Dom Furore
Chris Keane
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club
Southern Pines, NC • Public
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club
1005 Midland Rd
Southern Pines, NC 28387-3121
United States
Telephone
Overview
Pine Needles used to lurk quietly in the Pinehurst background before the USGA chose to put it in their regular women’s championship rotation. It got another big boost in 2017 after Kyle Franz reworked portions of the course, putting the Pinehurst touch on the borders, cross hazards and bunkers. Though it lacks the intimacy and connectivity of its sister course, Mid Pines, with the holes wandering far afield due to a being part of a 1920s residential development, it’s grown into a big, championship worthy course (most recently hosting the 2019 Senior Women’s Open and 2022 U.S. Women’s Open) with arguably the best set of greens after No. 2.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: The course was part of our original 200 Toughest Courses list in 1966.
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked from 2013-'14.
Highest ranking: 173rd, 2013-'14.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked from 2003-'04 & since 2007.
Highest ranking: 43rd, 2007-'08.
2023-'24 ranking: 63rd.
Best in State: Ranked Top 20 in North Carolina from 2011-'16 & since 2021; Top 25 from 2017-'20.
Current ranking: 20th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Pine needles will test you working the ball both ways off the tee, while equally challenging your accuracy into the green. Many holes are forgiving but have areas that you can make a big number in a hurry if missed in the wrong spot. While some Donald Ross designs have all the difficulty around the green, this course challenges you from tee to green. The tee shots allow you to hit anything from an iron to driver depending on how much of the doglegs you want to take on. The greens are well protected by slopes and bunkers but are forgiving if the approach shot is executed well. The variety of this course is top notch and is fun for all handicap levels."
Read More2026
Review
“I've played Pine Needles a number of times over the past 30 years, and on this occasion it feels like it has gone downhill from the days of Peggy Kirk Bell. It seems like Pine Needles and Mid Pines have become a bit neglected. Pine Needles is clearly superior over Mid Pines in every way, and is still worth playing with some wonderful holes, and it has hosted several memorable US Women's Opens. It is a very good Donald Ross design. Hole # 1 is a great opening hole, and hole 18 is a great finishing hole, and there are a number of well designed holes throughout the course. But, it seems to me that the Pinehurst complex (#2, #10, #4, etc) is sucking players, and therefore resources from the other public courses in the area as it continues to expand the number and quality of courses that it offers. It certainly shows in conditioning and aesthetics. It is probably made worse by the Pinehurst complex offering Stay and Play packages that includes hotel, food, and golf. I don't know how other stay and play golf complexes, like Pine Needles and Mid Pines, can compete with the Pinehurst complex packages."
Read More2026
Review
“I've played Pine Needles a number of times over the past 30 years, and on this occasion it feels like it has gone downhill from the days of Peggy Kirk Bell. It seems like Pine Needles and Mid Pines have become a bit neglected. Pine Needles is clearly superior over Mid Pines in every way, and is still worth playing with some wonderful holes, and it has hosted several memorable US Women's Opens. It is a very good Donald Ross design. Hole # 1 is a great opening hole, and hole 18 is a great finishing hole, and there are a number of well designed holes throughout the course. But, it seems to me that the Pinehurst complex (#2, #10, #4, etc) is sucking players, and therefore resources from the other public courses in the area as it continues to expand the number and quality of courses that it offers. It certainly shows in conditioning and aesthetics. It is probably made worse by the Pinehurst complex offering Stay and Play packages that includes hotel, food, and golf. I don't know how other stay and play golf complexes, like Pine Needles and Mid Pines, can compete with the Pinehurst complex packages."
Read More2026
Review
“Not many golf courses the first in the nation to be awarded four U.S. Women’s Open Championships. Very challenging course. Another Donald Ross classic."
Read More2025
Review
“Pine Needles possesses a very challenging course, primarily due to its extremely difficult green complexes and surrounds. However, there are various ways in which to navigate any particular hole as the player does have multiple options from the tee box and thru the green. Precision is a key factor in approaches as the fickle greens can shun a slightly less than perfect shot that will require a delicate chip back to the hole. Players of all caliber will enjoy this course as it is relatively generous fairways which helps with the Fun score rating. A beautiful track in the Pinehurst area."
Read More2025
Review
“Pine Needles is a great resort, member and championship golf course. There is ample room off the tee to drive the ball. The approach to and play from around the Donald Ross greens is where a player's shot options and challenge present themselves. The greens are receptive yet take one bounce and trickle out requiring a shot 3-5 yards less than the carry distance. Playing to the wrong part or side of a green leaves a difficult up and in or two put, where having the ability to place the ball in certain spots can lead to a bridie or easy par. Around the greens, the player has the options of a putter, wedge, hybrid or flat faced club based on the lie, carry and undulation. Once on the putting surface, many of the greens offer a combination of subtle and extreme movement based on one's location to the hole. Being out of position can be penal. A must play when in the Pinehurst area."
Read More2025
Review
“The course is right in front of you and plays firm and fast. There is ample room off the tee with limited options or challenge. The approach to and play from around the Donald Ross greens is where the options and challenge start to present themselves. The greens are receptive yet take one bounce and trickle out requiring a shot 3-5 yards less than the carry distance. Playing to the wrong part or side of a green leaves a difficult up and in or two put, where having the ability to place the ball in certain spots can lead to a bridie or easy par. Around the greens, the player has the options of a putter, wedge, hybrid or flat faced club based on the lie, carry and undulation. Once on the greens, there is a combination of subtle and extreme movement based on one's location to the hole. Being out of position can be penal."
Read More2025
Review
“It's hard not to recognize the history of Pine Needles while enjoying the classic style of this course. The traditional look and feel of the layout adds to the pleasure of the round, and the routing requires a variety of shots to produce successful results. Strategic bunker and hazard placement produces a number of risk/reward opportunities. Greens are not severe but the subtle roll and excellent conditioning puts precise putting at a premium. The neighboring Pinehurst Resort gets most of the accolades but Pine Needles more than stands on it own as one of the best tracks in golf rich North Carolina."
Read More2025
Review
“It's hard not to recognize the history of Pine Needles while enjoying the classic style of this course. The traditional look and feel of the layout adds to the pleasure of the round, and the routing requires a variety of shots to produce successful results. Strategic bunker and hazard placement produces a number of risk/reward opportunities. Greens are not severe but the subtle roll and excellent conditioning puts precise putting at a premium. The neighboring Pinehurst Resort gets most of the accolades but Pine Needles more than stands on it own as one of the best tracks in golf rich North Carolina."
Read More2025
Review
“Pine Needles Golf Club is a rapturous escape---an organic layout that takes us back in time. I like this Donald Ross masterpiece as much as Pinehurst No. 2, and not because Pine Needles has hosted four US Women's Open Championships since 1996. Those notches in its belt are merely byproducts. You will find the challenges, here, to be both physical and intellectual. Every hole at Pine Needles is visually stimulating. All present straight-forward varieties of routings, risks and rewards based on signature Donald Ross design elements. Rugged bunkers tease, taunt, tempt, or trick the eyes. Undulating green complexes lead to dyslexic reads and surprising rolls. I also appreciate the old-school aesthetic of this entire complex. It is not pretentious. Legendary owner, Peggy Kirk Bell died in 2021, but she remains a beloved presence."
Read More2025
