Golf Course Rating Systems involve at least ten rating categories.
Two of the most important rankings are usually playability and
resistance to scoring. Simply put, can the average player enjoy
a round, but does the course challenge the better player?

For over 75 years, Pine Hills (a Tom Bendelow design)
has done both of the above.

Pine Hills opens with five straight par 4's of various lengths
and going all four directions. The effective result of this design
feature is outstanding pace of play. (i.e., normally backups
of play occur at the first par 3).

Enough rhetoric, let's begin the tour!

Hole Number One Par 4...260-290 Yards A gentle beginning, but be careful! Better players will often use a fairway wood or iron to avoid trees left and right center. A 200-220 shot leaves a 40-80 yard apporach to a steeply sloped green guarded left and rear by sand. Play smart because harder holes are coming!

Hole Number Two Par 4...370-390 Yards Our of Bounds...operative words! Out of Bounds and trees left and right, so hit it straight! This is the last steeply sloped green guarded left and right by sand. Note: More Pine Hills Invitationals have been lost because of a big number on this hole more than any other hole! Play smart by keeping your ball short of the green leaving an easy uphill chip producing a happy face par before you cross the creek.

Hole Number Three Par 4...405-423 Yards Long drive required! This is a very flat hole with a very small green that requires you to use the driver and hit it hard! This is the number 2 handicap hole and unless you are "long"...play this hole as a Par 5!

Hole Number Four Par 4...355-370 Yards One of the best Par 4's anywhere! A gentle dogleg right with the green 35 feet above the tee, protected right and left by many trees. A high accurate middle to short iron is required because OB and sand await over the green. This hole proves that length and water aren't necessary to create an outstanding Par 4!

Hole Number Five Par 4...375-400 Yards The highest point on Pine Hills! You tee off from the highest spot on the property with a scenic view of the east rim of the canyon that surrounds Holes 7-8. A drive right gets more roll, and then a short or mid-iron to a green generally sloping left gets a solid par. The ten trees on the left edge of the fairway form an arrow pointed at the green but are another reason to keep your tee shot right.

Hole Number Six Par 3...120-148 Yards Short, but mighty! Check the wind by looking at the trees on the north rim of the canyon. When you have the right club you are shooting at the biggest green on the course and a birdie awaits. Before you hit, be aware that sand is left and left rear...and also right!

Hole Number Seven Par 4...415-445 Yards Beauty and the Beast! Normal players must play left of a series of trees that help form a dogleg right. Using the left route usually produces a 190-210 flat shot at the only green with 270 degrees of sand coverage. Many years ago, this was a Par 5 and it still is the number one handicap hole. As you leave the tee, look left and you may think you are in Oregon or Colorado. A par here...30 trees are in play...and you are a player!

Hole Number Eight Par 3...205-225 Yards Definitely a challenging hole! Perhaps the toughest Par 3 anywhere without water of "junk". The green is sloped left to right and a ball left of the green to a left pin requires a Phil Michelson flop shot and some luck! Keep your tee shot more right than it looks and then make a good pitch...and smile...you beat the "field" by a bunch. As you leave the eighth tee, glance behind you and you will be reminded of Carolina courses.

Hole Number Nine Par 5...505-520 Yards Pay attention on this hole! Avoid the big oak trees in the fairway on your drive and then decide whether you can carry the creek in front of you. The blue and red marker in the fairway is a 190 yard carry to avoid the heavy rough and 145 yards or less to lay-up. There is no sand around the large green and since it's a Par 5, it allows you to see some birdies!

The Back Nine
Use the yellow tee markers and your experience
from the front 9 and you should shoot even lower!

For The Ladies
The red tee markers at Holes 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and
playing hole #7 as a par five and hole #8 as a
Par 4 makes the course user friendly!

For The Purists from the Pro
You just played an old, old course with the
most modern architectural features.
1. Open approaches to all greens reminds me of Tom Fazio.
2. Gently to steeply sloping greens suggest R.T. Jones Jr.
3. Steep slopes at greenside on all holes suggest Jack Nicklaus.
4. The greens are 100% visible on the scoring shot on all
holes reminds me of Nicklaus.
5. The two doglegs are both clearly framed by trees and
the fairways tilt the direction of the dogleg...Nicklaus!

A Tip From The Pro
Pine Hills is open year around, but when the trees begin
to bloom in the spring and leaves change colors in the
fall, this place is REALLY special!
Pine Hills is a traditional design that will never go out
of style. Come enjoy our hospitality, admire our course design
and return to visit many times...you won't regret it!