Pinehurst No. 10
Pinehurst, NC, United States • Public
Overview
Sand is the defining character of Pinehurst, and Pinehurst No. 10 goes right to the source: a former sand mining site south of the resort, portions of which used to be a golf course called The Pit that closed in 2010. Several holes of this Tom Doak design, opened in April, 2024, plunge through the old quarries, including the turbulent eighth where players will want to pop Dramamine before tackling fairway swells you could surf across. Pinehurst is also characterized by the tight cluster of its primary courses and synchronous relationship with the surrounding village, but No. 10 is a world apart. The grandeur of the isolated holes roller coasting through the quiet sand barrens creates tension between the sublimity of the environment and the heroism of the architecture, demonstrated most intensely in the uninhibited green shapes, many of which are bowl-shaped and heavily segmented.
About
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
Reviews
Review
“A good addition to the Pinehurst group of courses. It is not as fun to play as many neighboring courses due to the sevrity of greens and firm landing areas that often run away from players."
Read More2024
Review
“Wonderful addition to the Pinehurst portfolio -- might be the most fun of all of them!"
Read More2024
Review
“Pinehurst #10 is engaging, with big views and manageable stress for decent golfers who appreciate a good walk. It has something for everyone as long as they are not beginners. The par-3’s are exceptional and the blind holes? Daunting. Thr course will improve with time and, for repeat players, will become more intellectually challenging with every round. Bring your ground game. Now...is it a resort course? Yes and no, but mostly yes. The Pinehurst Resort owns it and requires a stay to play. The course offers seven sets of tees ranging from 4385 to 7020 yards. And like many resort courses, it looks more threatening than the reality. Broad fairways keep people in play and moving. The 336-447 yard, par-4, 1st is like a prelude. It presents golfers with the first of many blind shots into rolling fairways. The 100-182 yard, 2nd, set into a hillside across a glenn, is the first of several memorable and different par-3. Each of them is exceptional. The 82-150 yard, par-3, 7th plays into a Biarritz green and serves as a respite between two very difficult par-4's The par-3, 174-264 yard 14th is a thinking hole. It might feel too long for a driver and too short for a fairway metal or hybrid. But, it's downhill. A shot landing short funnels into the green, which is surrounded by more mounded elements of the old sand mine. The par-3, 101-175 yard 17th plays across water to green guarded by a pot bunker short. Behind, the green has three distinct levels including s deep swale across the middle. An approach slightly long shoots to the back. At the the par-4, 242-385 yard 8th, the rhythm and tone change. The eighth is a great hole, a blind hole and polarizing, due to small mountains of old mining material in the middle of the fairway. They make both your tee shot blind and also your second if the ball lands too far left. Once you understand the layout, its risks and rewards, #8 becomes an exercise in execution. The right side is more narrow, but an approach from there leaves a flat lie into an intimate green setting. It's beautiful, though in this case manufactured by industrial history. I love how it uses what the architect found. Doak exceeded expectations on this one. The eighth is a punctuation mark…like a bell in a prizefight. From there, it's on. I loved Pinehurst 10's environs. The back-nine, especially, feels like a wilderness trek with golf holes laid along the way. Isn't it that the way it oughta' be? Golfers navigate the land. No cart paths to speak of. All good. The par-5, 415-544 yard 13th exemplifies that. Descend from the teeing ground, then pick your way uphill across a rough area pockmarked by wasted sand. The white tees play 6439, but for mere mortals, but some of the par-4’s feel impossible to reach. The 9th is 439 yards, a dogleg left around rocks and rough. The 13th is 483. The slightly downhill 16th is 443. The scorecard does offer a shorter, white/green hybrid, so there is that option. The blues in back? Nope. Most players will have a long day along its 7020 yards. Pinehurst 10's fairways and large greens can have significant movement. They whimsically hurt or help a player who goes even a tad offline. Approaches lead to pars, birdies, or bogies based on bounces. They even out by the end of a round. But, not every hole is a winner. Holes 16 (312-416 yds), and 18 (327-433 yds), are less interesting, though the 18th does require a the blind tee shot. Both greens look and feel manufactured, out of rhythm with those that preceded. Pinehurst 10 deserves to close with a more memorable test. I had hoped for a crescendo. Still, it remains an excellent golfing experience."
Read More2024
Review
“A great addition to the Pinehurst family with elevation changes and great design variety."
Read More2024
Review
“This is a must play course that reminds me of Bandon Trails, but with even more character. Built on an abandoned sand mine, the remnants of sand piles covered with native vegetation particularly on hole eight make this a memorable and fun experience. Stunningly beautiful and untamed, I came to play #2 but I’ll return to play #10."
Read More2024
Review
“Another outstanding Tom Doak designed course. After Pinehurst no.2, no.10 is the best of the other courses at the Pinehurst resort and must be played on any visit to Pinehurst."
Read More2024
Review
“If you don't like golf you don't like golf."
Read More2024
Readers
Collection of reviews from our readers
There are no readers reviews yet. Be the first to write a review.