Pinehurst No. 9 serves as a variety show of the Pinehurst area blending many different styles of golf into an overall strong design.

Despite admittedly low expectations, Pinehurst No. 9 over-delivered in my time on property. Undoubtedly a ‘jack-of-all-trades’, the course uses expansive water hazards, natural waste areas and playing corridors defined by towering pines to make for an engaging round. While I can completely understand where golfers could feel the design is disjointed in its variety, I felt the routing was completely acceptable. Another note here is the bent grass greens, the only on property at Pinehurst.

As another reviewer stated, the postcard par-3 second does come a bit early in the round and could be a bit jarring for less skilled players. The 190-yd hole requires carrying about 180-yds of water to avoid the large pond that the whole plays over.

The dogleg right par-4 third was a standout for myself with a lone pine on the right side of the fairway guarding the desired line from the tee. A shorter hole at 404-yds from the tournament tees, the green complex is the real test featuring an exaggerated two-tier green that can quickly add strokes if one finds themselves out of position.

The par-4 fifth is another strong hole beginning with a blind drive over the rising fairway before facing players with an approach over a creek crossing in front of the green complex. The sixth through eighth holes play more in line with what is typically expected of golf at Pinehurst using waste area and pines as the primary elements to navigate in each of the holes. The ninth is strong par-3 with water hazard left to return to a more Nicklaus-esque conclusion to the first half of play.

The back nine starts with the same style of play in a risk-reward par-5 flanked by a large pond on the entire right side of the hole. A strong tee shot sets up a decision to go for the green in two carrying the pond for the entire length of the shot. The decision to layup requires playing to the fairway left of the hazard for an awkward pitch to the green sitting along the edge of the pond. Overall, the tenth plays as a truly great strategic hole.

The remaining holes on the back nine are once again defined by waste areas and pine corridors all serving as enjoyable, yet still strategic, holes of golf. While there might not be obvious holes to highlight in this stretch, they are all strong in their architectural basics. 

The only questionable hole in the design is the par-5 fifth for its penal nature. Requiring three extremely testing full shots, players are then faced elevated green complex that is incredibly penal with collection areas both long and short of putting surface in addition to typical sand hazards.