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Golfers always have a bucket list of courses he or she would love to play.  It could be a local, private course like Shelter Harbor. It could be a destination track like the Old Course at St. Andrews or Pebble Beach in California.

While I have many, Pinehurst No. 2 seemed like a great place to start, especially with the US Open being played there this year. It has been called Donald Ross’ crowning achievement.

Here in Rhode Island, we are lucky to have the pleasure (masochistic perhaps?) of playing courses designed by the Donald (not that one): Triggs, Warwick, Wannamoisett, Winnapaug, etc.. What’s a little more pain with a visit to Pinehurst?

I feel like I got to know Mr. Ross a bit better during my stay there (and James Tufts).

If you ever book a trip to the North Carolina resort, you will find out it is always a beautiful day at Pinehurst. Their customer service is top notch. I was constantly calling to fine tune the trip and they actually called me once because they noticed I didn’t book a caddy for No. 2. I said I would take a push cart but after a day of should I/shouldn’t I, I called back and said I would love a caddy.

The trip down is an easy one. I flew Southwest through Baltimore. There was a snow scare getting out of Providence but it all worked out.  Upon arrival, the bags arrived at baggage claim quickly, took a shuttle bus for the short trip to the rental car lot and got on I-40 in no time.  It is an hour from Raleigh Durham airport to Pinehurst, mostly down US-1 through unremarkable territory.  As you get closer to Pinehurst, you see a couple of golf courses and that is when I noticed the dormant Bermuda grass with a light straw color.  Definitely still playable, but not the green grass one would hope for.  

When you reach the exit off US-1, you start to see pine trees and neatly manicured pine needles in the median and side of the road.  There are roundabouts and rotaries which, if you drive through Apponaug, you are thoroughly prepared for.

The final roundabout puts you on Carolina Drive with leads up to the Carolina Hotel.  It is a beautiful grand hotel, somewhat in the style of the Mt. Washington or Mountain View Grand in New Hampshire.  I paid for the B&B package which includes a daily round of golf (you have to pay a premium to play No. 2 and No. 4) with breakfast included.   The breakfast buffet in the Carolina Room was definitely worth it.  Omelet station with all the sides you could expect. They even had a piano player each morning to set the mood.

We were met by helpful valets that took our bags and parked the car.  Once checked in, the itch to get out and explore becomes overwhelming.  I had pre-booked a tee time at The Cradle, a Gil Hanse designed par 3 course that abuts the main clubhouse and the Thistle Dhu putting green. 

The longest hole is 127 yards; with the shortest about 40. My golf bag made it from the hotel to the bag storage area under the clubhouse.  I grabbed a 9i, PW, 50, 60 and putter and proceeded to the starters hut.

We were met by a friendly gentleman that gave us a Sunday bag and green repair tools.  He bestowed a wish that we had to use the repair tools often.  Because of the time of year and the dormant grass, we had to hit off mats on the tees (not a big deal).  It was about 53 degrees, sunny, with a gusty wind.

The undulating Bermuda grass greens gives one a taste of what lies ahead at the Pinehurst courses (except #9, which has the only bent grass greens at Pinehurst). The course was a blast. The best part is once you pay the greens fee, you have unlimited replays for the rest of your stay. You must book a tee time a day ahead, but I would recommend booking them when you book your trip.  The course is popular and is open to the public to play, not just resort guests.  

After the eighth hole, you arrive at a halfway house. I had a pour of Woodford’s and we sat at the fire pit for a bit. After a few sips, we finished up the 9th hole.

Pinehurst Village is a short walk from the Carolina Hotel. We were told Tuesdays at the Pinehurst Brewery was rib night.  While not a rib person myself, my girlfriend is so we walked over for dinner.  The brewery used to be the steam plant for the resort.  It still has the smokestack (although halved) and the inside is all brick with a rustic, industrial look.  We sat at the bar, had an old fashioned and dined on some BBQ fare. We then proceeded to The Manor to have a nightcap at the North South bar.  The Manor was Arnold Palmer’s favorite place to stay at Pinehurst and he always requested the same room.  They had a great bourbon selection and the decor was stately.

We also discovered the Old Golf Shop in Pinehurst Village.  It contains a plethora of old golf books, knickknacks, signs, paintings, and persimmon woods.  We even spied this gem…

The next day, I had an 8:50am tee time at Pinehurst #9. I was told this course was bought by Pinehurst and was formally called Pinehurst National.  It is a Jack Nicklaus designed course, the only course at Pinehurst with significant water, and of course, the bent grass greens. 

It was a sunny day, with significantly less wind and about 48 degrees to start.  With the sun out, it warmed up quickly as my round progressed. I decided to walk the course and was given a push cart.  It had some hills but they weren’t overwhelming and as far as I can recall, no significant walks between the tees.  No one else was booked for my tee time, but I was told a member would be walking behind me.

The first hole is a dog-leg left with pine trees lining both sides of the fairway.

Whether it was nerves or starting out cold (there is a range, but I didn’t warm up), I hit my drive right landing in the trees and pine straw. Luckily I had a window and hit a low 7i out.  I had about 113 yds to an elevated green protected by bunkers from the middle to the right.  I three quartered a 9-iron onto the green and two putted for a bogey.  

The next hole is a par 3 with water that needs to be carried to get to the green.  It was about 164 to the pin and about 145 to carry the water.  Of course, my 6-iron fell about 3 yds short. Hit from the tee again with a 5 hybrid and two putted for a 5.  

The 3rd hole was a dog-leg right that required a lesser club than driver off the tee (unless you can fade it on command).  There is a tree in the right center of the fairway about 195 where the dog-leg begins. 

I had a recall of the two dog-leg right holes on the front 9 at Beaver River and opted for a 3w, which I hit perfect 3w to the right of the tree in the fairway, which left me 113 to the pin.  Three quarter 9i again on to the green and a two putt for par. Had an up and down round the rest of the way with a double bogey on the par 5 8th hole. Finished the front with a 44. Sigh.

There is always a renewed hope with a fresh 9 holes.  The 10th hole is a risk reward short par 5.  It is about 280 to the water that awaits, which wouldn’t come into play for me off the tee.  I hit a driver to the right side of the fairway which allowed me to consider the risk reward shot to the green. The fairway is split horizontally by water with the 2nd fairway and green bordered by more water on the right. The pin was 195 yds away.  

I decided against risk and aimed for the humps on the left of the green.  I hit 7w, pushed it slightly, and waited nervously for the landing.  Fortunately, it made the water and landed on the absolute front of the green.  Unfortunately, I had a very long putt and the greens were drying out from the morning moisture. 

I put it way past the hole, missed the next putt, but hit the 3rd putt for a pyrrhic victory par.  Another up and down back 9, with a good finish on 18. A forgiving fairway leads to a green with water lining the left side.  I hit my trust 7w on approach and hit the left side of the green with about a yard or two to spare.  Two putted for the par, another 44, for a round of 88.  Rated 70.5 from the whites, mid 80’s would have made me a bit happier but that’s golf.

Being Valentine’s Day, I had reserved dinner in the Carolina Room at the hotel.  Collared shirt and slacks required and jacket recommended, which I packed. I ordered the 7 oz. filet, which was amazing.

Day 3 belonged to Pinehurst No. 2 with a 9:30am tee time.  Being the year of the US Open, playing No. 2 came with some caveats.  First, approach zones to the greens were roped off. If your ball was inside these ropes, you had to hit off a small mat. These were peppered around the roped off areas.  Same went for the par 3 tees, although my caddy advised me I could hit off a tee as an alternative. Also, there is a ton of construction being done prior to the US Open. A lot of the clubhouse, the Carolina Hotel, and the future World Golf Hall of Fame across the parking lot were being worked on.  Also of note, the USGA has a 2nd headquarters at Pinehurst as well.

I checked in at the clubhouse pro shop and was advised to make my way down to the storage area to meet up with my caddy. I had never played with a caddy before. I was looking forward to the experience. He informed me the greens were not as fast as usual, probably running about a 10; again, due to US Open preparations. He carried two bags and the other caddy did the same.  We ambled over to the range where we hit into a net.  So much for seeing your ball flight, but at least I warmed up this time.  Then, over to the practice green next to the first tee.  There is also a chipping green as well.

On the tee, we were met by the starter who gave us the rundown.  No bunkers on No. 2, all waste areas.  Being the first group out, we should aim for a round of 4 hours and 15 minutes. He wished us good luck and off we went. 

The 1st hole looks exactly the same as on PGA2K23…

I hit first and put my drive in the middle of the fairway. My approach shot fell short of the green.  And here is where some caddy advice didn’t resonate with me.  Martin Kaymer won the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst #2 and he never chipped when he was close to the green; he always putted. 

My caddy was espousing the same philosophy.  But that tactic is something I don’t practice so I had a lot of trouble judging speed.  Also, the greens were not rolling their normal 12 on the stimp and Pinehurst received a lot of rain prior to arriving.  After a couple of holes, I started chipping again.  But I digress.  I putted up to the green, left it way short, and two putted for the bogey.  I thought to myself not bad for the 1st hole.

Hole #2 is a longer par 4.  With a straight drive, the fairway is forgiving.

It was more of the same for me.  Good drive, poor approach, putt on, two putt

Hole 3 is a shorter Par 4.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take advantage.  My drive found the right side trees, came back left, but remained in the waste area.  I had a good out which left me a short approach to the green…

My approach shot made it on and another two putt for bogey.

The 4th hole is a long par 4 and again, looks just like it does on the XBox…

I had another good drive but unfortunately, made a mess of the rest of the hole for a double bogey.

We’ll skip to the 9th hole, a par 3 playing about 150 with a slight helping wind.  I finally hit a decent 7i onto the green but didn’t make it all the way to the 2nd tier and in turn, my ball rolled back about 10 ft.

Hoping for my first par of the day, I ended up 3 putting for bogey.

Hole 10 finally brought some good news. A par 5 on the shorter side from the whites, I hit a good drive and had about 205 to the pin with a green protected by left and right bunkers.  Having a poor round so far, there was no reason to play it safe.  I took a 5w, hit it well, but with a draw that found the left side bunker with a steep lip. Now the good news.  Opened a 60 degree wedge and put it 6 feet from the hole and made the birdie putt.

The rest of the back was mostly the same, bogeys with a double bogey mixed in.

Then came 18.  My caddy’s advice was to aim the drive over the edge of the waste area on the right side of the fairway and I followed his direction perfectly. Hit my drive about 220 into the middle of the fairway which left me about 162 to the pin in the middle back of the green with a stiff wind blowing left to right.  Remember that part about having to use those mats in the approach zones?  Unfortunately, my ball was in the roped off area and being on 18 under watchful eyes, my caddy advised against using a tee in lieu of the mat. Rather than using my 6i, I had my 6hy in the bag and opted for that.  I’m pretty sure my caddy advised me the line was the Payne Stewart statue behind and left of the green.  I hit the 6hy with a low right fade and the left to right wind took my ball onto the mid front of the green, leaving a 35-ish foot putt for birdie…

Missed it by that much. Luckily, with folks watching from the Deuce pub behind the green, I hit the par putt.

One of my golfers in my foursome was lucky enough to birdie a par 3, which means he was entitled to a ball marker which says a 2 on No. 2 from the Deuce Pub.

I ended up with a 91, which really bummed me out.  I was hoping to keep it under 90. I hope to have another crack at it some day.

After buying up half the merchandise in the Pro Shop, we decided to foray over to one of the other villages, Southern Pines.  It is about 4 miles away and you need your own transportation to get there. As we arrived, we discovered a quaint downtown area with railroad tracks and an Amtrak station dividing the main street.  There is plenty of parking available.  Walking around, we discovered The Vault, which sells Pinehurst memorabilia and on that particular day, everything was 20% off.

The next place we discovered was a small wine bar called SRO.  The initials are apt, because it is a very tight space with a fold up bench for patrons inside.  One of the owners, Pat, was doing a wine tasting and invited us to try some wines.  Two glasses later, we felt like we were one of the crew.  Everyone kept ambling in and setting up outside at their small cafe tables.  It had a great vibe.  We asked where to go for dinner and they recommended a few places but we settled on Beefeaters.

We got to Beefeaters and they asked if we just came from SRO.  Pat had called ahead for us and asked them to reserve two bar seats.  Amazing.  If you like bars that time sort of forgot with a slight hint of dive, this is right up your alley.  The people there were great and we spent the next hour talking to our bar seat neighbors. If you like bourbon, I highly recommend you try 1792’s 12 year aged bourbon. It is tasty and just recently won an award for World’s Best Bourbon.

After that, we called it a night.  On to Tobacco Road!