Conference 7.286::golf

    Hi Nancy,
    I was just there, what a course. Anyway, Pinehurst is about an hour and
    a half away from Charlotte. Hope this helps.
    
    Regards,
    Mark

    You can also fly into Fayetteville NC which is closer than Charlotte is
    to Pinehurst.  Pinehurst is on the other side of Fort Bragg from
    Fayetteville so you have to go around it.
    
    Pinehurst has golf packages available that let you play on 6 of their
    7 courses.  Pinehurst #2 you have to pay a premium to play on it, but
    its definetly worth it.  Pinehurst #7 is separate from the other 6
    courses and you may have to pay regular fees to play on that course.
    
    The rest of the courses at the Pinehurst Resort are quite enjoyable and
    I believe a few of them are Donald Ross designed.
    
    Its been a few years but I think Pinehurst is more expensive than
    Myrtle as far as accomadations go and you don't have the wide variety
    of courses but Pinehurst is a first class operation and you will feel
    that it was worth it.
    

One week from today I'll be winging my way south to Pinehurst.  My wife & I
are celebrating our 15th anniversary and taking a long Memorial Day weekend.
I'll try to post an update when I return.  As a previous note said it's not
as cheap as Myrtle Beach, but the golf is supposed to be great.  I've got
my tee time already.  I'm play #2 Friday, & #7 Saturday.  I love Donald Ross
courses because they are so subtle & challenging around the greens.

Larry

  Having been to both plaves I can vouch that  Pinehurst being MUCH more 
  expensive than Myrtle Beach.  I can also say that in my opinion, it is
  worth it.  Pinehurst #2 is about the best course you will ever play, period.
  There is nothing in Myrtle Beach in the same class.  The Pinehurst Hotel is
  also much classier than anything in Myrtle Beach.  If you want a truly special
  golf vacation, and can swing going to Pinehurst, I don't think you'll be
  dissappointed.

   -Evan

    I also have played both places and I think that Pinehurst
    far and away exceeds anything Myrtle Beach has to offer.
    
    			Dan
    

    Re: all.
    
    Will be looking forward to that trip report, Larry.  
    
    You've all indicated that Pinehurst is more expensive than Myrtle Beach
    but could you give me a rough estimate about how much a long weekend
    or a week would cost including everything?  I would like to get
    a little more specific please.  We're also looking at Pine Needles as
    another alternative.
    
    Myrtle Beach was a disappointment to us.  Too Route 9 with an ocean
    for our taste, plus we got aggravated at having to jump on the highway
    each day (sometimes in rush hour traffic) to drive as much as 45 minutes 
    to the course du jour. 

    Never been to either place, but IMO, it's like comparing apples and
    oranges. At Myrtle Beach, you have a bunch of courses, ranging from
    fair to very good, along with prices and an ambient mentality geared
    toward golfers. Not all bad. On the other hand, at Pinehurst, you have
    the opportunity to play fewer courses, but all are at least good - with
    Pinehurst #2 among the best in the world, with #7 not far behind. Most
    folks don't normally get a chance to play a course of that caliber, so
    I'd recommend seeing Pinehurst - even if it's a once in a lifetime
    deal. I'm leaning toward going to Pinehurst someday soon myself. It
    would be nice to stay right at a resort that had a couple of great (!!)
    courses, great practice facilities, etc. and not have to drive all over
    the place.
    
    __Jack

    From what I remember, Pine Needles used to be run by former Pro Peggy
    Kirk Bell and her husband Warren. Supposed to be very good, with
    wonderful, relaxed atmosphere. I've heard that courses in the Carolina
    Mountains are terrific too - and beautiful.
    
    __Jack

    
    Jack,
    
    That's true. Warren "Bullet" Bell is now desceased. Peggy is still
    there, but does not run the day to day. Her son-in-law, sometimes
    touring pro Pat McGowan, and Kelly Miller (I think) now run the show. 
    Exceptional, hi-tech teaching facilities. A real family run place.
    1996 (I believe) US Woman's Open site!!
    Have been friends with my mother's family for years. I have stayed 
    there and would recommend it highly. Like all Pinehurst area resorts,
    very pricey, but well worth it. That area is going to give Myrtle a
    run for its money soon. Lots of courses, but no beach. 
    
    Joe

Well here's my report from my recent trip to Pinehurst.  Summary: It was a 
visit to golf heaven.  

We flew into Raleigh-Durham.  Since that's an American hub city we were able to
leave Boston at 7:20 & be on the ground at RDU at 9:20.  It is about 1 20min
drive to Pinehurst from the airport.

My wife & I stayed at the Pinehurst Hotel.  It is a classic old style hotel
that has been maintained, updated & kept up over the years.  The staff focuses
on service.  They were freindly and helpful.  One of the bartenders described
his job as "to make friends for the hotel".  Everyone there seemed to share
that mission.  We ate most of our meals in the Carolina room and the food was
good. 

But on to the important stuff....Golf...Basically I thought I'ld died and
gone to heaven.  I've played a lot of great places before (if you doubt check
out some of my prior trip reports).  Of the seven courses I played #2,5,6,7.

#2 is a classic Donald Ross course - The greens are firm and undulating.  You 
definitely want to hit your shots short of the flag & let them roll up.  You 
also don't want to be above the hole.  Course management is key here there are
definitely right & wrong sides of the fairway.  They have caddies available
here. Because of my wife's knee problems we had to take a cart, but the others
two golfers in our foursome had a caddy.  He had over 25yrs experience there. 
He helped read putts for me & my wife.  If I go again I'm taking one, even if
my wife is riding.  Highlights paring 3,4,&5, and birdieing 17.  Low point
topping my drive on #16 into the only water on the course. 

#7 this is more of your typical new resort course.  It is tightly wooded & can
be penal.  Play this course with a regular because course strategy is not 
obvious from the tee on several holes.  From the tips this course could be a 
bear...several long carries over water, wastelands, etc.  It is reasonable
from the white.  It will be going private in the future when they have get
enough members.  Highlights being introduces to "sixes" and playing with 3 very
nice people that have retired & play there year round.  Low point - Three 
locals I'm playing with supplement their fixed income with tourists $.  

#6 This is your average vacation resort course.  Good condition and some 
interesting holes.  Sort of course you could play often & still enjoy.  
Low points - played lousy so I don't remember too much.

#5 This is one of the prettiest courses there.  The course seems like it just 
naturally existed there & the architect just decided where to put the tees & 
greens.  It look/felt as old as the Ross courses even though it's approx 25 
years old.  Highlights - game came back & played well.  Several legitimate 
birdie attempts (wish I had that caddy reading the breaks).  Low point - 
Getting caught in a rain storm that lasted for about 1/2 hour.

Other golf comments.  Because of the sandy soil the rough isn't generally 
thick heavy grass (except where that exists naturally)  Instead it may be more
of a thin sandy lie.  Everyone there seemed like a serious golfer.  Most rounds
took just 4 hours, #7 was slightly longer.  Except for #7 most of the courses
were what I would describe as easy bogies, hard pars.

Overall we will defintely go back again.  It wasn't cheap (being our 15th
anniversary we weren't pinching too many pennies either.)  When I go back I 
would probably sign up for one of the golf packages that allow unlimited golf
and play 36 a day.  There wasn't too much in terms of site seeing, some 
shopping but not alot.  It's a good place to go, slow down & relax.

    re. 10
    
    Thanks for the trip report, Larry.  You've confirmed that Pinehurst
    is a definite stop on a golfaholic's itinerary.
    
    Nancy