The Cradle Gil Hanse


“Golf should be a pleasure, not a penance.”

The quote above comes from Donald Ross, and nowhere does it fit better than The Cradle. More than 120 years after golf arrived here, The Cradle, designed by golf architect Gil Hanse, is a nine-hole short course that even the newest to the game can enjoy. Golf Channel calls The Cradle “the most fun 10 acres in all of golf.”

Mere steps from the Resort Clubhouse, it is the same area where, in 1898, Dr. Leroy Culver carved our first nine holes out of the sand. Over the next century, Pinehurst came to be referred to as the Cradle of American Golf.

Greens fees for The Cradle are $50 and replay rounds are based on availability. Kids 17 and under play free when accompanied by a paying adult (2 kids to every 1 paying adult), and resort guests may book tee times in advance.

TEE TIMES CAN BE MADE BY CALLING 1-800-ITS-GOLF.

“The most fun 10 acres in all of golf.” – Golf Channel

  • Course Designers

    2017: Gil Hanse

Course Overview

  • A Detailed map of The Cradle

  • The Cradle Short Course

    Landscaping

    • Tees

      Tifway Bermuda

    • Fairways

      Tifway Bermuda

    • Rough

      Native Sandscape

    • Greens

      Champion Bermuda

    Characteristics

    • Total acres of turf: 10
    • Total acres of fairways: 7
    • Total acres of rough: 0
    • Total acres of sandscape: 3
    • Total square footage of greens: 75,000
GOLF PACKAGES

Donald Ross

Test your game on your choice of Pinehurst’s 9 legendary golf courses with the Donald Ross package, including 2 nights, breakfast and dinner daily and 3 rounds of golf.