Pinehurst No. 9
Jack Nicklaus designed the course now known as Pinehurst No. 9, which opened in 1989 as The National Golf Club before Pinehurst acquired it in 2014. A par 72 of about 7,118 yards and the only Nicklaus design in the Sandhills, it brings a bolder, more muscular look to the resort, set apart on its own tract a short drive from the main campus.
Photo via Google, contributed by James Heath.
The verdict
Pinehurst is the cradle of American golf, a resort of ten and now eleven courses built largely on the small, subtle template of Donald Ross. No. 9 is the outlier, and deliberately so. Jack Nicklaus laid it out in the late 1980s as The National Golf Club, a private club a few miles south of the village, with a more dramatic, modern hand than the historic Ross numbers: more movement in the land, more water, larger bunkering and a tougher, more demanding feel. Pinehurst bought it in 2014 and folded it into the resort as No. 9.
Our verdict: this is the muscle of the Pinehurst portfolio, a contrast round that rewards the bigger, more aggressive ball striker and gives a Sandhills trip variety beyond the Ross style. It is the only place in the area to play a Nicklaus design, which alone earns it a spot on a longer itinerary, and the relative seclusion of its own site gives the day a private club feel. For the wider region, see our guide to golf in Pinehurst and the Sandhills.
Pinehurst No. 9 at a glance
- Opened
- 1989
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Sandhills parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,118 yds
- Green fee
- From about $275 (indicative)
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Pinehurst and leading course databases: Jack Nicklaus, opened 1989 as The National Golf Club, acquired by Pinehurst in 2014, par 72, about 7,118 yards. Green fees are usually bundled into a Pinehurst stay and play package; an indicative 2026 additional round ran from about $275 for resort guests. Treat the figures as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
No. 9 plays bigger and bolder than its Ross designed siblings. Nicklaus moved more earth, brought water into several holes and built large, well defended greens, so the course asks for length and a confident long iron more than the delicate, ground level chess of No. 2. Off the tee the corridors are generous enough to let the player open the shoulders, but the second shot is where the test bites.
The greens are the recurring challenge: sizeable, contoured and firmly defended by sand and slope, they reward the approach flighted to the correct portion and punish the one that comes up short or long. Water features on the inward holes add a strategic, sometimes nervy edge that the rest of the resort largely avoids, giving the round a different rhythm.
It is a course that flatters the strong, aggressive game and gives a Sandhills group a genuine change of pace from the Ross classics. Build a Pinehurst trip around it and pair it with the storied Pinehurst No. 2 and Tom Doak's acclaimed Pinehurst No. 10.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort access; open to guests staying at Pinehurst or playing on a stay and play package rather than unaccompanied public daily fee |
| Green fee | Usually bundled into a Pinehurst package; an indicative 2026 additional round ran from about $275 for resort guests, varying by season and demand, indicative and subject to change (always confirm before booking) |
| Booking | Reserve through the resort as part of a stay; package guests get priority on the No. 9 tee sheet |
| On the day | Carts are the norm given the spread out routing; the longer, water touched layout rewards a confident long game |
| Getting there | On its own tract a few miles south of the Pinehurst village and main clubhouse, an easy drive within the resort |
| Best months | Spring and fall for the Sandhills at their best; the mild climate keeps play going year round |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Pinehurst and leading databases. No. 9 is resort access with package based pricing, so confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Pinehurst Resort itself, from the grand Carolina Hotel to the Holly Inn and the Manor, all within the village and built around stay and play golf. Staying on property is the simplest way to secure No. 9 tee times alongside the rest of the numbered courses.
The wider Sandhills around Southern Pines and Aberdeen add charming inns and a deep bench of golf for a longer trip. Pinehurst is made for a multi course itinerary, so pair No. 9 with the historic No. 2 and the modern Sandmines drama of No. 10.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in Pinehurst.
Build a Pinehurst golf trip
We secure No. 9 tee times, pair them with No. 2, No. 10 and the best of the Sandhills, and book the resort lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Pinehurst No. 9 questions
Who designed Pinehurst No. 9 and when did it open?
Pinehurst No. 9 was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1989 as The National Golf Club. Pinehurst Resort acquired it in 2014 and renamed it No. 9. It is the only Jack Nicklaus course in the Sandhills.
What is the par and length of Pinehurst No. 9?
Pinehurst No. 9 is a par 72 measuring about 7,118 yards from the back tees, with five sets of tees ranging from roughly 4,911 to 7,118 yards.
Can the public play Pinehurst No. 9?
Pinehurst No. 9 is open to resort guests as part of a Pinehurst stay. Access is reserved for those staying at the resort or playing on a package rather than unaccompanied public daily fee play.
How much does it cost to play Pinehurst No. 9?
Green fees are usually bundled into a Pinehurst stay and play package; an indicative 2026 additional round ran from about $275 for resort guests. Treat this as indicative and confirm directly before booking.
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; indicative resort green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.