No. 2 Donald Ross’s Masterpiece


The Centerpiece of Pinehurst Resort

It has served as the site of more single golf championships than any course in America and hosted back-to-back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships for the first time in 2014. As the first U.S. Open Anchor Site, the championship will return to Pinehurst in 2024, 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.

Course History

  • Course Designers

    1907: Donald Ross

  • Redesigns & restorations

    1974: R.T. Jones
    2010: Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw

  • Tournaments

    2014: U.S. Open & U.S. Women’s Open Championships
    1999, 2005: U.S. Open Championship
    1951: Ryder Cup Matches
    1936: PGA Championship
    1991, 1992: PGA TOUR Championship
    1994: U.S. Senior Open
    1962, 2008, 2019: U.S. Amateur
    1989: U.S. Women’s Amateur
    1973-1982 : Hall of Fame Classic/World Open
    1901-present : North and South Men’s Amateur Championship
    1903-present : North and South Women’s Amateur Championship
    1902-1951 : North and South Open Championship

Course Overview

  • Hole Par US Open Blue White Green Red
    1 4 402 393 376 366 340
    2 4 507 439 411 390 342
    3 4 387 350 330 309 283
    4 4 529 474 434 326 316
    5 5 576 508 462 432 417
    6 3 242 203 178 170 116
    7 4 424 393 385 313 306
    8 5 502 469 440 419 400
    9 3 191 174 148 140 124
    10 5 617 580 455 438 421
    11 4 483 455 375 358 320
    12 4 484 419 360 336 293
    13 4 385 375 358 327 278
    14 4 473 433 419 347 337
    15 3 202 183 170 153 124
    16 5 528 513 478 437 411
    17 3 205 185 162 152 145
    18 4 451 415 366 358 329
    Total 72 7588 6961 6307 5771 5302
  • A Detailed map of course No. 2

  • No. 2

    Landscaping

    • Tees

      Tifway Bermuda

    • Fairways

      Tifway Bermuda

    • Rough

      Native Sandscape

    • Greens

      Champion Ultradwarf

    Characteristics

    • Acres on No. 2: 196
    • Acres of turf: 61 (87 prior to restoration)
    • Acres of fairways: 41 (28 prior)
    • Acres of rough: 0
    • Square feet of greens: 115,000
    • Number of sand bunkers: 111
    • Carts restricted to paths
    • Push carts available

Hole-by-Hole

The 1st Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 9/11

Ross once noted that the first hole of any golf course shouldn’t be too difficult. “Give the player a chance to warm up a bit,” he said. There’s plenty of room to drive the ball and the hole is not too long. But the green provides a glimpse of the challenges to come – poor approaches will easily bounce away from the flag.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/01PR2f10-m0144Hc.jpg

Yardage

  • US Open 402
  • Blue 393
  • White 376
  • Green 366
  • Red 340

The 2nd Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 5/3

The second hole was the most difficult in the 2005 U.S. Open, averaging 4.5 strokes. The angle of approach is key. A drive favoring the left side of the fairway will offer the best look at the green, which sits at an angle and is heavily bunkered front-right.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Pinehurst-No.-2-2nd-Hole.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 2

Yardage

  • US Open 507
  • Blue 439
  • White 411
  • Green 390
  • Red 342

The 3rd Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 3/9

1999 U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart made three birdies in four rounds on this short par 4, and it offers you a good birdie opportunity as well. Play for position off the tee with a fairway wood or long-iron, short of the bunker that creeps into the fairway on the right. Be conservative on the approach shot – over the green is trouble.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Pinehurst-No.-2-3rd-Hole.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 3

Yardage

  • US Open 387
  • Blue 350
  • White 330
  • Green 309
  • Red 283

The 4th Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 1/1

This classic Donald Ross hole is reachable for the long hitters, but for the average player it will play as a three shot hole. Favor the left side with your tee shot to allow for the slope of the fairway. Be cautious of the bunkers approaching the green on opposite sides of the fairway.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/04PR2s13-2m1373Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 4

Yardage

  • US Open 529
  • Blue 474
  • White 434
  • Green 326
  • Red 316

The 5th Hole on No. 2

Par 5 | HCP 11/15

In the 2014 Men’s U.S. Open on Saturday, Martin Kaymer hit a 7 iron from 202 yards out of the wire grass to make eagle and get back to -10 for the Championship. Favor the right side with your tee shot, since this fairway slopes severely from right to left. Aim your approach shot for the right side of the green, as any missed shot to the left will leave you with a very demanding up and down.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/05PR2s13-2m1789Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 5

Yardage

  • US Open 576
  • Blue 508
  • White 462
  • Green 432
  • Red 417

The 6th Hole on No. 2

Par 3 | HCP 17/5

This par 3 was the 6th-most difficult hole in the U.S. Open, with competitors averaging 3.3 shots. For pros and amateurs alike, it’s a long-iron or fairway wood, ideally shaped a little from right-to-left. Bunkers catch anything hit a little offline, and a severe slope off the front of the green repels shots hit short of the target.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/06PR2s13-2m1898Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 6

Yardage

  • US Open 242
  • Blue 203
  • White 178
  • Green 170
  • Red 116

The 7th Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 13/7

After 5 and 6, the 7th hole offers a bit of a breather. This is the sharpest dogleg on the golf course, and a cluster of bunkers on the right corner can grab tee shots that are pushed or leaked to the right. Favor the left-center off the tee, which will leave you a mid-to-short iron into a green sloped from back-to-front.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/07PR2s13-2m1484Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 7

Yardage

  • US Open 424
  • Blue 393
  • White 385
  • Green 313
  • Red 306

The 8th Hole on No. 2

Par 5 | HCP 15/17

This par 5 from the white tees plays as a par 4 for the U.S. Open. The average score during the U.S. Open was 4.3. Approach shots missed left or long will make for a difficult up-and-down. This green is dramatically sloped from back-to-front.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/08PR2s13-2m0099Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 8

Yardage

  • US Open 502
  • Blue 469
  • White 440
  • Green 419
  • Red 400

The 9th Hole on No. 2

Par 3 | HCP 7/13

This is the shortest hole on the course but nonetheless can bare some fangs. Club selection is essential, since most of the trouble lies to the left and behind the putting surface. This two-tiered green is wide and shallow, sloping from left-to-right.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/09PR2s13-2m0103Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 9

Yardage

  • US Open 191
  • Blue 174
  • White 148
  • Green 140
  • Red 124

The 10th Hole on No. 2

Par 5 | HCP 10/18

The longest hole on the golf course may be reachable for some players, but they will be throwing caution to the wind in doing so. A good drive and a fairway wood should leave a wedge or short-iron into the green for a birdie try. The second shot must steer clear of a bunker on the left side of the fairway, approaching 110 yards from the green.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/10PR2s13-2m1352Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 10

Yardage

  • US Open 617
  • Blue 580
  • White 455
  • Green 438
  • Red 421

The 11th Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 14/8

This is the first of a critical stretch of four par 4s. The fairway appears wide, but is bordered down the right and left side with a traditional Pinehurst trademark – hardpan sand, wire-grass, pine needles and pinecones. The safe approach shot is to the right-center portion of the green.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/11PR2s13-2m0419Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 11

Yardage

  • US Open 483
  • Blue 455
  • White 375
  • Green 358
  • Red 320

The 12th Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 12/10

This subtle dogleg to the right requires an accurate tee shot, with more hardpan sand and wire-grass framing the right and left side of the fairway. A left-center tee shot affords the best angle into the green.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/12PR2s13-2m1681Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 12

Yardage

  • US Open 484
  • Blue 419
  • White 360
  • Green 336
  • Red 293

The 13th Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 6/6

This classic short par 4 is far from a pushover. Your tee shot must avoid the fairway bunkers on the right. Club selection is crucial because an approach shot hit even slightly short will roll back down to the fairway.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/13PR2s13-2m0441Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 13

Yardage

  • US Open 385
  • Blue 375
  • White 358
  • Green 327
  • Red 278

The 14th Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 8/2

This scenic tee shot must favor the right side of the fairway, avoiding the deep fairway bunker on the left and the set of four fairway bunkers on the right. Approach shots missed right or long will make for a challenging up-and-down. This classically crowned Donald Ross green, protected by two bunkers, is severely sloped from back-to-front.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/14PR2s13-2m1667Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 14

Yardage

  • US Open 473
  • Blue 433
  • White 419
  • Green 347
  • Red 337

The 15th Hole on No. 2

Par 3 | HCP 18/12

A long, difficult par 3 for any player. The pronounced crowning effect of this narrow green puts a premium on a well-struck tee shot. If anything, favor the front portion of the green, since up-and-downs are easier from the front of the green versus behind it.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/15PR2s13-2m0146Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 15

Yardage

  • US Open 202
  • Blue 183
  • White 170
  • Green 153
  • Red 124

The 16th Hole on No. 2

Par 5 | HCP 4/16

This hole is a par 5 for resort play, but played as a par 4 for the 2005 U.S. Open. The field averaged 4.4 strokes, making this the 2nd-most difficult hole. The key element after a good tee shot is to avoid a hidden bunker on the left of the fairway, near where your second shot should land.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/16PR2s13-2m0157Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 16

Yardage

  • US Open 528
  • Blue 513
  • White 478
  • Green 437
  • Red 411

The 17th Hole on No. 2

Par 3 | HCP 16/14

This par 3 played a pivotal role in the outcome of both the 1999 U.S. Open, with Payne Stewart making a dramatic birdie to assume a one shot lead on Sunday, and the 2005 U.S. Open when Michael Campbell sealed his victory with a birdie. Right-side hole locations are the most difficult, so take enough club.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/17PR2s13-2m1446Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 17

Yardage

  • US Open 205
  • Blue 185
  • White 162
  • Green 152
  • Red 145

The 18th Hole on No. 2

Par 4 | HCP 2/4

In the 1999 U.S. Open, Payne Stewart hit his drive into the right-hand rough, punched out short of the green, hit a wedge to 15 feet, and calmly rolled in the uphill putt to win his second U.S. Open! Avoid the long, deep fairway bunker down the right side off the tee and you’ll have a mid-to-short iron into the green. The greenside bunker short right is particularly tough.

https://www.pinehurst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/18PR2s13-2m0276Hc.jpg
Hole Illustration for Pinehurst No. 18

Yardage

  • US Open 451
  • Blue 415
  • White 366
  • Green 358
  • Red 329
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.