Pinehurst #2
7020
yard Par 72
#1 Handicap hole = #5
Rating/Slope = 73.5/131
Designed by Donald Ross
Pinehurst, North Carolina
This wonderful course has hosted a PGA Championship, a US Mens Amateur, a US Womens Amateur, a Womens World Amateur Team Championship, two Tour Championships, the North and South Amateur (since 1901), the 1994 US Senior Open, and the 1999 US Open. WOW, what a mouthful! Also hosted Nicklaus and Palmer in a taping of Shell's Wonderful World of Golf in 1994, and the 1951 Ryder Cup (which the U.S. won 9 1/2 to 2 1/2).
In 1920, the Tufts family reluctantly sold the resort to Diamondhead, who proceded to desecrate the No. 2 Course. Fairways were narrowed, greens softened, bunkers eliminated, and rough added. Tom Weiskopf was so appalled by the changes, he proposed the creation of a society to preserve and protect Donald Ross courses. In 1978, Tom Fazio was brought in to consult on the course. He conferred with Sam Snead, who said "We went all around the course. I'd say 'There used to be a bunker over there' and sure enough, they'd dig down a bit and find sand. I guess now they've got her back to pretty much where she was."
Very green course, with tall pines on every hole. The course is relatively flat; the difficulty lies in the greens. The first "big" course to go "spikeless", starting January 1, 1998.