Pinehurst No. 8
The Centennial, built to mark a hundred years of the home of American golf. Tom Fazio set No. 8 apart on its own tract of longleaf pine, away from the village and the housing, and gave it room to be bold. It is the most secluded and arguably the most natural feeling round at Pinehurst, a course that more than holds its own in the most famous golf address in the United States.
Photo: Pinehurst No. 8 via Google.
The verdict
Pinehurst No. 8 carries a special name and a special task. It opened in 1996, one hundred years after Pinehurst was founded, and so it is known as the Centennial Course. Tom Fazio designed it on a parcel of land a few minutes from the main clubhouse, free of the homes that line some of the older courses, which let him route it through dense longleaf pine and former sand quarry ground with a real sense of seclusion and space.
The result is a modern Pinehurst course, a par 72 of around 7,092 yards, with dramatic shaping, natural sandy waste areas and excellent conditioning, yet it nods to the Sandhills tradition rather than fighting it. It is more forgiving off the tee than the brutal No. 2 next door, which makes it a favourite for resort guests who want a beautiful, playable round on a course with genuine pedigree. As part of a Pinehurst stay and play, alongside the famous No. 2 and the rest of the numbered courses, it is a highlight rather than an afterthought.
Pinehurst No. 8 at a glance
- Opened
- 1996
- Design
- Tom Fazio
- Type
- Sandhills
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,092 yds
- Green fee
- From $150
Design, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and course listings. No. 8, the Centennial Course, was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 1996, a par 72 of around 7,092 yards. Green fees are indicative, running from around 150 to 300 dollars depending on season for a 2026 round, generally for guests on a Pinehurst resort package. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
What sets No. 8 apart at Pinehurst is the land and the solitude. Fazio routed it across a tract that includes old sand quarry and wetland, so the course rolls through stands of longleaf pine with natural sandy waste areas, water and far more elevation change than the famously flat No. 2. With no homes in view from any hole, the round feels like a walk through the pine forest, quiet and immersive.
The design is bold without being unfair. The fairways give you room from the tee, the trouble is mostly visible, and the green complexes ask thoughtful questions without the diabolical turtleback severity of its neighbour. It is the kind of course that rewards a good ball striker and still lets a mid handicapper enjoy themselves, which is exactly the brief for a resort flagship.
Set alongside the historic No. 2 and the rest of the Pinehurst stable, No. 8 brings variety and a more modern, dramatic look, and it is consistently among the favourites of golfers who play the full resort lineup. A worthy hundredth birthday present to the home of American golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course, played mainly by guests on a Pinehurst stay and play package; book through the resort |
| Green fee | Indicative 150 to 300 dollars depending on season for a 2026 round; resort packages bundle multiple courses |
| Booking | Reserve as part of a Pinehurst golf package; spring and autumn are the prime Sandhills seasons |
| On the day | Walking with caddies in the Pinehurst tradition or cart; full resort practice facilities a short drive away |
| Getting there | In the Sandhills of North Carolina, around 90 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport |
| Best months | March to May and September to November, the prime Sandhills golf windows |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the resort and public listings; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Pinehurst Resort itself, with the historic Carolina Hotel, the Holly Inn and resort cottages all a short ride from the courses. A Pinehurst stay and play package is the classic way to do it, giving you access to No. 8, the storied No. 2 and the rest of the numbered courses on one trip.
The village of Pinehurst is a charming, walkable base in its own right, and the wider Sandhills hold a number of other fine courses for a longer golf week. Raleigh-Durham is the nearest major airport, around ninety minutes away.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in Pinehurst.
A Pinehurst golf trip
We build the Pinehurst stay and play around your group, pair No. 8 with the legendary No. 2 and the best of the resort, and arrange the hotel, caddies and tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Pinehurst No. 8 questions
Who designed Pinehurst No. 8?
Pinehurst No. 8 was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 1996 to celebrate the resort's 100th anniversary, which is why it is known as the Centennial Course. It is a par 72 of around 7,092 yards.
Why is Pinehurst No. 8 called the Centennial?
No. 8 opened in 1996, exactly one hundred years after Pinehurst was founded in 1895 and 1896, so it was named the Centennial Course to mark the resort's first century.
How much does it cost to play Pinehurst No. 8?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 150 to 300 dollars depending on season, generally for guests on a Pinehurst resort stay and play package. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Where is Pinehurst No. 8?
No. 8 sits a few minutes from the main Pinehurst clubhouse in the Sandhills of North Carolina, set apart on its own tract of longleaf pine with no homes visible from the course.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.