Pinehurst No. 2 vs No. 4
Two of the great courses at the cradle of American golf share a clubhouse in the North Carolina Sandhills, but they come from different eras and different hands. No. 2 is Donald Ross's US Open masterpiece. No. 4 is Gil Hanse's bold modern reimagining next door. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina, via Google
The verdict
If you play one course at Pinehurst, play No. 2. It is Donald Ross's enduring masterpiece, the first member of the US Open rota and the host of the championship in 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024, now an anchor site for the future. The 2010 Coore and Crenshaw restoration stripped away the rough and returned the sandy, wiregrass character Ross intended, leaving the famous crowned, turtleback greens to do the defending. There is no water and little visual drama; the genius is in the angles, the run offs and the relentless test around the greens. It is one of the most important and most rewarding rounds in the game.
No. 4, reimagined by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner and reopened in 2018, is the more immediately spectacular course. Hanse tore up a tired, much altered layout and built something rugged and bold, with great sandy waste areas, exposed dunes and dramatic green sites, sitting right alongside No. 2 and sharing its turf and feel. It is a genuinely excellent course that many visitors enjoy more on first acquaintance, and it co-hosted the 2019 US Amateur. Play No. 2 for the history and the test, No. 4 for the drama, and both if you possibly can.
Head to head
| Pinehurst No. 2 | Pinehurst No. 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Designer | Donald Ross; restored by Coore and Crenshaw (2010) | Donald Ross original, reimagined by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner (2018) |
| Character | Classic, subtle, defined by crowned turtleback greens and sandy native areas; no water | Bold and modern, with large sandy waste areas, exposed dunes and dramatic green sites |
| Championship pedigree | US Open 1999, 2005, 2014, 2024 and a future anchor site; the resort's crown jewel | Co-host of the 2019 US Amateur; a top rated resort course |
| The test | The hardest examination at the resort, all in the angles and around the greens | Demanding but more visually generous off the tee; thrilling rather than punishing |
| Cost | The premium round at Pinehurst, priced as the flagship | Typically a notch below No. 2, strong value for the quality |
| On the day | Walking with a caddie is the tradition; allow time and savour it | Also caddie friendly and walkable; pairs naturally with a No. 2 round |
| Who it suits | The golfer who wants the most important and historic round | The golfer who wants drama, fun and excellent modern design |
Course facts verified June 2026; green fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick No. 2 if
You want the most important round at Pinehurst and one of the great experiences in American golf. Donald Ross's masterpiece is the US Open course, and the Coore and Crenshaw restoration has made it more natural, more strategic and more fun to study than ever. The defence is all in the crowned greens and the run offs, so it rewards thought over power. If you make only one tee time at the resort, this is it.
Pick No. 4 if
You want the most dramatic and immediately enjoyable round, or the second tee time on a Pinehurst trip. Gil Hanse's reimagined course is rugged and bold, with sweeping sandy waste, exposed dunes and superb green sites right beside No. 2. It is more generous off the tee and a thrill to play, usually a touch keener on price, and it co-hosted the US Amateur. Many first time visitors come away loving it.
Plan your Pinehurst golf trip
No. 2, No. 4 or a full Sandhills tour across the resort's courses. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, lodging in the village and the costing to the head, with no obligation.
Pinehurst No. 2 vs No. 4 questions
Is Pinehurst No. 2 or No. 4 better?
Pinehurst No. 2 is the better and more important course, Donald Ross's masterpiece, an anchor site of the US Open and famous for its crowned turtleback greens. It is the must play at the resort. No. 4 is a superb modern course, reimagined by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner and reopened in 2018, with bold sandy waste areas and dramatic shaping. Play No. 2 if you can only play one; play both if you have the time, because they sit side by side and complement each other.
Who designed Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4?
Both began as Donald Ross designs. No. 2 is Ross's enduring masterpiece, restored to its sandy, natural character by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2010. No. 4 had lost much of its original form over the decades, so the resort had Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner reimagine it, reopening the new course in 2018.
Has Pinehurst No. 2 hosted the US Open?
Yes. Pinehurst No. 2 was the first member of the US Open rota and has hosted the championship several times, including 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024, and it is an anchor site for future US Opens. No. 4 co-hosted the 2019 US Amateur alongside No. 2, a mark of its championship quality.
Can you play both Pinehurst courses on one trip?
Easily. No. 2 and No. 4 share the same clubhouse complex in the village of Pinehurst, so a resort stay of two or three nights lets a group play both, often as a No. 2 round bookended by No. 4 and the resort's other courses. Caddies and walking are encouraged on both. Always confirm tee times and any package directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and championship history verified June 2026 from the resort, the USGA and leading course databases. Last reviewed June 2026.