The Country Club of Whispering Pines (Pines course)

The Country Club of Whispering Pines (Pines course; formerly known as the East course): the Whispering Pines neighbourhood, located just a few minutes north-east of Pinehurst, is home to several lakes, and two excellent championship golf courses.

The Pines course, following an out-and-back design, is longer than, and makes less use of the lakes than the River course (formerly known as the West course). This said, the tail end of Pine Lake ensures that water still comes dangerously into play on three holes, not least at two long par-5s - the 5th, where water fiercely protects the front of the green, and the 11th, where water skirts the entire leftside of the fairway, from the wonderfully elevated tee, all the way round the right-to-left dog-leg to the water-flanked green.

Most of the remaining holes are without water hazards, laid out on undulating terrain in a pleasantly wooded environment; real estate where it is present, seems to blend effortlessly into the background. Tall pines handsomely frame the holes, while dogwoods and magnolias add extra colour, particularly in the spring months.

The opening stretch of the back-nine is perhaps the best section of the course. The par-4 10th swings from elevated tee to elevated green; then onto the water-protected par-5 11th, followed by a delightful, though equally watery par-3 12th, which might also capture a ball or two.

The closing stretch of five "old" holes (see Did You Know below), occupies flatter terrain, where finding stray tee-shots under the pine trees may not be too difficult, but scoring well will still require good course management and deft shot-making. When compared to some of the other higher-priced courses around Pinehurst, one can certainly applaud the value for money that Whispering Pines delivers.