Pinehurst No. 2 - clubhouse
0 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 - clubhouse
The main clubhouse at Pinehurst Resort is home to courses No. 1 through No. 5. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 5
1 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 5
The par-4 fifth hole on the No. 2 golf course at Pinehurst Resort is considered one of the toughest holes in the state, thanks to its length and difficult, crowned green. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 4
2 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 4
The par-5 fourth hole on the No. 2 golf course at Pinehurst Resort plays from an elevated tee box through trees to the green. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 5
3 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 5
The view from the fairway of the fifth hole of the No. 2 golf course at Pinehurst Resort shows a left portion of the green that is steeply sloped into the bunker. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - Ross house
4 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - Ross house
Through the trees you can make out the former house of Donald Ross, who lived just off the third green at Pinehurst No. 2. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 6 green
5 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 6 green
The sixth green features a false front on the No. 2 golf course at Pinehurst Resort like many greens here. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - caddies
6 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - caddies
A popular option for Pinehurst No. 2 is to take a caddie. Brandon Tucker/GolfPass
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - greens
7 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - greens
Pinehurst No. 2's infamous crowned greens have steep run-off slopes, like on the par-5 eighth. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 14
8 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 14
The par-4 14th hole on the No. 2 golf course at Pinehurst Resort features an elevated green. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 16
9 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - hole 16
The par-5 16th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 plays as a long par 4 during the U.S. Open. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Pinehurst Walk of Fame
10 of 12
Pinehurst Walk of Fame
Steps off the 18th green is Pinehurst's Walk of Fame: Payne Stewart, Robert Dedman, Donald Ross and Richard Tufts. Courtesy of Pinehurst
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - Payne Stewart
11 of 12
Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - Payne Stewart
Payne Stewart's triumphant 1999 U.S. Open win at Pinehurst No. 2 solidified the golf course as one of America's most reputable. Getty Images/Harry How
12 Images

Pinehurst No. 2: A classic North Carolina golf course steeped in tradition and prestige

VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. -- The main event at the eight-course Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst No. 2, is not only on the current U.S. Open rotation (hosting next in 2014 with the U.S. Women's Open the following week), in its history dating back to 1907, it's also hosted the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup Matches, as well as the Tour Championship among many others.

The golf course was the most beloved by Donald Ross, who lived off the third fairway and was constantly tweaking the course until his death in 1948, and it is no coincidence that two of the toughest greens here are the ones closest to his house: No. 3 and No. 5.

The signature of No. 2 is the greens, often small and difficult to hit with run-off areas, likened to "upside down saucers." The course is fairly generous off the tee, and there is very little out of bounds, but the first three holes play along the road with O.B. left.

Though a par 70 in the U.S. Open, it plays as a par 72 for daily play.

The golf course has changed much in its century of existence. In fact, the course had sand greens until just before hosting the PGA Championship. It is slated to undergo course alterations in the years leading up to 2014 from the design firm of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

Brandon Tucker is the Sr. Managing Editor for GolfPass and was the founding editor of Golf Advisor in 2014, he was the managing editor for Golf Channel Digital's Courses & Travel. To date, his golf travels have taken him to over two dozen countries and nearly 600 golf courses worldwide. While he's played some of the most prestigious courses in the world, Tucker's favorite way to play the game is on a great muni in under three hours. Follow Brandon on Twitter at @BrandonTucker and on Instagram at @btuck34.
Now Reading
Pinehurst No. 2: A classic North Carolina golf course steeped in tradition and prestige