ARCHITECTS
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Course Report
Southern Pines is one of the only daily-fee Donald Ross originals left in the Pinehurst area and features its original routing with minimal alteration, making it a living example of early 1900s golf architecture.
About
Southern Pines Golf Club is a revered Donald Ross-designed course, established in 1906 and restored by Kyle Franz in 2021. Offering classic parkland-style golf, the course features rolling, sandy terrain, open approaches, and walkability, challenging players with strategic green complexes and creative shot opportunities throughout the Sandhills region.
Caddie Tip
Pay close attention to approach angles into the greens—many are open-fronted, allowing a bump-and-run option, but miss left or right and you'll face difficult recovery shots from tightly mown areas and deep bunkers. Manage your club selection carefully as multiple greens are perched and run off sharply on the sides.
The Main Challenge
The challenge at Southern Pines is dictated by its demanding greens, deep Ross bunkering, and sandy runoff areas that require precision and a creative short game. The course rewards thoughtful positioning off the tee and penalizes careless approaches with tricky uphill or downhill chips from tight lies.
The Good
Golfers rave about the restoration work, which returned classic Ross contours and fun around the greens. The course’s shotmaking variety, creative options, and lively Sandhills terrain make it a memorable experience and a must-play for fans of historic, strategic golf—a perfect combination of beauty and challenge.
The Not So Good
Some complaints focus on inconsistent fairway conditioning, especially during periods of lower maintenance, and older clubhouse facilities needing modernization. Ensuring consistently manicured fairways, improved cart paths, and further clubhouse upgrades would bring the overall experience in line with elite neighboring courses.
Signature Hole:
#
18
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Clubhouse
The clubhouse is functional, offering a small golf shop, food and beverage service, and basic locker rooms. While not luxurious, it caters well to most needs of public golfers. The Cottages at Southern Pines provide additional on-site housing options for groups.
Practice Facilities
Southern Pines offers a driving range and practice putting green. While practice amenities are approachable, they are modest compared to neighboring resort courses, fitting for a classic daily-fee facility rather than a full-scale resort complex.
Dress Code:
Standard
No dress code enforced. All attire is permitted.
Collared shirts not required. Clean, athletic or golf-appropriate casual wear is acceptable.
Collared shirts required. No denim, gym wear, or overly casual clothing.
Collared shirts must be tucked in; no cargo or athletic shorts. No hats indoors.
Elite club standards; jackets required indoors, no changing shoes in the parking lot, and specific attire rules based on the area of the facility.
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