Home to the US Women's Open Championships in 1996, 2001, and 2007, the hallowed grounds and greens of Pine Needles and sister property Mid Pines have challenged the best strategies for more than 80 years. In 2004, Pine Needles underwent an extensive course restoration project to recapture the original spirit of Donald Ross.
    On the tee, in your mind’s eye, you are playing the hole backwards — “I want to putt from this side of the hole, so I need to get my approach there, and to get there I need to drive it here, but if I miss my drive, my alternate entry is…” This is when you know that you are under Donald Ross’s spell. It’s a wonderful place to be.
   Ross’s affection for North Carolina’s sandhills is well-documented; the area reminded him of his Scottish homeland, where he studied at the arm of Old Tom Morris. The topography here spoke to him and Ross listened, letting the land’s contours dictate the routing and holes. It was with the green complexes that he made his statement. To play at Pine Needles and Mid Pines is to live and breath Donald Ross golf. Couple this with impeccable course conditioning and our attentive service and you have a truly memorable golf experience. No wonder so many of our guests return year after year.