Mid Pines Golf Course
In the longleaf pine country of the North Carolina Sandhills, Mid Pines is as pure a Donald Ross experience as you will find. Laid out in 1921 and lovingly restored by Kyle Franz in 2013, it plays a par 72 of sandy waste, crowned greens and natural movement, the kind of strategic, walkable golf Ross intended, beside its sister course Pine Needles.
Photo: Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Mid Pines is a love letter to Donald Ross. The 1921 layout survived the decades largely intact, and Kyle Franz's 2013 restoration, using aerial photos from the Tufts Archives, brought back the sandy native areas along the fairways and expanded the greens to their original shapes. The result won GOLF Magazine's best US resort restoration and plays as a masterclass in width off the tee married to demanding, intelligently contoured greens.
For the travelling golfer it is the heart of a Sandhills trip and the smart value play in a region defined by Pinehurst. Mid Pines and its sister Pine Needles share a clubhouse and an entrance, so you can play both from one base, and the wider Pinehurst resort and its famous courses are minutes away. This is classic American golf, walkable, strategic and steeped in history, at prices that undercut the marquee names.
Mid Pines Golf Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1921
- Designer
- Donald Ross (restored Kyle Franz, 2013)
- Type
- Sandhills parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- approx 6,723 yds
- Green fee
- Around 175 to 200 dollars
Opening year, designer, par and length verified June 2026: Mid Pines opened in 1921 to a Donald Ross design and was restored by Kyle Franz in 2013, a project honored as GOLF Magazine's best US resort renovation. It plays par 72 at around 6,723 yards through the Sandhills. Indicative 2026 green fees run around 175 to 200 dollars and higher by season, often as part of a stay and play. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Mid Pines rewards the player who respects Ross. The fairways are generous, the sandy native areas restored by Franz framing them and catching the wayward shot, so the round begins as a study in angles. The real defense is at the greens, crowned and contoured in the classic Ross manner, where a ball that misses in the wrong spot rolls away into a tricky chip and a thoughtful approach leaves a makeable putt.
The routing flows naturally over rolling Sandhills ground, with longleaf pines framing the corridors and few forced carries, the kind of walk Ross designed for. Holes change direction often enough that no two play alike, and the variety in the par 3s and the short, strategic par 4s keeps you engaged from first tee to last without ever resorting to brute length.
What lingers is the authenticity. This is not a museum piece but a living Ross course, restored to play as he intended, firm and fast when the conditions allow, with the sandy scrub and the pines giving it a settled, timeless feel. Many golfers leave the Sandhills rating Mid Pines among their favorite rounds of the trip.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to the public, bookable directly or as part of a Mid Pines and Pine Needles stay and play |
| Green fee | Around 175 to 200 dollars and higher by season, with stay and play packages often the best value in 2026 (indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead in the spring and autumn peak; staying at the inn secures the best access to both Mid Pines and Pine Needles |
| On the day | The course is walkable and caddies and carts are available; the historic inn and clubhouse sit alongside |
| Getting there | In Southern Pines, around 75 minutes southwest of Raleigh and minutes from Pinehurst |
| Best months | Spring and autumn for the most comfortable golf, with year round play in the mild Sandhills climate |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; rates change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking with Mid Pines Inn or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the historic Mid Pines Inn itself, a 1921 Georgian hotel beside the first tee, or its sister property Pine Needles next door. Staying here puts both Ross courses on your doorstep, sharing one entrance and clubhouse, and the stay and play packages are the smart way to play them.
For more variety the village of Pinehurst is minutes away, with the grand Carolina Hotel and the resort's celebrated courses, so a Sandhills week can pair Mid Pines and Pine Needles with the marquee Pinehurst rounds. Southern Pines itself adds easygoing dining and Carolina charm for the off course hours.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Southern Pines and Pinehurst.
Plan a Sandhills golf trip around Mid Pines
We build the North Carolina Sandhills week around Mid Pines and Pine Needles, add the best of Pinehurst, and sort a base at the historic inn with stay and play golf. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Mid Pines Golf Course questions
Who designed Mid Pines?
Mid Pines was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1921. The course was restored by Kyle Franz in 2013 using aerial photographs from the Tufts Archives, a project that won GOLF Magazine's best US resort renovation.
What is the par and yardage of Mid Pines?
Mid Pines plays as a par 72 at around 6,723 yards. It is a classic Sandhills layout with generous fairways, restored sandy native areas and the crowned, contoured greens that are Ross's signature.
How much does it cost to play Mid Pines?
Indicative 2026 green fees run around 175 to 200 dollars and higher by season, and stay and play packages with the inn are often the best value. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can the public play Mid Pines?
Yes. Mid Pines is a resort course open to the public, bookable directly or as part of a stay and play that also includes its sister course, Pine Needles. Staying at the inn gives the best access to both.
How does Mid Pines compare to Pine Needles?
Mid Pines and Pine Needles are sister Donald Ross courses that share an entrance and clubhouse in Southern Pines. Pine Needles has hosted multiple US Women's Opens, while Mid Pines is prized as a pure, walkable Ross restoration; most visitors play both.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and length verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.