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 "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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'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.
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.
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.
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.
