Off The Beaten Cartpath

Discovering Pinehurst’s Hidden Gems

By Alex Podlogar

Pinehurst can be a little bit of a different kind of destination in the fall.

With our towering evergreen pines, we’re not really known for the dazzling changing colors of the leaves – although The Cradle’s special fall logo, tees and its merch can certainly make up for some of it.

But it’s still a wonderful time to be around the Village and the Cradle of American Golf. And this fall, it’s also a good time to experience a different slice of Pinehurst, away from the crowded tee sheets of the most played courses. This fall, take a chance on discovering what more there is to Pinehurst, where hidden gems are found not just in special coins or colorful tees, but on entire golf courses and in exquisite dining and drinking options.

All of the sandy cartpaths at Pinehurst lead to new and cherished experiences, many of which can make the next visit even more fulfilling. Below is just one itinerary that might unlock more of the soul of this special place and Village.

Day 1 – You’ve Arrived

The Stay – Perhaps the best hidden gem of the accommodations at Pinehurst Resort is The Manor. Completely renovated rooms, hardwood floors, a bright lobby and sitting room and the North & South Bar, a bourbon and whiskey bar unlike any setting in all of Pinehurst. It all makes the Manor one of the Village’s historic gems. Traveling with a group of friends? Consider reserving one of two hospitality suites – the Library and the Club Room. TVs, card tables, soft-seating – it’s an experience you can’t get any other Pinehurst hotel.

The Golf – This package includes at least one round of golf per day, so take advantage by arranging an early afternoon tee on your arrival day. A perfect option to get your Pinehurst experience under way would be an afternoon round on Pinehurst No. 1. Sporting all of the old school charm of a course built by Donald Ross in 1901, No. 1 offers paths around the Village’s harness track and horse stables. It meanders over ground never touched by bulldozers in its construction over a century ago, and offers a classic style of golf that Golf Channel’s Jaime Diaz says led to one of his favorite all-time rounds with his dad. A mix of devilish par-3s – including perhaps Pinehurst’s most difficult hole on all of the property, the 222-yard 12^th – varied par-4s and short par-5s make this an enjoyable, playable entry into a different kind of Pinehurst experience.

The Moments – Few things are better than finishing up a round at Pinehurst during the Golden Hour. And on No. 1, as the round takes you back toward the famed clubhouse, golfers are treated with a view splashed in a sunset of the South Veranda. A birdie finish on the 418-yard par-5 18^th while basking in the sun and the fun of The Cradle and Thistle Dhu around you is a setting you won’t soon forget.

The Toast – It doesn’t have to cost you a thing, or perhaps nothing more than a cocktail or craft beer, but a seat in a rocking chair on the veranda of the Pinehurst clubhouse is one of golf’s greatest scenes. Feel free to soak it in.

Day 2 – Let’s golf. Let’s really golf.

The Golf – Pinehurst Resort is so much more than No. 2, or even No. 10. Take your choice here, but it’s time to treat yourself to a big-time play. Your choices are still endless.

Play Gil Hanse’s redesign of Pinehurst No. 4, with its expansive vistas and rollicking topography. No. 4’s restored greens will be at their best in the fall.

Play Pinehurst No. 8, a Pinehurst course unlike any other in the area, with native sandscape mixed with marshlands and ponds. Designated as a Signature Sanctuary by the Audubon Society, No. 8 offers a pristine, natural setting.

Or play Pinehurst No. 7, the only Pinehurst course Tiger Woods has won a tournament on. Some might argue that No. 7 is not only the most beautiful of all of Pinehurst’s courses  – every tee offers a magnificent view of the hole ahead – but that it might be the Resort’s most challenging as well.

HIDDEN GEMS PACKAGE

This fall, play beyond the headline courses and discover the rounds that keep Pinehurst’s legacy alive in quieter, timeless ways.

Includes:
One round on The Cradle per stay
One round of golf on course Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 per night**
Choice of accommodations Breakfast daily

Starting at
$489/night*

*Offer valid from 10/26/2025 to 11/22/2025. Rates are per person, per night. Weekends require multiple night stays. Subject to tax and resort fee. ** Course Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 may be booked in advance. Guests may inquire about booking times on Nos. 2 and 10 beginning 7 days prior to arrival at full seasonal resort rates.

The golf, on this day, doesn’t have to end there.

After lunch at Pl8te at No. 8, or back at the Deuce following No. 4, grab a couple of wedges and your putter and play The Cradle. Kick off your shoes and feel all 789 yards under your feet. Enjoy the music around you. Stop at the Cradle Crossing for a Transfusion, or at the Maniac Grill food truck for tater tots loaded with chopped brisket, or the Wild Cobbler turkey sandwich. Sit at the fire pits and watch the sun sink low behind pines while the conversation cranks up.

This has been a great day of golf.

The Moments – Visit the Titleist Shop at Padgett Center. There’s literally nothing like it in the world. Or peruse the main clubhouse’s expansive pro shop. The Fall Cradle merch is only available these weeks. Play Thistle Dhu, the 18-hole putting course. Pinehurst is so much more than Bryson’s bunker shot.

The Toast – Have you had your nightcap at the North & South Bar yet, or your pre-dinner drink? It’s right there at the Manor. A walk down the hill brings you to Pinehurst Brewing Co. A walk up the hill gives you the option of Carolina Vista Lounge in The Carolina Hotel, or the Tavern in The Holly. Or perhaps this is your fine dining night out. Go for Italian cuisine at Villaggio Ristorante in The Magnolia, or take a step back in time into the intimate, luxurious comfort of The Holly’s 1895 Grille. Jacket is never required.

Day 3 – Finish with Fun

The Toast – Here on Saturday or Sunday? Don’t miss Pinehurst Brewing Co.’s Brunch menu. Try the Cornbread Pulled Pork Waffle. Or the Keilbasa Breakfast Bowl. Or the Smoked Brisket and Sweet Potato Biscuit. There’s a mimosa flight or a Sunday Bourbon Bloody to start your day off right.

The Golf – It used to be mentioned that the hidden gem of golf at Pinehurst is to play No. 3. That secret is out among the golf community, but that doesn’t mean you should let it slip by.

A par-68 that tops out at 5,155 yards must be a pushover, right? Hardly. No. 3 might be the most challenging little golf course there is. Remarkably, you’ll likely still play every club in your bag. You’ll be greeted with some of the most devilish little greens you’ve ever seen. Blind tee shots, drivable par-4s, 200-yard par-3s mixed with 99-yard par-3s. It has everything, including the charm of a course dating back to 1910 with so many of Donald Ross’s stirring flourishes amidst the sandscape and wiregrass Pinehurst is so well known for.

Truly, this might be the course you talk about the most with your friends when you return home. Trust us.

The Moments – No. 3’s pin flag might be the most unique of all of Pinehurst’s flags, so pick one up to bring home from the Golf Shop. Who else will have one of those? Have one last lunch at the Deuce. Allow Shipsticks to take care of sending your golf bag home with no fuss. Let the shuttle take you back to RDU.

Finally, tell Larry or Ray, your new best friends at the bag drop, when you’ll be back. They’ll remember you.

Watch the Full Itinerary