Wayne Freedman
Wayne Freedman
Pinehurst #8
Pinehurst #8
100 Centennial Boulevard
Pinehurst, NC 28374
United States
Overview
Cut from a nature preserve about a mile north of the resort, Pinehurst #8 is one of Tom Fazio's most versatile designs, as each hole plays differently from the previous. The front nine is mostly tree-lined, the back more open, with both touching ponds, marsh and Pine Valley-like sandy wastelands. For putting surfaces, Fazio built crowned greens with greenside swales, intended as a salute to Donald Ross and Pinehurst #2. #8 is also the most secluded of the resort's nine courses, with no homes or development touching it (Tom Doak's Pinehurst #10, opened in 2024, is equally secluded on the resort's new Sandmines site). Fazio returned to #8 in late 2022 to touch up elements of the course that needed burnishing, and the course plays as fast and firm as its older brethren.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked from 2013-'14.
Highest ranking: 184th, 2013-'14.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked from 2003-'24.
Highest ranking: 44th, 2005-'06.
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in North Carolina in 1997; Top 10 from 1999-2005; Top 15 in 2007; Top 20 in 2009, 2013-'14 & 2017-'20; Top 25 from 2011-'12, 2015-'16, 2021-'22 & 2025-'26.
Previous ranking: 26th.
2025-'26 ranking: 25th.
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
“No. 8 sits off-property from the main resort and differs (in a good way) from the traditional Pinehurst feel found on Nos. 2, 4, and 10. No. 8 is a modern, classic Fazio design: bold, muscular, but rewarding with precise shot execution. The greens might be the best in all of Pinehurst—firm, lightning-fast, and full of movement. In places, they even echo the famed contours of No. 2, with subtle fall-offs and turtleback slopes that demand creativity and touch."
Read More2025
Review
“#8 is eminently fair and playable. The course has a Donald Ross feel with many of the green complexes featuring runoffs and difficult pitches as a result of missed greens. Although not "domed" the greens are large and challenging."
Read More2025
Review
“#8 is eminently fair and playable. Many of the green complexes have a Donald Ross feel with runoffs on several sides. Although not domed, the greens are large and challenging."
Read More2025
Review
“It is challenging and a visually appealing round of golf that allows your game to enjoy a variety of shots."
Read More2025
Review
“A few really great looks aesthetically off the tee...holes 4, 12, 13 ,and 17 come to mind. Great variety of short, long, & medium length holes throughout the round."
Read More2025
Review
“A few really great looks aesthetically off the tee...holes 4, 12, 13 ,and 17 come to mind. Great variety of short, long, & medium length holes throughout the round."
Read More2025
Review
“Pinehurst No. 8 checks the boxes and scores well in our rating system. With its pushed up greens complexes and false fronts, Pinehurst No, 8 feels like a Tom Fazio tribute to Donald Ross. Pinehurst No. 8 has a fine variety of different, interesting, and sometimes technical holes. They move right-to-left, left-to right, uphill, and downhill. Four are blind from the tee. Fairways ran hard and fast, rolling like airport runways. "I love these greens," one of the regulars told us, "....but they can get a little crazy." He was talking about seemingly perfect approach shots or putts that meandered, kept rolling, or even didn't hold a couple of times, tumbling down steep slopes, mystifying those who hit them. They come with the design. Pinehurst No. 8 is fun and a test for expert players. An average or occasional golfer will likely experience a high scoring day. This is a resort course with many first or only-timers. Unfamiliarity and inexperience will cost them. Their trials can slow down a found on the course. The front nine at Pinehurst No. 8 is challenging. The par-5, 454-605 yard 6th is the #1 handicap, and rightfully so. The fairway is narrow, undulating, uphill, and demands three perfect shots to reach a green guarded by a right-to-left, bunkered approach.The left side of the green falls away steeply. It is an excellent hole. The back nine ramps up No. 8's demands. Much of it threads through wetlands. The 297-373, par-4 12th plays up then right around an inside bunkered corner to a beautiful, flirtatious. demanding green. The 396-4454 yard, par-4, 18th can be kryptonite to any player who thinks he bombs the driver. Into a wind on this day, it played like a par-5. This is a strong finishing hole. Pinehurst No. 8's four par-3's make memories. The 132-204 yard 13th looks like an infinity green from the tee. It slopes front-to-back and drops steeply from there. Errant shots can go awol. The 131-187 yard 15th sits inside marshland and played into a cross wind. The 98-148 yard is a respite, It tees downhill, with a picturesque lake on the left. The 155-236, par-3 8th is beautiful, with a forced carry to a deep green. Miss the green by short by even a foot, however, and balls may back down into no-shot land. It's my favorite hole, and not because of the score."
Read More2025
Review
“Pinehurst No. 8 checks the boxes and scores well in our rating system. With its pushed up greens complexes and false fronts, Pinehurst No, 8 feels like a Tom Fazio tribute to Donald Ross. Pinehurst No. 8 has a fine variety of different, interesting, and sometimes technical holes. They move right-to-left, left-to right, uphill, and downhill. Four are blind from the tee. Fairways ran hard and fast, rolling like airport runways. We like that. As for the greens? "I love these greens," one of the regulars told us, "....but they can get a little crazy." More than once, seemingly perfect approach shots or putts meandered off the surfaces and/or tumbled down steep slopes, mystifying those who hit them. Pinehurst No. 8 is fun for expert players. An average or occasional golfer will likely experience a high scoring day. This is a resort course with many first or only-timers. Unfamiliarity and inexperience will cost them. On a weekday, our group waited often through an almost five-hour round. The front nine at Pinehurst No. 8 is challenging. The par-5, 454-605 yard 6th is the #1 handicap, and rightfully so. It is narrow, undulating, uphill, and demands three perfect shots to reach a green guarded by a right-to-left, bunkered approach complex. The left side of the green falls away steeply. It is an excellent hole. The back nine ramps up No. 8's demands. Much of it threads through wetlands. The 297-373, par-4 12th plays up then right around an inside bunkered corner to a beautiful, flirtatious. demanding green. If your approach is too bold, she will reject you. A lot. The 396-4454 yard, par-4, 18th can be kryptonite to any player who thinks he bombs the driver. Into a wind, it might as well be a par-5. This is a strong finishing hole. Pinehurst No. 8's four par-3's make memories. The 132-204 yard 13th looks like an infinity green from the tee. It slopes front-to-back and drops steeply from there. Errant shots can go awol. The 131-187 yard 15th sits inside marshland and played into a cross wind. The 98-148 yard is a respite, It tees downhill, with a picturesque lake on the left. The 155-236, par-3 8th is beautiful, with a forced carry to a deep green. Miss short by even a foot, however, and balls tumble back down into no-shot land. It's my favorite hole."
Read More2025
Review
“Tom Fazio delivered an awesome golf course design to Pinehurst; one I would be happy to play every day. With risk-reward holes sprinkled throughout the property, like on #12 and #14, the player is constantly needing to evaluate their approach and their appetite for danger. I found this approach to be great fun. The par 3s at #8 all ran in different directions and different lengths. I also appreciated that across 18 holes, there was an almost even split between holes running left, right or straight, and similarly, up, down, flat or a mix. Great use of the topography in crafting a diverse layout."
Read More2024
Review
“Tom Fazio delivered an awesome golf course design to Pinehurst; one I would be happy to play every day. With risk-reward holes sprinkled throughout the property, like on #12 and #14, the player is constantly needing to evaluate their approach and their appetite for danger. I found this approach to be great fun. The par 3s at #8 all ran in different directions and different lengths. I also appreciated that across 18 holes, there was an almost even split between holes running left, right or straight, and similarly, up, down, flat or a mix. Great use of the topography in crafting a diverse layout. the course was in stellar condition with tee balls running forever and the greens accepting well-struck shots. The only surprise was the lack of run from the fairway onto the greens. I expected several of my shots to scamper onto the green. But they were caught up in the moist conditions running up to the green."
Read More2024
