Pinehurst 2 Golf
Pinehurst 2 golf course is a challenge not because of its length, topography,
unruly routing, water features or green size - but because of the combination of
factors that have made thousands laugh and cry at the same time. Turtle back
greens, carefully placed bunkers and a strategic layout that tests both the long
and short game. It is golf the way it was meant to be played. "The fairest test
of championship golf" ever designed by Ross, in his own words. It is also top 10
in the country, and site of more championships than any other course in the
country, including the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Open Championships. Pinehurst will
host back-to-back Championships with both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open in
2014, running consecutively.
Can you imagine spending two weeks in Pinehurst watching the best players in the
world and playing some of the best courses in the world?
Donald Ross spent more time and effort designing Pinehurst No. 2 than any
Ask golfers to describe America's greatest courses and they'll weep about holes
like the seventh at Pebble Beach, but Pinehurst No. 2 proves that a course can
be much greater than its individual holes. This Donald Ross masterpiece creates
new challenges and surprises at every turn. So what if it lacks the scenic splendor of other top courses? Pinehurst 2 might be the finest test of championship golf anywhere, a course that defends itself through greens that gently draw blood in 18 different ways, and not by having to bastardize the fundamental design every time the pros come to town.
Ranked first in NC. and 11th in America's greatest courses by Golf Digest, this
course, opened in 1901, is as good as golf gets.
You can land a jumbo jet on the generous fairways without dislodging a pinecone,
but Pinehurst No. 2 is the toughest course on the planet from within 50 yards of
the greens, which are incredibly tough to hold. It takes only one chip shot
rolling back to your feet to
Pinehurst #2 is one of five resort courses designed by Donald Ross at the
invitation of resort founder James K. Tufts.
Donald
Ross, the master of golf course design, Called Pinehurst home for over 40 years
while he was designing courses all over the country. Ross also called #2 his
best design ever.
Pinehurst #2 holds an incredible distinction in having hosted more major
championships than any other U.S. golf course. Ben Hogan won his first
professional tournament here. The '36 PGA Championship was held here.
Pinehurst’s adopted son E. Harvie Ward, whom some consider the greatest amateur
who ever lived, beat Arnold Palmer, then a sophomore at Wake Forest, here in the
North-South Amateur 5 and 4 in the semifinals. Two PGA Tour Championships, the
'94 U.S. Senior Open and the '99 U.S. Open were held here. The 2005
US Open was held here, and Pinehurst #2 has now been chosen to host the
mens and ladies U.S. Open in 2014.
How good is Pinehurst 2 golf course? Nick Price once said that if he had only one course to
play over and over it would be #2. Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus and many other
notables have uttered similar superlatives. They love the course because it is,
they say, pure golf, untricked up, and it offers a different challenge every
time out. Pinehurst 2 is ranked second only behind Pebble Beach of all U.S.
courses.
Walking down the first fairway will give you chills thinking of all the great
players that have played this course over the last 110 years. The course has
very wide fairways and a modest number of fairway bunkers which pose little
trouble if you are reasonably accurate. Thin stands of pines line all of the
fairways but most are well back of play and pose little trouble. It is virtually
impossible to lose your ball on this course.
The course from a visual standpoint is relatively unexciting. It is generally
flat with only three noticeably elevated greens -- #3, #9 and #13. Most of the
holes are straight. There are no water hazards. Among the holes of distinction
are #3, a terrific short par 4 of 338 yards. The landing area on the right-hand
side of this slight dogleg right hole is guarded by a cluster of deep bunkers.
The elevated green is similarly well bunkered, presenting an intimidating shot,
even with a wedge.
Hole 5 is widely regarded as one of the greatest and toughest par 4s in the
country. At 485 yards from the back, it registered the fewest pars and birdies
during the Open. The landing area is not the problem; it is very wide and if you
catch the downslope (about 240 yards out) you can get quite a roll. Even so, you
are left with a daunting long-iron into the slightly elevated crowned green with
a very deep bunker on the front left and severely sloped collection areas off
the front and the entire back side.
I think #7 and # 9 are also among the best holes on the course. The 7th is a
The 9th is a fine par 3 of 189 yards to an elevated well bunkered green set
amidst the pines. The green slopes severely back to front and left to right. A
steep bunker guards the front left. This visually arresting hole can be a real
devil, especially into the wind and with the pin placement upper left.
The back 9 is not quite as interesting as the front. It kicks off with a
570-yard airport runway length par 5 and finishes with an uphill 18th of 443
yards (380 from the whites) to the green where Payne Stewart holed a 20 footer
to beat Mickelson by one shot for the '99 Open title. In between are several
long, straight par 4’s of no particular distinction, a fine short par 4 (the
13th) to an elevated seriously sloped green, a very long par 3 (the 15th) to a
crowned affair that will reject all but the most accurate drives, and the
520-yard 16th, which played as a par 4 measuring 485 yards during the Open. When
you play this hole that features a tight tree-lined approach, bear in mind that
Tiger reached the elevated green with driver, 8-iron.
Pinehurst 2 golf course is worth playing at least once for its historical value. It
definitely exudes an aura and charm that is unmatched anywhere. The greens and
the constantly shifting winds through the pines make scoring to one’s handicap a
real challenge. In this age of modern architectural contrivances, it is
refreshing to play arguably the finest example of a classical course that we
have in the States. When you encounter the greens, remember that Ross built them
using teams of mules pulling drag-pans. And bear in mind that in his day the
greens were composed of sand and didn’t have nearly the speed of today’s greens.
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