Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (#4) – Played November 2020
- Rankings: Golf Digest Public #44
- Location: 1 Carolina Vista Drive, Pinehurst, North Carolina
- Year: 1919
- Original Architect: Donald Ross
- Additional Work By: Robert Trent Jones, Rees Jones, Tom Fazio, & Gil Hanse
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Orange: 7,227 yards, Par 72, 74.9 Rating/138 Slope
- Blue: 6,961 yards, Par 72, 73.7 Rating/135 Slope
- White: 6,428 yards, Par 72, 70.8 Rating/131 Slope (Men’s), 76.9 Rating/140 Slope (Women’s)
- Green: 5,864 yards, Par 72, 68.5 Rating/123 Slope (Men’s), 73.8 Rating/133 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 5,260 yards, Par 72, 65.4 Rating/116 Slope (Men’s), 70.1 Rating/124 Slope (Women’s)
Pinehurst #4 has a long and interesting history from an architectural perspective. After the first three courses, the appetite for more golf in the area was not satiated. So in 1919, Donald Ross completed the 18 holes on the #4 course. Chris Buie goes into a lot more of the history here. I recommend checking it out.
But you’re here to see what Pinehurst #4 looks like today, after Gil Hanse got his hands on it. Hanse likely had some of his own ideas for the property after RTJ and Fazio had essentially changed the golf course completely from what Ross wrought originally.
I’d like to think he took inspiration from the Coore & Crenshaw restoration of Pinehurst #2 in trying to make #4 closer to what Ross had in mind.
I was lucky to join my friend Andy and meet some new friends in Ryan and Thomas to play the Hanse iteration on an overcast, but comfortable November day. Let’s see what Gil Hanse was able to do.
Hole 1 – 404 yards – Par 4
The round gets started with a mid-length, dogleg right par four. You can certainly run out of room up the left side as I did, swinging cold, right out of the car.
You get introduced to legitimate green contours right from the get go.
Hole 2 – 473 yards – Par 5
Gil Hanse gives you a quick opportunity at a birdie at Pinehurst #4 with this shorter, downhill par five. Staying out of the bunkers is the primary goal.
Hitting half wedge shots into this green can be quite nervy.
Hole 3 – 378 yards – Par 4
Favor the right side with your tee ball here. The large waste area continues all down the left side. If you hit the fairway, you are rewarded with a large green to hit.
Check out the square edges to this green. This was a hallmark of Seth Raynor and some others from the golden age of golf course architecture. I liked the subtle homage.
Hole 4 – 119 yards – Par 3
I’ve said it before but I will say it again, I love a short par three. If you get loose and go right here the ball can run away sharply.
You can see the severity of the slope in the green below.
Hole 5 – 460 yards – Par 4
The fifth might be the hardest hole on Pinehurst #4! If you don’t get over the hill, you’re faced with a long second shot to a green with a severe front section.
Hole 6 – 184 yards – Par 3
The tee and green on this hole are perched higher than their surroundings. Any misses will roll away along the shortgrass surrounds.
I love the lack of rough around the greens.
Hole 7 – 404 yards – Par 4
The majority of this hole is a straightaway journey, but the adventure gets turned up once you get to the green.
Hole 8 – 374 yards – Par 4
The large bunker on the right is most definitely in play on this straight hole. I had the pleasure of visiting and it makes the approach shot a bit tougher.
Hole 9 – 484 yards – Par 5
Waste areas play the leading role here. They are present on each side and bisect the fairway as well. If you plot your way down the hole, this should be an easy par.
Hole 10 – 392 yards – Par 4
A fade will serve you well here. The hole bends to the right with bunkers guarding the left.
This is one of the more interesting greens on the course. You can really use the slopes to feed the ball to different pin positions.
Hole 11 – 137 yards – Par 3
Visual intimidation abounds when looking at this green. You can’t see the entire surface and it is clear that long is dead. Take a breath and hit a confident shot into the middle of the green. Birdie is a bonus but par is achievable.
Hole 12 – 387 yards – Par 4
Playing up the left side of this hole provides you the best look at the green. If you veer to the right you will have to contend with a large bunker as you approach the green.
Take note of the pin position because the slopes will repel balls in the wrong area.
Hole 13 – 504 yards – Par 5
This section of the golf course was still in my memory. If I have it right, this pond is integral to irrigation and couldn’t be moved. So this hole and the next stayed similar to the previous version.
You can get as aggressive as you want to be on the tee shot and second shot. The further left you go on each the more risk you are taking. You can see the green way down the line to the left.
The fairway extending to the right allows conservative players an alternative way to play the hole. I’m very in favor of having those options.
Hole 14 – 179 yards – Par 3
Thankfully Pinehurst #4 doesn’t feature many forced carries at all. Even on this hole, you can bail out to the right. With all the slopes going left, erring to the right is a pretty good idea.
Hole 15 – 331 yards – Par 4
when playing to this blind fairway, it’s good to have a guide or to have played here before. Hitting the right side of the fairway opens up your view of the green.
look at those contours y’all!
Hole 16 – 274 yards – Par 4
This is a devilish hole. If you can get it on the green you will be sitting pretty. My thoughts are with you if you have to hit a short yardage wedge of a tight lie.
Don’t miss short or you’ll get rejected by the false front.
Hole 17 – 536 yards – Par 5
This hole is a three-shotter for me due to the length and that is goes back uphill at the end. Two good shots though should have you ready to attack the pin.
The green is a large target. I like that because you can go for it in two and feel confident. On the flip side, if you miss a wedge you can have a very long putt.
Hole 18 – 408 yards – Par 4
No breaks on this last hole at Pinehurst #4. Deep bunkers are waiting for you to slip up. The hole bends slightly to the left towards the Learning Center building in the photo below.
Getting to tackle Pinehurst #4 in it’s newfound glory was a delight. I loved the aesthetic features with the waste areas and shortgrass around the greens. The best part of the day was getting to meet some new golf buddies who I hope to play with again in the future.