by Dick Wilson
I recently read a writeup in The Pilot, Southern Pines, NC, by Howard Ward, golf writer, regarding Tim McDonald's artcle. The article is well written and clearly has some nice factual information regarding his top ten courses in the Sandhills area of Moore County.
Although his list has many of my favorites, I have a different view of their order. I have lived and played all of the courses in this area, as well as others in North and South Carolina through CGA and CPGA Senior tournaments. I also work at a local golf course, The Carolina, and have shared my preference list with many golfers. Most of them tend to agree, in general, with my list as a whole. And, Pinehurst #2 is NOT #1 on the list. It's reputation continues to carry it forward on all the lists but clearly there are other courses that golfers prefer to play. Here is my current ranking which can change during the year due to weather conditions, modifications or maintenance. An (*) denotes a private course that may require a member to play with guests.
*Forest Creek(36)
*CCNC(36)
Pinehurst #8
Mid South
Pinehurst #4
Pinehurst #2
The National
Pine Needles
Pinewild - Magnolia
Pinehurst #6
Pinehurst #7
Talamore
Carolina Trace(36)
Mid Pines
Pinewild - Holly
Foxfire(36)
The Carolina
Whispering Pines - Pines
Anderson Creek
Legacy
Southern Pines (Elks Club)
Seven Lakes
Pinehurst #3
Bayonet at Puppy Creek
Keith Hills(36)
Woodlake - Maples
Little River Farm
Hyland Hills
The Pit
Pinehurst #5
Tobacco Road
Woodlake - Palmer
Whispering Pines - River
Deercroft
Whispering Woods
Quail Ridge
Longleaf
Tot Hill Farm
Beacon Ridge
Carolina Lakes
Midland
Ponderosa
Sanford GC
Others that are slightly out of the local area but worth playing:
Tillery Tradition
Gates Four
Cypress Lakes
*Pinewood
Siler City GC
Asheboro CC
Montgomery GC