pinehurst buddy trip

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How to plan a buddies' golf trip to Pinehurst Resort

• Author: Jon Morse and Brian Dierks

Around the world, Pinehurst is where the American golf story is rooted, and where it continues to flourish. Most avid golfers know of Pinehurst's modern history – with stories such as Payne Stewart and the putt that won the 1999 U.S. Open . But locked within its archives are thousands of moments that define each golf generation for the past 100 years. Pinehurst is America’s first golf resort.

Since 1898, Pinehurst has hosted more championships than any other club in the country, and the resort looks forward to being the site of the 2024 U.S. Open. Until then, guests are invited to explore nine Pinehurst courses and create personalized championship experiences. This bucket-list golf destination will leave you and your buddies a memory that will last a lifetime.

Hit the play button below to listen, and be sure to check back each week for new episodes of "The Golf Trip Authority," which is part of the Morning Read Podcast Network .

Sign up to receive the Morning Read newsletter, along with Where To Golf Next and The Equipment Insider.

The Ready-Made Golf Trip – Pinehurst 2021

Join us june 17th - june 20th at pinehurst resort.

The Perfect Itinerary

Pinehurst resort – ready-made golf trip by tripcaddie.

The Ultimate Bucket List Experience for your Buddies Golf Trip!

Dates: Thu June 17th – Sun June 20th

4 Rounds of Golf (plus The Cradle), 3 Nights at the Holly Inn

Get your group of 4, 8, 12 or more together and register now for this ultimate buddies golf trip experience! Sign up soon to claim your preferred tee times and line up non-golf activities. TripCaddie has taken care of the lodging and golf reservations so you can just pay and show up with your group. This is your trip with your buddies.

Download   the flyer for this trip  and share it with your group — or send them the link to this page. Everyone will need to acknowledge the Terms and Conditions for the offer including our cancellation policy.

For more information about Pinehurst Resort and Tobacco Road:

• Check out our podcast interviews with Ben Bridgers, the Director of Golf at Pinehurst Resort , and Martha Hudson, the Director of Brand Marketing and Retail at Tobacco Road , on The Golf Trip Authority Podcast.
• Visit our Destination pages for  Pinehurst Resort  and Tobacco Road on TripCaddie.com.

Call for Reservations and Payments: (708) 320-8210

Pricing (per person): $2299 for Double room (2 Queen beds, double occupancy) or $2599 for Single room (King, single occupancy)

Accommodations: 3 nights at the Holly Inn, optional extra nights for Wednesday or Sunday night are available (addt’l $309/night single or $155/night double)

Golf includes carts and/or caddies* with rounds at Tobacco Road, Pinehurst #2, Pinehurst #4, Pinehurst #8, and The Cradle

Payments: Each person can pay individually via credit card (call the number above) or Venmo ( @tripcaddie ). A 50% deposit is required by 4/16 with final balance payments due by 5/16 . If paying by Venmo, you will receive a discount of $50 off the package price.

Cancellations: If someone in the group needs to cancel after making a deposit, try to find a replacement to fill the spot to avoid cancellation fees. If you don’t find a replacement, we will have to re-book the room / tee times with another group. If one person in a Double room cancels and you can’t find a replacement, we have to cancel the roommate’s reservation as well. If there’s availability, we can re-book the roommate in a Single room at the higher rate. The full cancellation policy is available in the Terms and Conditions .

Travel recommendations: Raleigh-Durham International is the closest major airport (~1 hour away) but Charlotte Douglas International is also within 2 hours of the resort. You will need to arrange for a car to drive from the airport to the resort. Lock in your tee times before making flight reservations for Thursday and Sunday.

* Additional fees apply for optional activities, individual/double bag caddies, and extra nights lodging. Optional items are subject to availability. Gratuities for all caddies, resort staff and shuttle services are not included but strongly encouraged.

It’s not about what we do for the game, it’s about what the game does for our SOUL.

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We are dedicated to providing quality, all inclusive custom golf packages featuring over 40 courses at the Home of American Golf. We pride ourselves on local knowledge and premier customer service. Our long list of satisfied and returning groups is our biggest asset.

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Our science leads to your success..., simple for you...comprehensive & detailed by us.

If your travel plans or bucket list has led you to the Pinehurst Area of North Carolina, and you desire a fully mapped out golf vacation package put together by an industry-heralded professional with over 20 years of success, please let us help you and your group. Our comprehensive online itinerary can be accessed from anywhere, by any member of your group, and is updated by us anytime your plan needs modifications.

What sets us apart from our competition? Coupled with our local Pinehurst knowledge and service, your group's online itinerary is every reason our clients use our services again and again. See a sample online itinerary below with mock details of a group like yours:

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Every itinerary is completely specific to each client we serve. You get a fully customized golf package to the Village of Pinehurst and/or surrounding areas for any length of stay. Pre-arranged & guaranteed tee times at all the courses you want to play. Up to date course maintenance schedules to ensure optimal playing conditions. Online registration & payment via check or PayPal for each member of your group. A complete selection of accommodation options...from the best inventory of single family homes to condos or hotels. Most importantly, you'll get our industry-heralded, personalized service and attention to detail. Sandhills Golf Packages is the premier company covering every aspect of your vacation in the simplest possible manner for you and your guests.

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Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area, known as the Home of Golf, is a popular golf destination for traveling golfers with more than 40 golf courses and 18 resort courses - from golf course designers like - Rees Jones, Coore & Crenshaw, Reese Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Jr. and Arnold Palmer. Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area offers golf packages for buddies trips, couples getaways and golfers looking to play top notch golf courses in North Carolina.

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Pinehurst Golf Trip

Pinehurst Golf Trip:  If you somehow “lucked into” being in charge of organizing your buddy golf trip you know just how much work it can be. Fortunately, there are few things more fun than heading out of town for a few days of golf with all your buddies. So if you are in that unenviable position of outing organizer, let me give you a few ideas for a Pinehurst trip that I have picked up over the years.

Time to man up and plan your golf trip!

While there are tons of great courses in Pinehurst within 6 square miles, we typically play a rotation of about 8. The first trick to planning your trip is to find a good golf travel coordinator. While it is possible to make all of the tee times yourself it is much more efficient, and likely cheaper, to hook into a travel coordinator.

For the past 4 years we have gone through the folks at Talamore Golf Resort.   Andrea has been able to get us preferred rates on a lots of courses, line up our tee times, make sure we don’t get put on punched greens and house us in town homes right in Talamore. For a quick reference their number is 800-552-6292.

Talamore Condos

While I usually only spend about 15 non-sleeping minutes in our condo, they are more than comfortable. Each has a nice TV, kitchen and living room. They come with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 4 beds. Plus a couple of big chairs for falling asleep in!

View from our condo at Talamore

So on to the courses: This year we played Mid Pines, Mid South, Seven Lakes and Talamore: All great courses but each one unique:

Mid Pines: The sister course of Pine Needles where the US Women’s Open is sometimes played. This is an older course with a huge club house (albeit not exactly modern). The layout is a Donald Ross design that is straight forward and pleasing. You will not find any tricked up holes here but plenty of beauty. This was our first year playing Mid Pines and while we all enjoyed it, the conditions were not as exquisite as I expected and that coupled with the fact it is one of the more expensive courses we will likely put it in the every 3rd year rotation.

Mid South:  A staple of our golf trip year in and year out. This Arnold Palmer course has a bit of everything: hills, water, sand, trees and a great new club house. We love this course so much we sometimes play both a morning and afternoon round here (although this year we only played it in the afternoon). The course is private but when you book through Talamore they get you on which is another reason to use an agent.

Seven Lakes: Not your typical fancy Pinehurst golf course but one of our absolute favorites! Seven Lakes is located about 20 minutes from Pinehurst which is one reason we either play it twice on Friday or on the way out on Saturday. This Peter Tufts design is challenging but fair. Personally, I like the course because it feels mature but not old. More importantly, the greens are always in great shape and the staff is awesome. Plus they have a huge club house where 12 guys can chow lunch and drink beers in between rounds. While not as fancy as the other courses we play, it is every bit as good and the laid back setting suits us perfectly.

Seven Lakes Signature Hole

Talamore:  There is nothing like rolling out of bed only 100 yards from the club house which is precisly why we stay at Talamore. A Rees Jones design will dish out all that you can chew. Even from the whites (6,100 yards) this course will test you with a desert full of sand traps and elevation made for a Llama. Yup, you can literally get a Llama to carry your bags.

Talamore Golf Course #18

Getting to Pinehurst: Even though I drive to Pinehurst, I do have a few buddies who fly in. Raleigh-Durham airport is only about 90 minutes away from Pinehurst making it super easy to get to from nearly anywhere.

Night life: While our trip is mostly focused around golf, we do go to “downtown” Southern Pines. Its only about 10 minutes away but we always call Johnny C at Pinehurst Taxi who will run a bunch of us there for $5 a man. Can’t beat that with a DUI stick. Johnny will give you all kinds of suggestions, just tell him what kind of trouble you want to get into.

“Hey Llama-how about a little something for the effort?”

Format: If you are looking for match ideas suited for a bunch of varied handicappers, check out what has worked well for us.

That’s it for this year. Let me know if you have any questions as I would be glad to help.

Disclaimer: I did receive partial rate reduction in consideration for our blog post but it was not a motivating factor in our booking this trip.

More from my site

I know exactly what you are talking about when I am the “lucky” one who gets to choose where the boys go for the next golf vacation. Of the places we went, nothing was more relaxing and luxurious than the Dominican Republic trip I planned for the Punta Espada golf course. We stayed at a gorgeous villa http://www.capcanavilla.net and had the time of our lives. Golf by day, beach, casino, and nightlife by night. I recommend taking a look to you and your subscribers the next time you look for a trip.

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Progress On Pinehurst Trip

I received this question from a reader recently: Hello Matt. I'm just wondering if the "buddy trip-planner contest" winners to Pinehurst in July have been determined? ( Clark Overstreet , Mt. Vernon, IL)

Tell us something we don't know: I deserve this trip because there is nothing I would rather do with my spare time than play golf with friends. ( John Dunleavy, Raleigh, NC )

Short but not sweet enough :

PLEASE PICK ME! ( Monica Majewski , East Hampton, CT)

He's the best. ( Doug Biben , New York, NY)

Just to get away. ( Karen Massey , Savannah, GA)

He Rocks! ( Jo Evans , Ipswich, MA)

"Thank God for inventing golf" : Winning a weekend at Pinehurst (Nirvana) would be my reward for making sure my buddies always walk away from our trips with one thought: "Priceless." I make sure they have price ranges for the airlines, schedules, itinerary of the courses to be attached with tee times, descriptions and history of each course, restaurant reviews and individual bedrooms to mitigate snoring debates. I get each guy psyched before the trip with e-mail blasts and I do my best to kick up their competitive juices for the multitude of bets. Friendships are renewed, forged and strengthened on these trips. Thank God for inventing golf. ( Elliot DeBear , Scarsdale, NY)

Where can I get a freind like this?: Bob Sandt has coordinated trips for his golf buddies to places such as: Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Arizona, RTJ Trail, Cozumel and more. He has never asked for any compensation or recognition for his efforts, except great fun and a lot of laughter. His trips go on without a hitch, come in on budget and include a photo album of our adventures for each traveler. He coordinates travel groups from four to 80 members, age ranges from 26 to 76 and he has included 80 to 100 different people over the past 20 years. He is simply the best! ( Bob Gorelik , Park City, UT)

On behalf of the selfless spouse : Because he works 60-plus hours per week to provide for our family. He always puts his family first, before anyone or anything. He goes without so his family doesn't have to. He's one of the most loving, respectful, deserving, hard working men I've ever known. He doesn't take sick days or just lazy days to do something for himself. He needs this. He deserves this. ( Brittania Thompson , Greenwood, IN)

A very good use of 100 words: Graylin Lawson is the most awesome annual trip planner. Graylin coordinates a long weekend for a dozen of his golf buddies in the Fairfield Glades Resort area in Tenn. The weekend consists of playing 36 a day for two days, and one day with 18 holes, but five different courses all within 45 minutes of each other. One night we cook our own steaks at our woodsy accommodations--the other night we go out to eat. It's a great trip for under $500, and if you're a golf buddy, all you have to do is show up and enjoy yourself. ( Michael Yarbrough , Hendersonville, TN)

Finally, there's Sad if it's true: Because his wife is a nasty piece of work that doesn't give the poor guy a chance to catch his breath. In many years he hasn't had more than the escape he gets from sleep. So please help this poor guy get some air! ( Steve , Youknowwhereyouarefrom, USA)

We'll announce the six winners on this website at the end of the month.

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Incredible Golf Trip Destinations: Pinehurst Resort

The Cradle (Photo courtesy of Pinehurst Resort)

“Pinehurst Resort lends itself to a ‘buddy trip’, due to the numerous course layouts it has,” said Eric Alpenfels, PGA, director of golf instruction and the Golf Academy. “Furthermore, the courses have various levels of difficulty, ranging from easier layouts to much more challenging layouts, which even test the skills of professional golfers.”

“There are also lots of opportunities for stroke play, match play activities and even alternate shot challenges. For example, golfers can enjoy stroke play on No. 4 in the morning and then an alternate shot match on No. 3 in the afternoon,” said Alpenfels, PGA.

“Whether golf buddies want to golf as many courses as possible, relax at the resort’s clubhouse, restaurants and bars, or spend time outside participating in other activities, along with golf, Pinehurst Resort truly offers something for everyone,” Alpenfels shares.

Other Courses Near Pinehurst Resort:

• Midland Country Club : Currently the only nine-hole golf course located in Pinehurst, Midland provides golf buddies an affordable option in the area, as it only costs $22 for nine holes with a cart. A sister course, known as Knollwood Fairways, is also available for the public.
• Southern Pines Golf Course : As the third original course ever designed by Donald Ross, Southern Pines has been opened since 1906. Aside from its history, the course is also known for its terrain, as it has several knolls and ridges.
• Talamore Golf Resort : Featuring 36 holes of golf (with layouts by Arnold Palmer and Rees Jones), Talamore offers golfers another resort experience in the Pinehurst area. Aside from its courses, the resort has various accommodations too, including lodges, villas and the Palmer Cottage, which was built for up to eight guests.
• Tobacco Road Golf Club : Boasting a layout unlike any other, Tobacco Road is a must play for any golf architecture fan. Architect Mike Strantz made the most of the unique North Carolina landscape to create a revolutionary design that meets his goal to test “a player’s eye, determination, and wits.”

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Pinehurst Buddy Trip

Monday, may 4, 2009, select your buddies & head for the sandhills.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Blog archive.

• Select Your Buddies & Head for the Sandhills
• ►  April (1)

Buddy Trip – Patrick Scheil goes for a magical 59 on Pinehurst No. 3

June 9, 2021

By Alex Podlogar

Patrick Scheil was on time. His buddy Matt Allison wasn’t.

Scheil watched as their tee time came and went on Tuesday. No Matt. One minute went by. Another. Then another.

The starter was there. No Matt.

Another two minutes. Another.

At this rate, Scheil could’ve gone to the range. Maybe rolled a few putts. He didn’t have his 58-degree wedge – it was getting a new shaft – and while that would’ve been  especially nice to have for a course like Pinehurst No. 3,  he’d have to make do without it. He had just walked to the first tee of No. 3 from his condo to meet Matt for an afternoon round.

Another minute went by.

Finally, there was Matt, in a cart. Seven minutes late.

“Oh, I was late,” Allison says. “No range. No putting green. The first swing of the day was off the first tee.”

The starter, though, was understanding. He just moved them back. Hey, No. 3 is a fun course.

“I love No. 3,” Scheil says. “It’s so much fun, but you don’t ever really realize how short it is because you really have to think your way around it. And the greens? There’s definitely greens out there that will remind you of No. 2.”

So, the starter said, have a good day, fellas.

Both are good players – Scheil, 33, played collegiately at Southern Illinois and still has his professional status. He took driver to start the  unique 5,155-yard, par-68 course , ripping it to the edge of the green of the 283-yard par-4 first hole. Two putts for a birdie. Good start.

The next hole is a 119-yard par-3. Gap wedge for Scheil to a few feet. Greens are perfect. Birdie. Two under through two.

And then? A couple of routine pars. Good looks, but pars. A birdie at the par-4 fifth got Scheil to 3 under before a par at the 166-yard sixth. And then a birdie on seven. And another on eight. With 12 feet for birdie on nine, Scheil rolled another one in.

“I just looked at Matt after that one and said, referring to the front nine, ‘I don’t know what that just was.’”

It was a 26.

“It just sounds stupid to even say out loud,” Scheil says.

Of course, there are another nine holes waiting. Scheil knew it. Allison knew it. Both are caddies in the area and know a special round when they happen upon one. They know golf’s magic number.

But still, 26?

“I had to kind of acknowledge it,” Scheil says, “otherwise it would’ve been in my head on every hole.”

“I was like, ‘Dude, what are you saying?’” Allison says. “You trying to jinx us?”

Maybe. Scheil had a 10-footer for birdie on 10 and missed, but followed with a birdie on the par-5 11 th . A par at the 196-yard, par-3 12 th  is a good score any day, and another birdie on a par-5, the 13 th , got Scheil to 8 under.

Now, it got tight.

“Matt really didn’t know how to act,” Scheil says. “It’s kind of like being around a pitcher throwing a no-hitter. He’s trying to think whether to say something, whether not to say anything, what to do. He just wanted to get out of the way. He hit his shots quickly, tried to tell me a few stories. Anything he could think of.”

Scheil noticed his friend grasping at straws.

“I kind of broke the tension a little bit,” Scheil says. “I told him, ‘Hey buddy, I need a caddie here. Just, you know, life-coach me a little bit here.’”

On 14, Scheil found the greenside bunker, and faced perhaps his toughest shot of the day.

Scheil hit it to 4 feet. Oh boy, here we go.

“Every great round needs a great par save, I really believe that,” Allison says. “And this was it.”

Scheil buried the 4-footer. He then got up-and-down again for par on 15. He made the birdie he needed on 16, but almost gave it away when faced with another up-and-down on 17. On 18, he had about a 12-footer for birdie that slid by, but it was enough.

Nine birdies. Nine pars. 26-33.

“It’s not my lowest round cumulative to par,” says Scheil, who’s shot 61 three times, “but it sure does sound the best.”

Scheil’s 59 calls to mind another one at Pinehurst.  Will Grimmer, then 16 years old, shot 59 on Pinehurst No. 1 in the 2013 North & South Junior Championship.

And while some may try to mock that it’s not a real 59 since it came on the par-68 Course 3, Scheil…well, he gets it.

“I say to that person, I completely understand,” Scheil says. “If I were on that side of it, I would probably question it myself.

“But, from my point of view, I would say this: OK, go beat it then.”

“Hey, a 59 is a 59,” Allison says. “No doubt about it.”

Although, Allison jokes…

“But, hey, you know, he did kind of limp it in for a 59.”