Pinehurst No. 2 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina

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.

Pinehurst No. 2 - clubhouse

The main clubhouse at Pinehurst Resort is home to courses No. 1 through No. 5.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - caddies

A popular option for Pinehurst No. 2 is to take a caddie.

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Pinehurst No. 2 golf course - greens

Pinehurst No. 2's infamous crowned greens have steep run-off slopes, like on the par-5 eighth.

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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.

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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.

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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

Payne Stewart's triumphant 1999 U.S. Open win at Pinehurst No. 2 solidified the golf course as one of America's most reputable.

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