We found the greens extremely challenging during our round in April. They have a lot of undulation and other features that make a two-putt feel like an unnerving task if you are above the hole. I joked to my caddie that golfers should play No. 10 first before playing No. 2, because it will make those notorious greens feel less daunting. He did not disagree.
All in all, playing No. 10 was an exhilarating golf experience, definitely deserving of the rave reviews.
And there is more fun to come at the Sandmines. In April, Pinehurst announced that the design team of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore will construct No. 11, which is slated to open in 2027.
Coore marveled over the unique qualities of the property.
“We’re far, far from the sea, but we have these contours and features and landforms that remind you of spots in Ireland or Scotland,” Coore said. “And yet here it is, in Pinehurst.”
While situated next to No. 10, the two courses will be very different. Part of that is the land, as the terrain for No. 11 is “choppy, ridgey ground,” says Coore, with much less elevation change and a more intimate scale.
“I don’t think I have ever seen two more physically different sites that are contiguous, literally touching each other, than the sites for No. 10 and No. 11,” Coore said. “The two courses will be massively different in terms of their characteristics.”
When No. 11 is completed, it will push Pinehurst’s total to a whopping 207 holes, more than any other U.S. resort. The demand is there, as golfers continue to flock to this mecca of golf in North Carolina. In addition to Pinehurst No. 2, No. 4, and now No. 10, the other nearby venues, Pine Needles, Mid Pines, Southern Pines and Tobacco Road, are all considered among the top 100 public courses in the country.
Golfers will find the Sandmines to be a terrific addition to Pinehurst’s portfolio. It is another case of the rich getting richer.
A former golf writer at the Chicago Tribune, Ed Sherman is a frequent contributor to Chicago District Golfer.
