LA pulled the first weekend duty of all three kids at home by yourself and let me attend the 12th Annual Pinehurst Golf Weekend. I haven't played all 12 years but I haven't missed many. This group is anywhere from 11 to 25 people. You need a sense of humor, be quick with a comeback, and some thick skin to survive a weekend with this group. I won't get into all the details of the weekend because Pinehurst is like Vegas of the South with golf courses, no casinos/gambling (except on the golf course and in the rooms), no fancy hotels, no clubs and no women. Pretty sure the only reason you come to the Pinehurst area is for golf. I haven't found another reason yet to just visit. I just wanted to give a brief review of the golf and some of the food establishment from the weekend in case you ever find yourself in the are looking for something to do.
Golf Courses
- Mike Strantz Design (one of my favorite golf designers, I have played a few of his designs - Bulls Bay in Charleston, Caladonia and True Blue in Pawleys Island (superb golf courses) and Tot Hill Farm (in the middle of nowwhere NC) - click the links to see the courses)
- Golf Digest 4.5 Star Rating
- Top Ten Hardest Courses by Golf Digest
- Golf World Readers Top 4 Public Course
- Our Life Top 10 in Courses I've Played
I had a great round of golf there and shot a 79. I haven't shot that low in a number of years and it came after a looooooong lay off. I am not sure I can remember the last round I had played that I had kept my own score in the past year. I remember a couple of captain choice tournaments but there's not a whole lot of golf going on in my world...making babies, yes, changing diapers, yes.
I attribute the round to low expectations and trying to keep up with my playing partner Alex who shot 75. I started leaking oil on the back nine around 13 and limped home.
We played an additional 9 holes as two man teams in a Captain Choice Format. Tim D and I were paired together and it got difficult carrying him the whole 9 holes. We were just out of the money at -1 par (winner -2).
It was a great start to the golf weekend.
Don't miss out on any opportunity to play this course. It's one of my favorites.
Carolina Trace
- 36 holes, traditional golf course, private gated community, surrounded by a huge lake
- Watch out for some of the older members - no hats in the bar area (sorry, didn't know the rule, there isn't a sign, not a member).
After battling for 18 holes, we thought it would be fun to play another 18 in a 6-6-6 format....great idea. We played as two man teams and played the holes - 6 as Captain's Choice, 6 as Alternate Shot, and 6 as Best Ball. In case you are wondering, none of us are ready for prime time. The alternate shot was quite interesting and the only words you heard the entire 6 holes were "I'm sorry". My partner JP and I put each other in some creative places. When you put mediocre golfers together you get mediocre golf. We had a few laughs but it was a long day at the office.
Dormie
- Golfweek 3rd Best New Course 2011 (opened May 2010)
- 2012 Top Modern Courses
- Going Private in 8-12 Months - get there before you can't play there
- Coore - Crenshaw Design
- Our Life Top 25 Courses I've Played
The minimalist design of the course is a refreshing change and the use of the natural terrain made it a fun course to play and hope we find a way to get another round here in the future.
They might have taken the minimalist design to the extreme. When we arrived at the bag drop, we were informed they were out of caddies and fore caddies (which didn't break our hearts and would save our bank accounts). He followed that up with the course doesn't have yardage markers on the sprinkler heads. No big deal, we will just purchase a yardage book in the pro shop - "Nope, don't have yardage book either. We do have the 150 and 100 marked on the sides of the fairways." - let the adventure begin. I don't fully understand the no yardage markers on the sprinkler heads or yardage books...maybe that is a year 3 budget item. Even if they go private and use caddies/fore caddies, a member would like a sprinkler head marked. Anyway, technology saved the day and a couple of people had apps on their smartphones that assisted with yardage all day.
I found my groove again and shot a respectable 87. Could have been a little better but at this stage in my golf career, I will take an 87 all day, any day, any course (except a par 3 course).
Another course that I would play again and you should also play before they go private.
Food
Food
- Tobacco Road
- I am not one to talk about golf course food but the Bar B Que sandwich was one of the best I have ever had. It was tasty and a large sandwich. A surprisingly good value found at the golf course that wasn't a hot dog.
- Ironwood Cafe
- We found this gem a few year back after many years eating at Beefeaters. These two places both serve up a good steak but are hard to compare - Beefeaters is like a hometown Outback with a salad bar and some great processed cheese spread and crackers and Ironwood is a little more upscale without all the things that make you like Beefeaters but you don't miss them (not quite downtown Charleston but close). Oscars in Summerville would be a good comparison to Ironwood.
- Pete's Diner
- Don't let the 92.5 rating scare you (it rounds up to 93 which is an "A").
- They serve up a good country breakfast
- Dinner looks like country cooking but we have never ventured there after the breakfast hours - eat at your own risk
- San Felipe
- Mexican
- Nothing to review here, it the same as every other Mexican joint you have been too - good chips salsa and you can order the same number 21 (or anything else on the menu you normally order) that you order at home and it will be exactly the same.
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