Southern Pines, NC
A Donald Ross doubleheader restored to sandy perfection — pure golf and rocking-chair evenings.
Across the road from each other in Southern Pines sit two of Donald Ross's finest — Pine Needles, a four-time U.S. Women's Open host, and Mid Pines, his 1921 gem fronted by a grand Georgian inn. Both have been restored to their sandy, wiregrass-edged glory by Kyle Franz, and the same family now runs Southern Pines Golf Club, a third Ross original, up the street. Stay at the inns, walk the courses with a carry bag or caddie, and spend the evenings on porches built for exactly this trip. It is golf the way the Sandhills intended.
| Course | Designer | Notes | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Needles | Donald Ross; Kyle Franz restoration | A four-time U.S. Women's Open host — crowned greens and sandy scrub. The marquee. | resort |
| Mid Pines | Donald Ross; Kyle Franz restoration | The 1921 charmer below the inn — many call it the purest Ross round in the Sandhills. | resort |
| Southern Pines Golf Club | Donald Ross; Kyle Franz restoration | The rollicking third sister over big Sandhills ridges — a sleeper favorite. | public |
The resort
The Georgian inn at Mid Pines and the lodge rooms at Pine Needles — creaky-floor charm, clubby bars, and the first tee steps away. Packages cover all three courses.
◆ The private house
A classic Southern Pines cottage in the horse-country pines — big porch, fire pit, five minutes to all three first tees. Village rentals keep the crew together when the inns are full.
5-6 BR · sleeps 10-12 · ~$700–$2,000/nt
AM Road-trip morning into Southern Pines — arrive by mid-afternoon.
PM Check into the inn, a long putting contest on the practice green, dinner at the Mid Pines bar.
AM Walk Ross's 1921 routing right off the inn's porch.
PM Afternoon nine for the keen; rocking chairs and cigars for the wise.
AM The third sister's big ridges — the trip's sleeper round.
PM Downtown Southern Pines for steaks and a nightcap on Broad Street.
AM The Women's Open stage for the team match — crowned greens settle everything.
PM Trophy dinner at the lodge; one last porch session.
AM A last morning loop or a slow inn breakfast, then the drive home.
Three restored Donald Ross courses under one family's care, walkable golf on sand and wiregrass, and inns where the clubhouse bar is the nineteenth hole. The purist's Sandhills trip — all the soul of Pinehurst at a friendlier tab.
Stay-and-play packages at Mid Pines Inn or Pine Needles Lodge bundle all three courses — book spring dates well ahead. Walking with caddies or push carts is the way to play them.