Pinehurst no. 9 is located on the outskirts of the Pinehurst Resort, in the Sandhills of North Carolina. The course opened for play in 1989, and is the only Jack Nicklaus signature course in the Sandhills. Originally called Pinehurst National GC, Pinehurst No 9 was purchased by The Pinehurst Resort and fully restored in 2012.

The course is beautifully maintained, and a most picturesque course. It starts off strongly with an outstanding group of opening holes.

The dogleg left first hole requires an accurate tee shot, and then challenges the golfer to hit a high fading approach to a heavily bunkered green sitting in the slope above you. It is an impressive hole. But wait!

You turn the corner to play the 189 yard par 3 second hole and find yourself faced with an all water carry to a picture postcard green. It is gorgeous, but for mine a little early in the round for most golfers to cope with...

Hole 3 is a sharp dog leg right par 4 with a large pine tree and bunker in the fairway at the turn. Avoid them and you have a short shot in to another lovely green site set into the hill with bunkering that demands your attention. It is a quality golf hole and one that favours a high left to right ball flight- no surprise there because that is a common theme for Jack's courses at that time.

While the rest of the front nine provides good golf in a lovely setting I dont think it quite reaches the level of those first three holes.

However the back nine also starts well with a very picturesque green setting on the edge of the lake providing all sorts of scenarios for players to work through. Ideally the second shot on this par 5 would carry some part of the lake, but of course the more lake you bite off, to take the pressure off the shot to the green, the more risk you take on with your second. Big hitters could even contemplate hitting the green in two.. It is a compelling hole.

The par 4 closing hole is also memorable with water in play on the left for the last 100 yards or so on the approach to a green tucked right alongside the water. The green is protected by a nice looking cluster of bunkers that have the potential to wreak havoc on the closing score.

Whilst not in the class of Pinehurst no 2, Pinehurst no 9 is a worthy addition to the Pinehurst Resort family of courses.

Travelling Golfers will enjoy the southern hospitality and depending on the length of stay in the area, should include no 9 in itineraries..

Peter Wood is the founder of The Travelling Golfer – click the link to read his full review.