Stephen Denton
Courtesy of Pinehurst Resort
Pinehurst Resort
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Pinehurst #4
Pinehurst, NC•Public
Awards
Panelists Score
Pinehurst #4
80 Carolina Vista Dr
Pinehurst, NC 28374
United States
Telephone
Overview
Like a football team searching for the right coach, the resort could never settle on the right identity for the #4 course despite a series of major alterations by different architects. It was first laid out by Pinehurst doyen Richard Tufts in 1952, then remodeled by Tufts and son Peter a decade later. Rees Jones reinvented it in the '80s, and Tom Fazio took it apart and put it back together as a stylized botanical garden in the late '90s. It finally found its match when it hired Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner to carry out a full-scale blow-up and rebuild in 2018 that infused it with the sweeping sand-and-pine character we identify with Pinehurst, while initiating a style of shaping in the greens and bunkers that’s confident and distinctly its own.
About
Golf Digest 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
“The par 3s don't provide enough options to be engaging. The greens and green surrounds are good for shot options - the greens have enough character to be creative and allow you to use a number of clubs depending on the situation and circumstance. There is enough short grass that putter, wedges, irons and hybrids are all in play when chipping from around the green. Tee shots on 1, 3, 5, 8, 16, 17, & 18 provide good risk and reward to get yourself shorter approaches or catch speed slots. There are good approach shots on holes 2, 5, 8, 9, 13, 15, 17, and 18. The par 5s are really good for shot options and risk/reward and they're staggered nicely throughout the round. There are good options on some of the par 4s as well (1, 5, 8, 10, 15, 16 18). Pinehurst No. 4 is an easy walk with large corridors and you won't lost a ball expect on a couple of holes with water (13 & 14). This isn't a course that is going to beat you up too much, but its certainly not easy to score. Probably a lot of "easy bogey, tough par" holes. Not a lot of shots that stand out as "man, I can't wait to hit that again" except for maybe the approach on 13. There are just a lot of handsome, proper holes that are nice to play, but won't be high on your list of best holes at the resort. Visually challenging course to get start lines correct. The green surrounds aren't difficult but aren't easy and allow you to hit a variety of shots which can be more difficult for the better player - if there is a single type of shot the better player can just lock in and execute. Bunkers, sand, blowout areas all over (if you're off the fairway just keep adding 0.25 to 0.5 stroke penalty each time). There are some long par 4s that play over par. Par 5s are gettable, most other holes aren't. There is a challenging set of par 3s even though they aren't long. Good elevation changes throughout property - not extreme but enough to make you think. The small clusters of bunkers can play more difficult than a single larger bunker because of uneven lies, difficult stances, and the shear number of bunkers. There is a good bit of land for golf: long undulations with plateaus, low lying ground and nice green sites. It doesn't feel manufactured, but mostly found. There is great variety through holes 1- and 13-18. Holes 10 to 12 aren't memorable, overly strategic, or filled with originality or variety compared to the rest of the course. Good variety in par 4s and par 5s. The direction, length, uphill/downhill, how the holes play and the strategy of the holes stands out as good variety. The blow out sand and pine needle lined fairways are unmistakably Pinehurst - its what you expect to see when you come to Pinehurst. The water around 13 and 14 is additive to the course because it isn't in play on every hole and it’s a nice change of pace. The white dogwoods were in bloom when we were there and make for great aiming targets at different points of the round. The undulations of the land bring out cool views and reveals as you crest the hills. There is two types of bunkers that are used on the course - large blowout bunkers and these clusters of small bunkers. They both look cool and play way different. Fairways bounce and roll great - you can get some long drives down wind as the ball bounds. Greens are soft of ideal, especially with wedges and short irons. The chipping areas run well which enhances the shot options. The greens roll okay for trueness, but not great because most greens are soft of ideal and there are a lot of pitch marks. Some of the holes which are typically approached with short irons are particularly bumpy. Some soft spots in the low lying areas around the course. Firmness of some greens is okay while others aren't - poor consistency of firmness of putting services. The redesign by Gil Hanse has opened the landscape and exposed the sand that makes the sandhills area famous. Closely resembles some of the work done by Coore & Crenshaw on #2 but with wider corridors, less wire grass and more subtle greens and green surrounds."
Read More2026
Review
“Pinehurst #4 is a great addition to the Pinehurst complex, but a bit behind # 2 and # 10, in my opinion. Pinehurst is and would be a fantastic golf course if one didn't have to compare it to # 2 the day before and # 10 the following day, but I'll block those courses out of my mind and focus on #4. It is a very classic Gil Hanse design in so many ways, and it is clear that Hanse likes the ability to use the natural surrounding of the NC SandHills. A couple of holes had dramatic ravines and waste areas cutting across the fairways, ala Pine Valley. Hanse effectively uses the waste areas to shape the holes. A few of the green complexes were fun and fantastic. The conditioning, as is true for all of the Pinehurst complex golf courses, was excellent."
Read More2026
Review
“Pinehurst #4 is a great addition to the Pinehurst complex, but a bit behind # 2 and # 10, in my opinion. Pinehurst is and would be a fantastic golf course if one didn't have to compare it to # 2 the day before and # 10 the following day, but I'll block those courses out of my mind and focus on #4. It is a very classic Gil Hanse design in so many ways, and it is clear that Hanse likes the ability to use the natural surrounding of the NC SandHills. A couple of holes had dramatic ravines and waste areas cutting across the fairways, ala Pine Valley. Hanse effectively uses the waste areas to shape the holes. A few of the green complexes were fun and fantastic. The conditioning, as is true for all of the Pinehurst complex golf courses, was excellent."
Read More2026
Review
“Really good golf course - very consistent set of golf holes, with all holes being good and no weak holes. Definitely worth playing, More fun than #2"
Read More2026
Review
“Built next to the more famous Pinehurst #2, #4 has land which is way more interesting. More elevation change on this side of the property leads to arguably a more interesting routing. The false front on hole 5 was a bit unnecessary as coming into that uphill green with a 3 wood has no chance to trundle on, even with a perfect strike. the false front on 16, on the other hand, seemed way more appropriate as you'd better have good distance control coming into that green with a short iron or wedge. Tough finish with the long par 5 17th with OB left and the long par 4 18th."
Read More2025
Review
“Pinehurst No 4, despite it's neighboring No 2, shouldn't be discounted in any way. Gil Hanse did a masterful job of fitting the Pinehurst theme with his own unique style. The course plays similar to other Pinehurst courses, but features unique greens and elevation changes - making it stand out to other courses the resort offers. The Par 5 second has such a fun, undulating putting surface, encouraging any type of approach or short game shot. This is a theme throughout the course, with most approach play enabling creativity. A great course that fits the area well."
Read More2025
Review
“Played it the week after it opened following a 5 month renovation on the greens and bunkers. It was in amazing condition and a great layout! A mnust play while at Pinehurst Resort"
Read More2025
Review
“Pinehurst #4 recently completed a renovation of their greens, which are excellent - firm but willing to accept a well-played shot at fast for only being open a month, running in the 10's. The design has 15 very solid golf holes and three that are average at best. Enjoyable to play, #4 provides the option to play the ball through the air or along the ground for the less skilled player or when playing from the natural areas. A must play when visiting Pinehurst."
Read More2025
Review
“Pinehurst #4 just completed a renovation of their greens, which are excellent - firm but willing to accept a well-played shot at fast for only being open a month, running in the 10's. The design has 15 very solid golf holes and three that are average at best. Enjoyable to play, #4 provides the option to play the ball through the air or along the ground for the less skilled player or when playing from the natural areas."
Read More2025
Review
“Fabulous layout marred by greens that were spray painted green covering a coat of mud. Here's to hoping the renovation brings them back to health (and they have)!"
Read More2025
