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4.4
17 Reviews (17)
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.1
Value
2.7
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
3.2
Pace
2.8
Amenities
4.0
56.1%
Recommend this course
14 out of 17 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
5.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
1.0
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 1 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
2 Reviews (2)
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
2.5
Layout
4.0
Pace
2.5
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
3.0
50.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 2 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 7099 yards
Slope 137
Rating 74.1

Course Details

Year Built 1996
Fairways Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass
Greens Champion Ultradwarf Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Tom Fazio (1996)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Appropriate golf attire. Denim is not acceptable attire on the golf course.

Food & Beverage

Snacks, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Spa

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Friendliest Courses in the U.S. (2017 #17)
  • Golf Advisor: Ginella's Top 50 U.S. Courses You Can Play (2016 #20) (2015 #19)

Reviews

4.4
17 Reviews (17)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 6
Undulating Greens 6

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 83
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 500 Contributor
New Jersey Advisor
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

Would Play Pinehurst #8 Again if I went Back to the Resort

We played Pinehurst #2, #4 and #8. It is without saying that #2 is everyone's bucket list but from a playable (distances from tee to green) perspective #8 is the best of these three (playing the forward tees). It is 5,064 yards and the yards on the individual holes are fair so you do have a chance at pars and birdies (compared to the length of the holes on #2 and #4 where getting on in regulation is a challenge because of the yardages).
It is also a beautiful course! It is more interesting visually than #4 and has more traditional fairway bunkers and green side bunkers. On #4 and #2 there are waste areas on every single hole. On #8 only six holes (4,9,12,13,15, and 17) has waste areas; you are more likely to be in the pine trees if you miss left/right of fairways.
I wish we could do 1/2 stars because I would give it 4 1/5 right now - for two reasons (1) the greens are still exceedingly firm from the new turf (well, redo 18 months ago) and it makes it very hard to read the greens and they were way faster than #2 from a putting speed perspective; which was really surprising. (2) No GPS in carts. It's NOT a course you need a caddy but make sure to have a distance measuring device.
Bottom line, I want to play this course again when the greens have "matured" because it's should be a great scoring track.
Note: ignore the price I listed, we had a package so I don't know the individual price for each course but Golf Pass requires you put a price in the review.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Previously Played

Course was just ok-Starter was annoying with his description of tee yardages

Boggles the mind that you would have starter exaggerate the yardages for the blue tees.-We had 4 low single digit handicaps and all starter would tell us is how the blue tees were the back tees--(I called him on it as I know the gold is the back and they are not out) and how the blue tees are at 6800yds-actually yards was lees the 6500 and played shorter due to firm fairways. They need to end the the play forward play quicker dialogue-If you stink you will stink from all tees and if you are a quick player you will play quick from any tees--We waited on group in front of us all day. Overall course was disappointing. My 6th time playing it-First since the redo.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

$100 course for $240

This is a nicely designed course with plenty of interesting holes. But the only thing that makes it a $240 course is the Pinehurst name. And they know that is what you are paying for. This is why when the course isn’t in good shape, like it was today, they don’t change the rates or even let you know when you check in to expect some problems. Why should they? This is Pinehurst and you should just be happy to play here. Greens had been sanded 2 days ago and were really inconsistent and many putts left a rooster tail of sand. Bunkers were rock hard with about ¼ inch of loose sand on top of hard pan. Fairways had big brown patches on every hole. Just not in good shape. And certainly not worth big $ except to say you played it. The emperor has no clothes.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 128
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 100 Contributor
First Time Playing

NC Trip 6 - Pinehurst 8

The last stop on our North Carolina trip was at Pinehurst No 8, another course located off the main campus. Again, a slightly different style to the famous Pinehurst look. In this case, a little more traditional parkland course, but with some elements of the more sandy style. Certainly one thing that stands out about this course is how lush it is. Really a premium course in terms of conditioning.

The layout is also a fun challenge. There are well placed bunkers to keep you honest, and a nice variety of looks. I particularly enjoyed the par 5s on this course. The par 3s were a bit same-y and shorter, but was nice they weren't all 200+ yds either.

I would put this course just a notch below No 2 and No 4, but several people in our group had this as their favorite of the Pinehurst courses we played. We all agree it's a must for your Pinehurst trip.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Challenging Golf Course

The golf course is well conditioned and has a good variety of design throughout. I cannot fault this golf course as a true test of a great player but in comparison to some other Pinehurst courses (No. 4, No. 9) it isn't as fun. The greens, while not wild or terribly undulating, are hard to read and subtly fall off and repel shots constantly. As a mid single digit handicap I found this to be much tougher to score on than No. 4, No. 5, and No. 9. The stretch of holes on the back from No. 14 - No. 18 is particularly brutal. Again, I think this course is just designed for very good players and as someone who is not there yet, it wasn't much fun. The staff were very nice and, again, it is a well run golf course but is much harder than I gave it credit for.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 95
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Tough course for average player

The course was in excellent condition. #8 is "off property" and is hillier than the courses over at the main resort.
While many of the Pinehurst members I talked to listed this as one of the favorite courses (often ahead of #2 and #4), this is a course built for the better (single digit) player. While the fairways are not unreasonable, where the course gets you is the approach shot and the greens and surrounds. The greens are quite firm and undulating and the surrounds generally repel shots. Add in some tough greenside bunkering and it makes for a tough examination. Unless you hit the ball quite long off the tee or hit your irons high and straight, moving up a set of tees or two is highly recommended - believe me, it will still be a challenge.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Used cart

Solid and traditional course

If you are looking for an easier alternative that is still on Pinehurst property, check out #8. It is slightly off property, but can be worth the time.

The layout is a Tom Fazio built in the 90's, so it has a lot of the scale Fazio was known for then. Some big bunkers and water features. However, you get some great views of nature. It is a great contrast course to #2.

The staff and amenities were good enough. The restaurant served pretty good food, and the locker room was pretty nice.

The course conditions were enjoyable. The fairways and the greens were the stars, but the bunkers also were well done.

Overall, you will likely enjoy playing #8 and keep you coming back to the Pinehurst resort.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 378
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Certainly worthy of the Pinehurst name

This is another golf course that I'd like to give 4 1/2 stars if that option were available, because Tom Fazio's No. 8 design is certainly that good. It's a modern golf course, no doubt, but it fits the sand hills terrain perfectly, albeit with a few more water hazards than 1-5 at Pinehurst. There's nothing boring about No. 8 and it'll challenge the best players from the rearward tees. Like all the courses here, you can almost always expect great conditioning, including the greens surfaces.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

#8 - Best in the Area

Got the chance to play #8 for the first time in about 10 years. Tee boxes, fairways, greens, bunkers, all in perfect condition. Greens were firm and fast, but most importantly they were fair. I would put this course up against the many that I have played in North Carolina. If making the bucket list trip to play the deuce, make sure #8 is your close second.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 171
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 50 Contributor
First Time Playing

Truly spectacular, Fazio at his best

No surprise here, when you think of the top courses under the Pinehurst umbrella #8 belongs there. The layout by Fazio is truly phenomenal. From waste areas to false fronts and drop off areas on every green, Fazio makes you work for a decent score. We played it the day after the USGA four ball was there and the greens were running about 12's which made for a tough scoring day but it didn't take away from the great experience at all. This course does battle with #7 as the second best course in the Pinehurst resort family. Put this one on your list of must plays when your venture to the Sandhills.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Amazing course, superb greens

Played there for the first time 3 years ago, and the course was totally true to my memory. This is one of the best inland course that I've played in North America. Challenging design, lightning fast greens but still fair. Just don't go there thinking that you will play your handicap. You will need a sharp short game because every green missed can turned into a big number. Played there with a strong wind and the approach the ninth green was brutal. Still, it's a great challenge and the welcome and the service are one the best that you can have. So many great holes, but my favorites are the par four 4th, 12th and 14th, the par five 6th and the par three 8th.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 311
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Birmingham Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Lovely course, but a bit overrated

My review isn't a negative one. It's just that No. 8 was my last round of the Pinehurst weekend, and followed rounds at No. 4 and No. 2. Just my opinion, but one thing that hurts No. 8 is that it is not on the main property. Because of that, it just didn't feel like Pinehurst to me. As for the course, it was very pleasant. We started on the back, and Nos. 10-12 were excellent holes. No. 14 offers a really cool risk/reward play off the tee, as does the par-5 17th on the second shot. The front nine is highlighted by its' short par 4s. Many locals I spoke with while staying in Pinehurst said No. 8 was their favorite of the resort's courses. If I'm being honest, despite being a solid track, this course's reputation benefits from being under the Pinehurst banner. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in my home state of Alabama offers courses that are at worst the equal of 8, and in my opinion better than 8. Seeing as how it fell out of the Top 100 American Course rankings, perhaps more players share this sentiment. Still, if staying at the resort, you must play No. 8, simply for the contrast it provides to the on-site courses.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
e0acaad0-ec1b-5e2d-bba4-cc80729af06c
Commented on 07/07/2017

Hi Randall,
Since I don't know how many days you are anticipating playing I am just going to list the courses in order of my preference. You can find multiple reviews of all these by me on GA if you want more info. Let me know if I can be of any further help.
Thanks, Brandon

1. Ross Bridge
2. Shoals, Schoolmaster
3. Grand National, Lake
4. Cambrian Ridge (Shurling/Canyon)
5. Capitol Hill, Judge
6. Oxmoor Valley, both Ridge and Valley
7. Hampton Cove, Highlands
8. Silver Lakes

Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/05/2017

Hey Brandon

Seeing your review of 8, as someone looking to hit the RTJ trail, can you provide me a list of the quality courses I should look at playing. Thanks for the help
Randall

Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Greens like nowhere else - good and bad

Warm welcome, great folks in the clubhouse, tremendous facility and a great range. Pace of play is ideal but this a more than a hard test of golf. The layout is superb and the fairways are like carpet. The greens roll true but they are an unfair test for anyone not playing the PGA Tour. They are very, very firm and depending on where they put the pin, impossible to get it close. There was a 12 handicap in my group who took an 8 on a green he hit in 2 on a par 4 because of the severity of the green/pin location. You can't even get a divot tool in the green deeper than 1/4 inch. If you play here, expect many approach shots to roll off the green. Chipping takes a pro touch to get it close to the flag and if you can shoot your handicap, be sure to thank the golf God's. Worth a shot to play though, just be prepared for some true frustration on/around the greens.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

#8 is similar to #6

This was the first round of golf on our Father's day trip. The greens next to #2 were the best of the trip. #8 has no hoses around it which makes its nice and isolated.

We had a forecaddie for this round, who set the bar fairly low for expectations of the caddies at Pinehurst, luckily our caddie on #2 revived that.

This course is fairly similar to #6 from a design perspective, minus the pot bunkers, rather large fairway bunkers exist. No holes really stand out in my head. and this would rank 3rd on the trip.,

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

A Mild No. 2

No. 8 is just an excellent golf experience. The trek is much more of a parkland layout than no. 2, but still has severe roll offs, penalizing bunkers, and quick greens. This is just another excellent course at an excellent destination.

No. 8 is a good course to play before No. 2.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Hey, it's Pinehurst

Everything about Pinehurst number 8 is what you'd expect at this course. We arrived, had a delicious lunch in the restaurant and hit the practice facilities. The fairways are so nice, you'd almost feel guilty to take a divot. The greens roll just like you see on tv each Sunday. The driving range provides free balls (and nice ones at that) and the range is nicely kept as well. The starters are friendly but don't overload you with too much info. The course was in impeccable shape, and bunkers were just like what tour pros play out of. A few holes with blind tee shots provided these cool boxes near the the tee to look into. Inside the box was a monitor that shows where the group in front of of you is at. Avoiding killing someone is always a plus...though I've been on courses where I'd liked to have! Our round was as enjoyable as one can imagine, and the course and staff did not disappoint. Will definitely play again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 638
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Golf Advisor
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

Tom Fazio tips his cap to Donald Ross at Pinehurst No. 8

Pinehurst No. 8 opened in 1996 to mark 100 years of golf at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. Tom Fazio paid tribute to Donald Ross by giving the 7,092-yard course a dose of Ross's false fronts and collection areas.
Cut from 420 acres of forest away from the main clubhouse, Pinehurst No. 8 remains the most scenic of the resort's eight courses. There are two loops around water hazards that are particularly beautiful and challenging, holes 5-8 and holes 14-16. All three par-3s in these locales are memorable, especially the demanding eighth hole.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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Golf Packages

Talamore Golf Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $137 (USD)
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Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club Stay & Play Package

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