Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play" Ratings
Thirty of the 43 golf courses in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area were rated. Those that weren't did not receive enough ballots because the course was either too new or it was a private or semi-private course.
Only 23 U.S. golf courses garnered the coveted 5-star rating. Pinehurst No. 2 has achieved this distinction since these ratings began in 1992 and is the only course in North Carolina to be designated with the 5-star rating.
All 30 golf courses in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area (100%) were rated 3-stars or greater. Twenty-three of the courses in the area were rated 4-stars or better (76%).
And with the restoration of Pinehurst No. 2, Legacy's new Mini Verde™ greens, and the completion of the Dormie Club, the quality of golf in the Sandhills is only getting better. Now is a great time to visit and enjoy NC golf.
Pinehurst No.2, Donald Ross - 1907
- 7,189 (CH) yards
- par 71
- 135 slope
- 75.3 rating
Legacy Golf Links, Jack Nicklaus II - 1991
- 7,014 (Black) yards
- par 72
- 132 slope
- 73.2 rating
Little River Golf & Resort, Dan Maples - 1996
- 6,909 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 133 slope
- 73.6 rating
Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club, Donald Ross - 1921
- 6,528 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 127 slope
- 71.4 rating
Pinehurst No. 4, Tom Fazio - 1999 (Redesign)
- 7,117 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 136 slope
- 74.5 rating
Pinehurst No. 6, George Fazio/Tom Fazio - 1979
- 7,157 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 139 slope
- 75.6 rating
Pinehurst No. 7, Rees Jones - 1986
- 7,126 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 144 slope
- 75.5 rating
Pinehurst No. 8, Tom Fazio - 1996
- 7,092 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 135 slope
- 74.2 rating
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Donald Ross - 1927
- 7,015 (CH) yards
- par 71
- 135 slope
- 73.5 rating
The Pit Golf Links, Dan Maples - 1985 - CLOSED (March 2011)
- 6,600 (CH) yards
- par 71
- 139 slope
- 72.3 rating
Talamore Golf Club, Rees Jones - 1991
- 7,020 (CH) yards
- par 71
- 142 slope
- 72.9 rating
Tobacco Road, Mike Strantz - 1998
- 6,554 (CH) yards
- par 71
- 150 slope
- 73.2 rating
Beacon Ridge Country Club, Gene Hamm - 1988
- 6,511 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 135 slope
- 71.2 rating
The Carolina, Arnold Palmer - 1997
- 6,928 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 142 slope
- 73.2 rating
Deercroft Golf Club, Gardner Gildey - 1983
- 6,745 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 131 slope
- 72.2 rating
Foxfire Country Club (East), Gene Hamm - 1968
- East - 6,851 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 131 slope
- 73.5 rating
Longleaf Golf & Country Club, Dan Maples - 1988
- 6,600 (CH) yards
- par 71
- 123 slope
- 71.0 rating
Pinehurst No. 1, Donald Ross - 1898
- 6,128 (CH) yards
- par 70
- 116 slope
- 69.4 rating
Pinehurst No. 3, Donald Ross - 1910
- 5,682 (CH) yards
- par 70
- 115 slope
- 67.2 rating
Pinewild Country Club (Holly), Gary Player - 1996
- Holly - 7,024 (black) yards
- par 72
- 138 slope
- 73.3 rating
Seven Lakes Country Club, Peter Tufts - 1976
- 6,943 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 138 slope
- 74.0 rating
Woodlake Country Club (Maples), Ellis Maples - 1971
- Maples - 7,043 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 136 slope
- 74.4 rating
Woodlake Country Club (Palmer), Arnold Palmer - 1996
- Palmer - 6,962 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 133 slope
- 72.9 rating
Country Club of Whispering Pines ( East), Ellis Maples - 1959
- East - 7,110 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 130 slope
- 73.7 rating
Foxfire Country Club (West), Gene Hamm - 1968
- West - 6,742 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 129 slope
- 72.4 rating
Hyland Hills Golf Club, Tom Jackson - 1972
- 6,970 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 138 slope
- 72.1 rating
Pinehurst No. 5, Ellis Maples - 1961
- 6,848 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 137 slope
- 73.4 rating
The Bluff Golf Links, Frank Hicks - 1971
- 6,711 (CH) yards
- par 72
- 131 slope
- 72.7 rating
Country Club of Whispering Pines (West), Ellis Maples - 1959
- West - 6,521(CH) yards
- par 71
- 128 slope
- 70.3 rating
Whispering Woods Golf Club , Ellis Maples - 1971
- 6,001(CH) yards
- par 70
- 128 slope
- 68.7 rating
For more information on these and our other golf courses click here.
The Golf Digest star rating for golf courses provides the most comprehensive information on public access golf courses, helping compare golf destinations and courses. Golf Digest conducts the only objective, comprehensive survey of golfers in creating this biannual rating. It is the standard by which public access courses are judged.