Pinehurst, North Carolina

Pinehurst No. 2

Pinehurst No. 2 is Donald Ross's 1907 masterpiece at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina and the USGA's anchor site, with U.S. Opens in 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024 and four more scheduled. It is known for its domed "turtleback" greens and sandy, wiregrass-lined fairways. The Perry Bros played it on June 4, 2023; Jon's score was 87.

The Perry Bros and Brandon on the first tee of Pinehurst No. 2

Course facts

Location
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Access
Resort (tee times generally go with a resort stay)
Architect
Donald Ross
Opened
1907
Renovation
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restoration (2010 to 2011)
Par
70 from the U.S. Open tees
Yardage
7,588 from the U.S. Open tees
Big events
U.S. Open (1999, 2005, 2014, 2024; scheduled 2029, 2035, 2041, 2047); 1936 PGA Championship; 1951 Ryder Cup; 2014 U.S. Women's Open; U.S. Amateur (1962, 2008, 2019)
Website
pinehurst.com/golf/courses/no-2

Our round at No. 2

June 4, 2023

Jon: 87Rating / slope 70.7/126

Played with Brandon

About No. 2

Donald Ross designed No. 2 and opened it in 1907, then refined it for decades. In 2010 and 2011 Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restored his design, removing the thick rough added in the 1970s and bringing back the sandy native areas and wiregrass.

The championship list is long: the 1936 PGA Championship, the 1951 Ryder Cup, and U.S. Opens won by Payne Stewart (1999), Michael Campbell (2005), Martin Kaymer (2014) and Bryson DeChambeau (2024). In 2014 the men's and women's U.S. Opens were played here in back-to-back weeks.

No. 2 closed out our 2023 Pinehurst trip, and it was Jon's best score of the week.

What stands out

  • Domed "turtleback" greens that shed approach shots.
  • Wide fairways framed by sand and wiregrass rather than rough.
  • The Payne Stewart statue behind the 18th green marks his winning putt in 1999.

Quick answers

Can you play Pinehurst No. 2?

Yes. It is a Pinehurst Resort course, and tee times generally go with a resort stay.

How many U.S. Opens has Pinehurst No. 2 hosted?

Four men's U.S. Opens (1999, 2005, 2014, 2024) and the 2014 U.S. Women's Open. The men's Open returns in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.

Who designed Pinehurst No. 2?

Donald Ross. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restored his design in 2010 and 2011.

Sources: Pinehurst: No. 2 · USGA: future U.S. Open sites · Wikipedia: Pinehurst Resort