1 Carolina Vista Drive,
Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina NC 28374
Office
+1 (855) 235 8507Pro shop
+1 (910) 235 8141Fax
+1 (910) 255 3360Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Eric Alpenfels (Head Academy Instructor)Academy
Pinehurst Golf AcademyThe Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined parkland. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Woodland and residential.
Designer:
Donald Ross (1910).
Fanning out from Pinehurst Resort's impressive clubhouse, are five of the Resort's ten 18-hole golf courses: No.1 course (par-70, 6089 yds from back tees); No.2 course (U.S. Open venue, par-72, 7588 yds); No.3 course (par-70, 5722 yds); No.4 course (par-72, 7117 yds); No.5 course (par-72, 6848 yds). Also adjacent to the clubhouse is the 9-hole Cradle course (par-27, 789 yds, designed by Gil Hanse) and 18-hole Thistle Dhu putting course.
Located within two miles of this central clubhouse, and separate from each other, are four more Pinehurst Resort courses: No.6 course (par-72, 7053 yds); No.7 course (par-72, 7216 yds); No.8 course (Centennial, par-72, 7092 yds) and No.9 course (formerly National GC, par-72, 7118 yds).
5 miles to the south lies the Resort's newest 18-hole course, the Tom Doak designed No.10 (formerly The Pit Golf Links).
35.189081
-79.474145
1 mile W of Pinehurst Traffic Circle
From the Pinehurst traffic circle (intersection of the US-15-501, 211 and 2) follow the 2-West direction Pinehurst. After 1.3 miles turn left into Carolina Vista Drive. After 300 yards parking is on your right (bag drop straight ahead).
Pinehurst No.3
Pinehurst No.3 Golf Course: At just over 5,700 yards, this is the shortest and many would say most forgiving of the nine Pinehurst Resort courses. There's nothing too forgiving however if you extravagantly slice your opening drive, or your tee shot at the also short par-4 2nd ....on both occasions State Highway 5 (or the single-track railway alongside it) could come into play.
Whether played as a warm-up for the tougher Pinehurst challenges ahead, or as somewhere to hone your iron play and short game, this is a course that exudes craftsmanship and style. No.3 is an essential part of Donald Ross's legacy. Many holes are shorter than on most modern-day championship layouts, but as Ben Crenshaw once remarked, "I don't think people understand how good these holes are; they're shorter, but there's plenty of character to them."
The terrain here is generally less undulating than neighbouring Sandhills courses. Where there are modest elevation changes, Ross uses them to excellent effect. The uphill par-3 14th for example is a delightful one-shotter. Another elegant par-3, the garden-like 7th, has the only water feature on the course, a small pond protecting the front of the green.
With limited fairway and greenside bunkering, generally good-width fairways and not overly elevated small greens, this is a course that should allow a flattering score to be carded, or a family golf outing to be enjoyed. No.3 is well worth visiting, especially before taking on Pinehurst's more humbling layouts.
Stay&Play at Pinehurst Resort: three historic Pinehurst Resort hotels (Carolina Hotel, Holly Inn and Manor Inn) are located o.5 mi from the golf clubhouse, from which courses No.1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 radiate out (see Where2Stay section below).
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Non-resort guests can only book 1-day ahead.
Non-metal spike facility. Walking permitted. Caddies available.
Excellent
The No.3 course opened in 1910 and was hailed as a course that could possibly overhaul the popularity of Pinehurst's No.1 and No.2 courses. The local newspaper, commented on its decidedly more rolling character, where Donald Ross had shown excellent judgement in laying out the holes. Today it is the shortest of the Pinehurst ten, but no less popular for that.
Carolina Vista Drive, Village of Pinehurst, NC 28374
+1 (910) 295 6811
Visit websiteThe Carolina opened in 1901 and is a world-class hotel. Dubbed the Queen of the South, it has 210 rooms and 12 suites, and is located just a few hundred yards from the historic Village of Pinehurst, and five of the nine Pinehurst Resort championship golf courses (which share the same stunning clubhouse) just across Cherokee Road.
Pinehurst Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (all located at Pinehurst Resort clubhouse, o.4 mi from hotel).
Pinehurst Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10; Pine Needles; Mid Pines; Talamore; Mid South; Longleaf; Pinewild (Magnolia and Holly courses); The Carolina; Southern Pines.
Whispering Pines (East and West courses); Little River; Tobacco Road (25 miles).
Village of Pinehurst, NC 28374
+1 (910) 295 6811
Visit websiteOpened in 1895, the Holly was Pinehurst's first Inn. To this day it retains all the character, warmth and charm of a wonderful old property. Its 79 rooms and three suites have recently benefitted from a $31 million renovation, ensuring the old world charm is matched with today's highest standards of comfort. The 1895 Grille provides a wonderful dining experience.
No
Pinehurst Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10; Pine Needles; Mid Pines; Talamore; Mid South; Longleaf; Pinewild (Magnolia and Holly courses); The Carolina; Southern Pines.
Whispering Pines (East and West courses); Little River; Tobacco Road (25 miles).
The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.
Tournament of Champions: the LPGA Tour’s 2025 season is launched at Lake Nona with the their Tournament of Champions (Jan 30-Feb 2). The 2024 edition gave Lydia Ko her 20th LPGA Tour title.
Attahya Thitikul: also known as “Jeeno”, the Thai golfer won the LPGA Tour’s 2024 CME Group Tour Championship … and an eye-watering $4 million, the richest first-prize in women’s golf.
Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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