The arrangement gives what might otherwise be a straightforwardly expansive hole a much more distinctive finish. Theodora itself describes the 18th as the longest par 6 in Europe, and it has become the defining feature of a relatively young Romanian resort that has steadily established itself on the European golf map. 5. The Links at Kahite Golf Club (Tennessee, USA) Hole 9 | 808 yards (739m) | Par 6 The Links at Kahite opened in 2002 as the third course in Tellico Village, occupying a natural setting between Tellico Lake and the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The links-style layout has six sets of tees, stretches to 7,170 yards and is notable for its 93 bunkers and tall fescue framing some of the fairways. The 9th is the course's defining hole: an 739-metre par 6 that runs in a notably direct line across the landscape. From the back tees it measures 808 yards, while the blue tees bring it down to 721, making the hole a very different proposition depending on where it is played from. The course's own guide describes it simply as a unique hole, with the fairway rewarding players who can keep successive shots in play. Its position at the turn also gives Kahite an unusual rhythm. After eight holes that establish the character of the course, the 9th opens out into one of the most distinctive holes in Tennessee golf before the back nine heads back towards the mountains. 4. Meadows Farms Golf Course (Virginia, USA) Hole 12 | 841 yards (769m) | Par 6 Meadows Farms is very much the product of its founder, Bill “Farmer” Meadows, who built the course on former farmland after taking up golf later in life. It opened in 1993 with an intentionally unconventional character: the 27-hole layout includes a baseball-themed hole, a waterfall green and an island green, alongside the hole that became its calling card. The 12th stretches to 841 yards from the championship tees, running downhill before turning right, crossing two lakes and climbing towards a large elevated green. A three-leaf-clover-shaped bunker guards the approach. The sequence gives the hole considerably more shape and interest than its raw length might suggest. For decades it was promoted as the longest golf hole in the United States, a distinction that helped make this eccentric Virginia course a destination in its own right. The current course still describes No. 12 as its signature hole and the longest in the country, as recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records. 3. The Links Golf Club (Idaho, USA) Hole 9 | 842 yards (770m) | Par 6 The Links Golf Club in Post Falls opened in 1999 on the broad, open Rathdrum Prairie, with owner and designer Emmett Burley shaping the course in the tradition of Scottish links golf. There are few trees or water hazards to interrupt the prairie landscape, leaving wind, wide fairways, deep bunkers and rough to define its character. The 9th has been the course's signature hole from the beginning. It was originally measured at 738 yards from the black tees, but subsequent changes have transformed it into an 842-yard par 6, now the longest hole on the course and one of the longest in America. That extra distance has only amplified the hole's original links character. With no trees or water to dictate the route, the scale of the prairie is laid bare, while the wind can have a considerable influence on successive shots. The green itself has two distinct levels, adding another layer to a hole that has evolved from an unusual feature into the defining landmark of The Links. 2. Satsuki Golf Club - Sano course (Kanto Region, Japan) Hole 7 | 964 yards (881m) | Par 7 Satsuki Golf Club’s Sano Course opened in 1979 in the hills of Tochigi Prefecture, with broad fairways laid through a landscape of trees and gentle elevation changes. The 18-hole course measures more than 7,200 yards from the back tees, but it is the seventh hole on the outward nine that has made the club internationally known. At 964 yards, the seventh was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest golf hole and remains the defining feature of the course. It is not simply a long, open stretch: the hole has trees crowding the tee shot, OB on both sides and a relatively narrow fairway, creating pressure from the outset. There are two greens, with the left measuring the full 964 yards and the right 924. The club’s own playing strategy reflects the scale of the hole: rather than simply attacking distance on every shot, the objective is to keep successive balls in play and leave the final approach within comfortable range. For many years, Satsuki’s seventh was the benchmark by which the world’s longest holes were measured. Gunsan Country Club has since surpassed it in sheer yardage, but the Japanese par-7 remains the more established name in the record books. 1. Gunsan Country Club - Jeongeup course (Jeonbuk State, South Korea) Hole 3 | 1,098 yards (1,004m) | Par 7 Gunsan Country Club is an extraordinary property in its own right. Built on a former salt field on Korea’s west coast, the sprawling complex now has 81 holes across more than 1,000 acres, with lakes accounting for roughly 380 acres of the site and 26 bridges linking the courses. The third on the Jeongeup Course is the hole that gives Gunsan its international reputation. At 1,004 metres from the black tees, it is a par 7 and the longest hole in this ranking. The hole is also the No. 1 handicap on its nine, with water running along the left and bunkers placed to complicate the long sequence of shots required to reach the green. Its scale is matched by an unusual sense of place. The hole emerged from the transformation of the old salt works into one of Asia’s largest golf complexes, and its local nickname, the “1004 Hole”, is a play on the 1,004-metre length. Gunsan has built much of its identity around these extreme holes, with a 661-metre par 6 elsewhere on the property, but the Jeongeup third remains the defining feature. At 1,098 yards, it is comfortably longer than Satsuki’s 964-yard seventh and takes the top spot here by distance. Guinness World Records, however, has historically recognised Satsuki’s hole, so the distinction between the longest hole by yardage and the Guinness record is worth keeping in mind.

North Carolina has an unusually strong claim to being one of America's great golf destinations. From the historic courses around Pinehurst and Southern Pines to the more distinctive layouts scattered across the Sandhills, there is enough variety to suit almost any kind of golf trip. The only question is how much you want to spend. For this guide, Top100 has built three different two-night itineraries for a four-ball, with each one offering a different way to experience North Carolina golf. The budgets range from $750 to $2,000+ per person, with three rounds included in every trip. From three Donald Ross classics for less than $750 to the ultimate Pinehurst Resort experience, here's how to plan your North Carolina golf trip. $750 - The Sandhills Classics If you want to experience the Pinehurst area without spending a fortune, the $750 itinerary is the sweet spot. For four golfers sharing two rooms, two nights and three rounds, you can build a genuinely memorable Sandhills trip around three Ross courses that all feature prominently on the Top100 North Carolina ranking: Mid Pines (#7), Southern Pines (#11) and Pine Needles (#13). The beauty of this itinerary is its simplicity. All three courses sit within a few minutes of one another, so there is no need to spend half your trip behind the wheel. Instead, you can settle into Southern Pines and concentrate on the golf. Mid Pines is the highest-ranked of the three and makes an excellent starting point. It is a relatively compact course by modern standards, but there is plenty of variety in the holes and the undulating terrain means that the lie you leave yourself can be as important as the shot itself. The greens are a particular feature, with plenty of subtle breaks that aren't always obvious from the fairway. A few minutes away, Southern Pines Golf Club offers a different feel. It is less formal than its better-known neighbours and remains one of the more affordable ways to experience the area's historic golf. For golfers who want to see what Pinehurst was like before it became synonymous with luxury golf travel, this is an essential stop. The final round is at Pine Needles, a course with considerably more championship pedigree. It has hosted the U.S. Women's Open four times, most recently in 2022, and provides a slightly more polished resort experience while retaining the strategic qualities associated with Ross's work. The numbers work surprisingly well too. The three-course Bell Golf Package at Pine Needles bundles two nights' accommodation with all three rounds, breakfast, dinner and carts. At approximately $585 per person, there is still room within the $750 budget for a rental car, fuel and a few extras where necessary. For a first taste of the Sandhills, this is difficult to beat. You get three Top100-ranked courses, three distinct takes on classic North Carolina golf and barely any wasted time travelling between them. $1000 - Tobacco Road and the Strantz Experience The middle itinerary moves away from the traditional Sandhills experience and towards three more varied public-access courses: Tobacco Road (#5), Talamore and Tot Hill Farm. Tobacco Road is the obvious starting point. Mike Strantz's course is one of the most distinctive in the country, and its unconventional layout makes it unlike the other courses in this series. Blind shots are part of the design rather than an occasional feature, while the dramatic changes in elevation and extensive sandy areas give the course a character all of its own. It is a course that can feel intimidating on the first tee, but once you accept that not every shot needs to be conventional, the strategy begins to reveal itself. Talamore provides a useful contrast. The course is more conventional, with a mix of woodland and open holes and enough water and bunkering to keep the round interesting. It also has the practical advantage of being part of a resort operation, making it straightforward to combine with accommodation. The third round at Tot Hill Farm brings the trip back towards Strantz territory. Like Tobacco Road, it makes extensive use of the natural terrain, although the course feels less polished and more remote. The course winds through dramatic terrain and uses the natural landscape to create a succession of memorable holes. It is a good complement to Tobacco Road rather than simply another version of it. The three rounds should cost approximately $650 per person, based on fall rates of around $300 for Tobacco Road, $200 for Talamore and $150 for Tot Hill Farm, including the latter's cart fee. Accommodation for two nights and a shared rental car should bring the overall trip to roughly $800-$900 per person, leaving some headroom within the $1,000 budget. This is the itinerary for golfers who want to see a less conventional side of North Carolina golf, with Tobacco Road providing the clear centrepiece. $2000+ - The Ultimate Pinehurst Experience For golfers prepared to spend more than $2,000 per person, there is no need to look beyond the resort that put North Carolina on the golfing map. A two-night stay at Pinehurst Resort, combined with rounds on Pinehurst No. 2 (#1), No. 4 (#9) and No. 10 (#16), delivers the ultimate version of the Sandhills experience. No. 2 is the historic centrepiece and the course most golfers will have seen on television. Its crowned greens and sandy waste areas are immediately recognisable, while its U.S. Open history gives the round an additional dimension. The challenge is less about finding a way to overpower the course than avoiding the difficult positions that can quickly lead to dropped shots. Around the greens in particular, the difference between a good approach and a slightly misplaced one can be significant. No. 4 offers a different experience. It is a larger, more expansive course, with wider corridors and a greater sense of scale. The course has undergone a major transformation in recent years and now sits comfortably among the best courses at the resort. No. 10, meanwhile, is the newest of the three and provides a different perspective again. The Coore & Crenshaw design occupies a quieter part of the property and makes extensive use of the natural sandy terrain. Its inclusion also means the trip isn't simply a greatest-hits tour of Pinehurst's past; you are seeing where the resort's golf story is heading. Pinehurst's Donald Ross Golf Package includes two nights' accommodation, three rounds, breakfast and dinner, with supplements for No. 2 and No. 10. For four golfers sharing two rooms, the trip is likely to come in at around $2,800-$3,000 per person once the package, course premiums, rental car and fuel are accounted for, before any additional discretionary spending. While it’s a substantial investment, this is not simply three rounds of golf. It is a stay at one of America's great golf resorts, playing three of the best courses in North Carolina, including the state's No. 1 course. For golfers looking to make Pinehurst the centrepiece of a Carolina trip, this is the premium option. Each itinerary is based on two nights and three rounds for four golfers sharing two rooms. Prices include accommodation, green fees and food where appropriate, but exclude flights.

Words by Michael Wharton Palmer Sketches by Lauren Coffey Edited by Jasper Miners In the world of golf, the mere mention of the name Pinehurst conjures images of dramatic and historic US Open finishes on a traditional Donald Ross golf course set on wonderful sandy soil, meandering through Carolina pines. Since its inception in 1895 as the vision of Boston businessman James Walker Tufts, Pinehurst has become synonymous with Southern charm and first-rate resort accommodations. Not originally intended to be a sporting retreat, Donald Ross first integrated the game of golf into the resort in 1897, completing his renowned Pinehurst No. 2 in 1907. The resort now houses 10 soon-to-be 11 courses, all of which prosper under the Pinehurst umbrella, each with its own identity and charm, but all wonderfully maintained and served by the various accommodations that the Pinehurst Resort offers. The post-COVID boom of the game and accompanying stunning growth in the number of social media golf-related posts has only heightened the awareness of Pinehurst as the Cradle of American golf. The standard look of the Pinehurst clientele has changed along with the post-COVID boom, as a crowd of cash and credit-rich thirty-somethings continue to discover the game and are attracted to the magnet that is Pinehurst. Nowhere is the change of average age of the clientele better illustrated than at the resort's hub of activity, the wonderful Himalayan-type putting green and recently opened short course, The Cradle. Its marvellously relaxed atmosphere is a sight to behold, often shoeless golfers walking around, drinks in hand, soaking up the sun, a sight early 20th-century elitism upon which Pinehurst was built would simply fail to comprehend. Pinehurst has managed to blend the classical etiquette and modern-day casual beautifully; the two appear to exist in joyful harmony. Amidst the often obnoxious and braggadocious social media postings of logo-emblazoned 'merch' with its headcovers, quarter-zips, Yetis and caps, there is a segment of the golfing community who still cherish the simplest of golf course memorabilia. The simplicity of the scorecard, pencil and the glorious tee - and NOWHERE does the golf tee better than Pinehurst. This is golf tee heaven, so much so that there lies the underground aura of The Pinehurst Tee Collection. The Complete Pinehurst Tee Guide: Course by Course The Cradle Collection The "SHORT" – Standard tee from The Cradle course. The original and everyday tee from the wonderful 9-hole short course designed by Gil Hanse. The "FALL" – This tee is issued at The Cradle for a short time at the change of summer to autumn. The "SPRING" – Short-time issue also at The Cradle for the start of the spring season. The "CRADLE CROSSING" – This tee can be found at the comfort station on The Cradle, which is a junction within the course and the centre of post-game activity with fire pit libations and storytelling. Championship Course Tees The "2" – Speaks for itself: the tee for the prestigious Pinehurst No. 2, host of four US Opens and Donald Ross's masterpiece. The "3" – From Pinehurst No. 3, Ross's 1910 design featuring the smallest greens at the resort. The "4" – Pinehurst No. 4, Gil Hanse's 2018 restoration ranked among America's top 100 courses. The "8 BALL" – Exclusive tee to Pinehurst No. 8, Tom Fazio's Centennial Course. The "SANDMINE" – Exclusive tee of Pinehurst No. 10, so called to pay homage to the sandmines upon which Tom Doak's newest course was built. Accommodation Tees The "COTTAGES" – Tee found only at The Cottages of No. 8, new accommodation on site at that course. The "CAROLINA" – The signature tee from The Carolina Hotel, the wonderfully elegant flagship of Pinehurst Resort since its construction in 1901. The "MANOR" – So called as it can only be found at The Manor, the charming resort accommodation Manor House, built in 1923, featuring the popular Hackers at Pinehurst sports bar. The "HOLLY" – Only available to guests at The Holly Inn, with its Southern charm and culinary excellence, which was the original accommodation built at Pinehurst, opening in 1895. Special Edition Tees The "NEST" – Originates from the halfway house on Pinehurst No. 4 and pays homage to the red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species that is prospering under the protection of the Pinehurst area and longleaf pines. The "PUTTER BOY" – This tee can be found throughout the resort, in the pro shop, on the range and in locker rooms. The "NORTH SOUTH" – This tee is only available to competitors of the North South competitions held annually at Pinehurst since 1901. The "COTTAGE" – Probably the grail of all the tees at Pinehurst. Found exclusively inside the Dornoch Cottage, which is located adjacent to hole 3 on Pinehurst No. 2 and designed and built by Donald Ross himself. Pinehurst's Golf Course Portfolio: 10 Championship Designs With 10 championship courses, Pinehurst Resort offers unmatched variety for golf enthusiasts. Each course provides its own unique challenge and, of course, its own commemorative tee. Pinehurst No. 1: Where It All Began (1898) The resort's founding course, originally designed by Dr. Leroy Culver in 1897 and later refined by Donald Ross. At just over 6,000 yards, this par-70 layout features Ross's signature small, elevated greens and strategic bunkering inspired by his Scottish heritage. The perfect warm-up for Pinehurst No. 2. Pinehurst No. 2: The Crown Jewel (1907) Donald Ross's masterpiece and host of four US Open Championships. At 7,588 yards, par 72, this iconic course features the famous turtleback greens surrounded by sand and native wiregrass. After the 2010 Coore & Crenshaw restoration, Pinehurst No. 2 returned to its natural Sandhills aesthetic, creating one of golf's most cerebral challenges. Pinehurst No. 3: Ross's Precision Test (1910) The shortest course at Pinehurst at just 5,155 yards, par 68, but don't be fooled. Ross designed minuscule elevated greens averaging just 4,500 square feet each, demanding exceptional accuracy. Pinehurst No. 3 underwent renovations in 2017 to restore its traditional sandscape appearance. Pinehurst No. 4: Gil Hanse's Modern Classic (Restored 2018) Originally a Donald Ross routing from 1919, Pinehurst No. 4 was completely reimagined by Gil Hanse in 2018. The 7,117-yard, par-72 course features over 140 pot bunkers and native sandscapes similar to No. 2. Golf Magazine ranks it as the 92nd best course in America and co-host of the 2008 and 2019 US Amateurs. Pinehurst No. 5 (1961) Designed by Ellis Maples, Donald Ross's protégé, this 6,848-yard par-72 course features the iconic "Cathedral Hole"—the par-3 14th with a pond-fronted green encircled by towering pines. Pinehurst No. 5 showcases more water hazards than any other Pinehurst course and favours longer hitters. Pinehurst No. 6: The Fazio Family Design (1979) Tom and George Fazio's 7,053-yard, par-72 creation offers dramatic elevation changes, water features, and undulating terrain. Pinehurst No. 6 departs from the traditional Pinehurst style with its parkland character, yet maintains distinctive Sandhills appeal with native wire grass and a challenging back nine. Pinehurst No. 7: Rees Jones's Bold Challenge (1986) Built on the most rugged terrain at Pinehurst, this 7,216-yard par-72 course features 75 bunkers and 25 acres of wetlands. Pinehurst No. 7 showcases the famous "Jones' Fingers" bunker on the signature 16th hole and boasts more elevation changes than any other Pinehurst course. Tiger Woods claimed his only Pinehurst victory here at the 1992 Big I Junior Classic. Pinehurst No. 8: The Centennial Course (1996) Tom Fazio designed Pinehurst No. 8 to celebrate Pinehurst's 100th anniversary. This 7,092-yard, par-72 course is the most secluded at the resort, cut from a nature preserve with no housing development. Fazio incorporated Ross-inspired features including crowned greens with greenside swales and false fronts, earning recognition among America's top 100 public courses. Pinehurst No. 9: The Nicklaus Signature (1989) Originally the National Golf Club, this Jack Nicklaus design was acquired by Pinehurst in 2014. At 7,118 yards, par 72, Pinehurst No. 9 is the only Nicklaus course in the North Carolina Sandhills region. It features wide, tree-lined fairways, undulating bentgrass greens (the only bentgrass at Pinehurst), and dramatic water features. Pinehurst No. 10: Tom Doak's Sandmines Masterpiece (2024) Pinehurst's newest course, designed by Tom Doak and Angela Moser, opened in April 2024. This 7,020-yard, par-70 walking-only course sits on the 900-acre Pinehurst Sandmines property and features over 75 feet of elevation change—unprecedented at Pinehurst. Named Best New Public Course of 2024 by Golf Digest, Pinehurst No. 10 showcases rugged mining dunes and native Sandhills landscape. The Cradle: Gil Hanse's Short Course (2017) A 9-hole par-3 course featuring holes ranging from 56 to 127 yards. Located mere steps from the resort clubhouse, The Cradle has become one of Pinehurst's most popular amenities, offering barefoot golf, cocktails, and a relaxed social atmosphere. Thistle Dhu: The Himalayan Putting Course The wonderful Himalayan-type putting course features 18 holes of mind-bending journeys designed to entertain everyone, from golfing beginners to scratch players. Play is free to resort guests. Plan Your Pinehurst Golf Experience Whether you're seeking the cerebral challenge of Pinehurst No. 2's turtleback greens, the dramatic elevation of Pinehurst No. 7, the Jack Nicklaus pedigree of Pinehurst No. 9, or the walking-only experience of Tom Doak's Pinehurst No. 10, America's premier golf resort delivers unforgettable golf—and collectable tees to remember it by. Pinehurst Resort remains the Cradle of American Golf, where history, championship golf, and yes, even the humble golf tee, are celebrated with unmatched reverence.