In our fast-paced world, we've come to value traditions that reach out to touch the past. That's why Mid Pines is so special and rare among golf clubs. It has 18 holes that are in exactly the same positions with the same numbers as when the course opened in 1921.
That doesn't mean that the layout of the course has been neglected or overlooked. When the current owners took over the property in the mid-1990s, a
n effort was made to polish this classic gem: Tees were leveled, a pond was rebuilt and cleaned up. Irrigation and drainage were improved.
Many people have characterized the course as “pure Donald Ross” because of how it fits the land where it was built. It has few forced carries or artificial or contrived holes. Says Lee Pace, writing about the course in Pinehurst magazine: “Mid Pines was never conceived as a daunting task to the finest players competing under championship conditions … Mid Pines was intended simply as a fun course with adequate challenge for members and guests of a private club and resort.”
Even so, this course does play home to many national competitions including the 2002 USGA Senior Women's Amateur Championship.
You're going to find hillier terrain on this course than Pine Needles; Mid Pines is also slightly shorter.
Your round at Mid Pines will start with a 380-yard par-4 (350 from the forward tees). From the elevated tee, you'll be looking out at a broad fairway that is framed by mature longleaf pine trees.
The par-3s are among the most popular holes on this course, and perhaps the most photographed hole on the course, according to Graham Gilmore Director of Golf at both Mid Pines and Pine Needles, is the par-3 No.2. You'll need an uphill shot from elevated tee boxes to an elevated green that makes for a tough target to hit. There's a distance of 178 yards from the back tees and 116 from the front.
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Gilmore is especially fond of the fourth hole, a par-4 that measures 330 from the back tees and 249 from the forward. “It's classic Donald Ross,” he says. “It's a par 4 with a fairway that slopes from left to right and has a well-guarded 
green. It's not challenging due to distance but you can either make a three on that hole or a seven.” Your approach shot with a short iron must be very precise and your ball can easily hit onto the green only to roll off again.
It helps on this course to be able to work a ball from left-to-right and from right-to-left on various holes. A good example is the dogleg right 9th hole, a par-4 that measures 340 yards from the back and 294 from the front.
The par-5 10th hole is among the most beautiful on the course, calling for a drive up and over a ridge. Along the way, you have to deal with a number of ball-trapping bunkers.
The 13th is one of the most difficult par-3s anywhere, 223 yards from the back tees and 150 from the front. The green is well-bunkered and narrow.
The greens often seem particularly small, particularly in comparison with the large-sized monster putting surfaces of modern courses. That's especially true on the 14th, a par-4 that measures 361 from the back tees and 273 from the front. The green here undulates up and down and is surrounded by bunkers.
“The hole at Mid Pines that people remember most is No. 18,” says Gilmore, “That's because of the beautiful hotel in the background. It's a slight dogleg left par-4 (411 from the back tees and 319 from the forward). The approach to the green is uphill.”
Mid Pines is definitely a reminder of the times when life was simpler and golf was golf. You can feel history swirling around you as you play here.
Click Here to book a room reservation today or call us at (800) 747-7272.
Ready for a round? Click Here or give us a call now at (910) 692-7111 for your tee time!
