Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club
Donald Ross opened Pine Needles in 1928 in Southern Pines, and a Kyle Franz restoration sharpened it for the modern game. A resort par 71 of about 7,015 yards, it has hosted the U.S. Women's Open four times, in 1996, 2001, 2007 and 2022, and remains one of the most respected and accessible classic courses in the Sandhills.
Photo via Google, contributed by Wayne Walters.
The verdict
Pine Needles is championship Donald Ross that anyone can play. Opened in 1928 and long associated with the Bell family, it earned its place in the game by hosting four U.S. Women's Opens, and a Kyle Franz restoration recovered the sandy waste, native areas and bold green contours that make it sing. The result is a course of timeless quality and real major pedigree, set across the rolling Southern Pines Sandhills.
Our verdict: this is one of the best public access Ross courses in America, a fair, strategic test that tournament golf has proven on the biggest stage yet welcomes the traveling golfer through the lodge. It is the natural pairing with sister course Mid Pines across the road and a centerpiece of any Sandhills trip. For the wider area, see our guide to golf in North Carolina.
Pine Needles at a glance
- Opened
- 1928
- Designer
- Donald Ross
- Type
- Resort sandhills
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 7,015 yds
- Access
- Resort, public
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club and leading course databases: Donald Ross, opened 1928, par 71, about 7,015 yards, with a restoration by Kyle Franz. Pine Needles 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
Pine Needles plays as honest, strategic Ross golf, where the rolling Sandhills terrain sets up tee shots that reward placement and approaches that must respect the crowned, run off greens. Franz's restoration brought back the sandy edges and wiregrass that frame the corridors, so the course looks rugged and natural while testing exactly the skills a U.S. Women's Open demands: control of distance, trajectory and nerve.
The par 3s are a celebrated set, varied in length and beautifully bunkered, and the par 4s ask for both a positioned drive and a precise iron. The greens are the defense, firm and subtly contoured, punishing the approach that misses on the wrong side. It is a course that flatters good golf and quietly exposes the careless, which is exactly why it has hosted so many championships.
On a Sandhills trip Pine Needles pairs naturally with its sister course Mid Pines 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 lodge; tee times are bookable directly |
| Green fee | Varies by season, day and package; best value comes through a stay and play with the lodge or with sister course Mid Pines. 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 and crowned greens with care and use the ground game |
| 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 Pine Needles Lodge 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 Pine Needles is the lodge itself, built for golfers beside the course, or the sister Mid Pines inn across the road. 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 Pine Needles with Mid Pines 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
Pine Needles is one of the easiest major venues 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.
Pine Needles questions
Who designed Pine Needles and when did it open?
Pine Needles was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1928 in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Architect Kyle Franz led a restoration that recovered the original Ross character ahead of recent championships.
What is the par and length of Pine Needles?
Pine Needles plays as a par 71 of about 7,015 yards from the back tees, a classic Donald Ross test across rolling Sandhills terrain.
Can the public play Pine Needles?
Yes. Pine Needles is a resort course open to the public and to stay and play guests at the lodge. Green fees vary by season; always confirm directly before booking.
What championships has Pine Needles hosted?
Pine Needles has hosted the U.S. Women's Open four times, in 1996, 2001, 2007 and 2022, won by Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Cristie Kerr and Minjee Lee respectively.
Related
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Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
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.