Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club
Donald Ross laid out Mid Pines in 1921 around a gracious Georgian inn in Southern Pines, and Kyle Franz's 2013 restoration returned its sandy edges and bold contours. A resort par 72 of about 6,723 yards, walkable, strategic and timeless, it is one of the most loved classic Ross courses in the Sandhills and a sister to Pine Needles across the road.
Photo via Google, contributed by Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club.
The verdict
Mid Pines is a love letter to classic American golf. Donald Ross routed it in 1921 across the rolling Sandhills around a handsome Georgian inn, and for decades it charmed without quite getting its full due. Kyle Franz changed that with a 2013 restoration that stripped back the encroaching turf, brought the sandy waste and wiregrass back to the edges, and recovered the bold green contours Ross intended. The course reads now as it was meant to.
Our verdict: this is a connoisseur's resort course, short by modern numbers and endlessly clever, where width invites a swing and the greens decide the day. It is open to the public and to guests of the inn, which makes it one of the most accessible great courses in the country and a fixture of any Sandhills trip. For the wider area, see our guide to golf in North Carolina.
Mid Pines at a glance
- Opened
- 1921
- Designer
- Donald Ross
- Type
- Resort sandhills
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,723 yds
- Access
- Resort, public
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club and leading course databases: Donald Ross, opened 1921, par 72, about 6,723 yards, with a 2013 restoration by Kyle Franz. Mid Pines is a resort course open to the public and to stay and play guests; green fees vary by season and package and are best taken as indicative for the 2026 season. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Mid Pines rewards thinking golf from the first tee. Ross used the natural roll of the Sandhills to set up tee shots that ask which side of the fairway to favor, and Franz's restoration gave the approach its teeth again by exposing the false fronts, run offs and crowned greens that punish the lazy shot. The turf is firm and fast running, so the ground game is alive and the smart player uses it.
The short par 4s are full of temptation and trapdoors, the par 3s are a beautifully judged set, and the closing holes ask for control as the round comes home past the inn. None of it depends on length; all of it depends on position, trajectory and a deft touch around the greens. It is the kind of course you want to play twice in a day to start solving its puzzles.
On a Sandhills trip Mid Pines pairs naturally with its sister course Pine Needles across the road, the resort centerpiece Pinehurst No. 2, and the wild modern contrast of Tobacco Road.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to the public and to stay and play guests at the historic Mid Pines inn; tee times are bookable directly |
| Green fee | Varies by season, day and package; best value comes through a stay and play with the inn or with sister course Pine Needles. Treat any figure as indicative for 2026 and confirm before booking |
| Handicap and dress | No handicap requirement; a standard collared shirt golf dress code; the course is a pleasure to walk |
| On the day | Walking is encouraged and caddies are available; play the firm turf with the ground game and respect the crowned greens |
| Getting there | In Southern Pines, a few minutes from the village of Pinehurst and about 75 minutes from Raleigh Durham International |
| Best months | Spring and fall are prime in the Sandhills, with mild winter play and warmer, busier summers |
Access and fee details verified June 2026 from Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club and leading databases. Green fees are indicative for the 2026 season and change with demand and package; always confirm the current rate and tee sheet directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The most natural base for Mid Pines is the inn itself, a restored Georgian property beside the first tee, or the sister Pine Needles lodge across the road, both built for golfers. Southern Pines and the village of Pinehurst add a deep choice of inns, hotels and rental cottages within a short drive.
The Sandhills reward an unhurried golf week, so anchor a few nights around Southern Pines and play the great Ross courses on foot. Pair Mid Pines with Pine Needles and the resort centerpiece Pinehurst No. 2.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Southern Pines and Pinehurst.
Build a North Carolina golf trip
Mid Pines is one of the easiest great courses in America to arrange, and we build the Sandhills week around it, pairing it with its sister course and the Pinehurst classics, lodging and tee times booked to match. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Mid Pines questions
Who designed Mid Pines and when did it open?
Mid Pines was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1921 in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Architect Kyle Franz led an acclaimed restoration in 2013 that recovered the original Ross character.
What is the par and length of Mid Pines?
Mid Pines plays as a par 72 of about 6,723 yards, a classic, walkable Donald Ross length where strategy and the short game matter more than raw distance.
Can the public play Mid Pines?
Yes. Mid Pines is a resort course open to the public and to stay and play guests at the historic inn. Green fees vary by season; always confirm directly before booking.
How is Mid Pines related to Pine Needles?
Mid Pines and Pine Needles are sister resorts in Southern Pines, both Donald Ross designs restored by Kyle Franz, sitting across the road from one another and often played together.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; green fees indicative for 2026 and to be confirmed with the resort. Last reviewed June 2026.