Pinehurst & the Sandhills golf courses: tee times & green fees 2027
The North Carolina Sandhills fit five very different rounds inside a half-hour drive, and the first question is which of them needs a room. Pinehurst No. 2, host of four U.S. Opens, is reserved for resort guests and members, so it decides where you sleep and what the trip costs. Three Donald Ross courses owned by the families behind Mid Pines and Pine Needles take public bookings 30 days ahead and print their prices, starting at US$115 this winter at Southern Pines Golf Club. Tobacco Road, Mike Strantz’s 1998 quarry course outside Sanford, is fully public but only shows a fee once you pick a time. Mid Pines and Pine Needles face each other on Midland Road, with Pinehurst village about ten minutes west. This page sets out the booking rules, costs and drive times for all five.
- Courses compared5
- Published rates fromUS$115
- Fly intoRaleigh-Durham (RDU)
- Peak monthsMar–May, Sep–Nov
- Furthest apartAbout 30 min
Compare Pinehurst & the Sandhills courses
Tap a pin for photos, prices and a booking link.
| Course | Green fee from | What’s included | Getting there | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1Pinehurst ResortMulti-course resort | Rates on request · how to book | BookRead the guide | ||
 2Tobacco Road Golf ClubDaily-fee course & short course | Rates on request · how to book | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide | ||
 3Mid Pines Inn & Golf ClubHistoric inn & public course | US$125Checked November 2026 · details | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide | ||
 4Pine Needles Lodge & Golf ClubGolf lodge & championship course | US$145Checked November 2026 · details | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide | ||
 5Southern Pines Golf ClubPublic course | US$115Checked November 2026 · details | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide |
Prices are the lowest published or listed visitor rates we found, with their source and date on each guide. Partner links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. How we work
Which Pinehurst & the Sandhills course should you book?
Pinehurst Resort
Pinehurst No. 2, where Payne Stewart won the 1999 U.S. Open and the men’s and women’s Opens ran in consecutive weeks in 2014. The domed greens are the real examination, and a resort booking is the only way on.
Green fees & bookingTobacco Road Golf Club
Tobacco Road, a former sand quarry that Strantz turned into blind shots and orange sand faces. Every bunker plays as a waste area, nothing is out of bounds, and the 12-hole Matchbox short course is walking only.
Green fees & bookingSouthern Pines Golf Club
Southern Pines Golf Club, the cheapest of the three Ross sisters at US$115 early in the week this winter. Play the rebuilt 1911 “lost hole” after the 4th, then putt Overhills at no extra cost.
Green fees & bookingAll Pinehurst & Sandhills golf packages on Golfbreaks
What a round really costs.
- Green fee+
- Cart+
- Caddie+
- Your bed
Three of the five courses print a rate card, and they share one calendar. From 19 November 2026 to 17 February 2027 an early-week round costs US$115 at Southern Pines Golf Club, US$125 at Mid Pines and US$145 at Pine Needles, with US$10 more on each from Thursday to Sunday. Autumn 2026 ran to US$225–245 at Southern Pines and US$295–315 at Pine Needles, so winter roughly halves the bill. Tobacco Road prices each slot on its booking page, with a shared cart built in. Pinehurst quotes No. 2 only inside a package; add US$85 a bag for a caddie and a tip of at least US$65.
Getting around.
Raleigh-Durham (RDU) is the usual gateway, about 70 miles north of Pinehurst and roughly 75 minutes by car. Fayetteville (FAY) is closer, around 50 miles from Southern Pines, but has only a few flights. Charlotte (CLT), about two hours away, can be cheaper for international arrivals. Southern Pines also has an Amtrak station in the middle of town. Once here, hire a car. Mid Pines and Pine Needles sit across Midland Road from each other, Southern Pines Golf Club is a few minutes into town, Pinehurst village is about ten minutes west, and Tobacco Road is roughly 30 minutes north-east near Sanford.
When to play.
Spring, from late March to mid-June, and autumn, from mid-September to mid-November, bring the best weather and the top fees. Summer is hot and humid, and the Ross trio cut their rates: Mid Pines charged US$185–205 from 15 June to 9 September 2026. Winter is cheapest, and the sandy soil drains quickly after rain. Late June is maintenance time, so check dates: Pine Needles aerates on 22–25 June, Mid Pines on 23–27 June, Southern Pines from 29 June to 3 July, and Tobacco Road closes from 28 June to 7 July 2027. Non-guests can walk on at Pinehurst Nos. 1, 3 and 5 only from April to October.
Questions golfers ask.
Can I play Pinehurst No. 2 without staying at the resort?
No. No. 2 is for members and overnight guests at the resort’s own hotels, such as The Carolina or the Holly Inn; a room in Southern Pines does not count. Non-guests can phone from one day ahead for Nos. 1, 3 and 5 between April and October, or The Cradle all year, and those times cannot be cancelled.
Which Sandhills courses can the public book online?
Mid Pines, Pine Needles and Southern Pines Golf Club all use Chronogolf, with a 30-day window for golfers not staying with the resort, and Noteefy alerts flag times released on sold-out days. Tobacco Road books online or on 877.284.3762, pairs groups of fewer than four and takes cards only.
Are there caddies at the courses around Pinehurst?
Only at Pinehurst Resort, where a forecaddie costs US$45 a player and a single-bag caddie US$100, and No. 10 is walking only. Mid Pines and Pine Needles say caddie services are not currently offered, Southern Pines lists none, and Tobacco Road relies on player assistants and GPS carts.
Can I play 36 holes in a day in the Sandhills?
Yes, most easily at Mid Pines and Pine Needles, which sit across the road from each other. Stay-and-play packages at Pine Needles Lodge include a daily round on Pine Needles, Mid Pines or Southern Pines Golf Club, with a two-night minimum stay.
Which Sandhills course has hosted the U.S. Women’s Open?
Pine Needles, the first course in the country to stage it four times: 1996, 2001, 2007 and 2022, when Minjee Lee won. Its lodge also runs the Golfari teaching weeks Peggy Kirk Bell began in 1959. The men’s U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst No. 2 in 2029.