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Springtime In Pinehurst, N.C.

Great golf blooms in the Pinehurst area

This Article Features Photo Zoom

The 18th at Legacy Golf Links challenges golfers with a tough shot over water.

Ever wondered how Pinewild Country Club got its name? Not anymore.

Few golf destinations can claim to have a profusion of quality courses, but the Pinehurst area is one of them. Located in the central North Carolina sandhills, the region boasts 43 top-notch courses in a 15-mile radius, including Pine Needles, the Donald Ross gem, which has played host to three U.S. Women's Open championships, and Legacy Golf Links, host of the 2000 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.

Spring is the best time to visit the Pinehurst area, when the temperatures are perfect, the azaleas are in bloom and the sun shines longer and brighter. It goes without saying that this spring, you should consider making Pinehurst your first choice for great golf.

PLAY

1. Beacon Ridge Golf & Country Club, West End, N.C.
This classic, par-72 layout measures a manageable 6,414 yards from the tips and was designed by Gene Hamm in 1988. Although short by today's standards, this classically designed track demands the full use of a variety of clubs. Even better, Beacon Ridge is a great place to introduce kids to the game. They play for free.

The Numbers: Par 72, 6,414 yards, 70.7/125
Architect: Gene Hamm
Green Fees: $75-$85
More Info: beaconridgegolfcc.com, (910) 673-2950

Mid Pines and its sister course, Pine Needles, are two Donald Ross gems.

2. Legacy Golf Links, Aberdeen, N.C.
Legacy Golf Links is consistently ranked as one of the region's best public golf courses, and with last year's addition of new greens, it's sure to be even better. A former host of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, Legacy is one of only three courses in the Pinehurst area to host a USGA National Championship. This Jack Nicklaus, Jr. design is a "must play" when visiting the Sandhills.

The Numbers: Par 72, 7,004 yards, 73.2/132
Architect: Jack Nicklaus, Jr.
Green Fees: $49-$99
More Info: legacygolfnc.com, (800) 344-8825

3. Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines, N.C.
Built during the 1920s' golf boom, Pine Needles and Mid Pines continue to challenge and delight the game's best golfers. At Pine Needles, the classic Donald Ross course has hosted an impressive three U.S. Women's Opens in the last 16 years. Look for challenging greens to test your short game. Opened in 1921, Mid Pines—another Ross design—is hillier and shorter than Pine Needles and is more accommodating to the recreational player. Want to brush up on your game while you're in town? Consider enrolling in one of Peggy Kirk Bell's "Golfaris" a "safari of golf" at Pine Needles.

The Numbers: Par 71, 7,015 yards, 73.5/135 (Pine Needles); Par 72, 6,528 yards, 71/126 (Mid Pines)
Architect: Donald Ross
Green Fees: $205-$235 (Pine Needles); $150-$180 (Mid Pines)
More Info: pineneedles-midpines.com, (800) 747-7272

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