The No 2 course at Pinehurst is perhaps the most intricate test of the game we love and a shining example of American golf.

This review comes on the heels of my first visit to the Pinehurst Resort and our round on No. 2 featured high winds for the first eight holes and drenching rain for the final ten. Despite the less-than-optimal weather, it was wonderful to experience the Ross design.

As many have said, the green complexes at No. 2 are the true highlight of the architectural side of the course. However, the way those greens intimidate and influence decisions backwards through each hole is the element that really stood out to myself. While there are certainly uncomfortable tee shots, many times the path of least resistance significantly toughens the subsequent shots.

The other key element that stood out to myself was the level of nuance in the design. While not the most visually striking, the details in each of the holes make No. 2 what it is. Gentle movement in the ground, bunkering positions and fairway lines, and wrinkles in each putting surface culminates into such a wonderful overall masterpiece of the game. 

While there might not be a ton of easily identifiable standout holes, there are a handful of highlights. The stretch from the third hole to the fifth was one of these. The way those holes work together and what each requires is such ranging variety of magnificent golf. The green sites of the third and fifth felt very similar in their canted angles and penalties for being in the wrong position.

The par-3 ninth also holds a sweet spot in my heart as a birdie in pouring rain secured my “Deuce” coin for the round after only hearing about the Easter Egg achievement shortly before the round. However, the hole itself is such a great and imposing visual from the tee.

The uphill par-4 thirteenth was another great golf hole as the tight and intimidating tee shot leads into an equally tough uphill approach to the elevated green. The hidden bunker long is sure to catch out the uninformed, like myself. 

Finally, the eighteenth ended the round with one of my favorite holes of the day. The snaking fairway and tough green with a very visible audience make for a tough finisher where par is no doubt a laudable achievement.

This first visit to the No. 2 course definitely took some time to process and distill what my thoughts on the course ultimately were. However, after coming off the course a bit underwhelmed, the last couple of weeks trying to distill my feelings on the course have had the design continue to grow in my own mind. Again, the nuance in this course is really the key element to how special this course really is