Pinehurst Resort came to life from a mere pasture in 1895, and today, it's one of the premier golf destinations in the country. Historians celebrate the location for the role it has been playing in popularizing golf nationwide during the Gilded Age. James Walker Tufts, the founder of Pinehurst Resort, was dedicated to making it the epicenter for American golfers, which is why he hired the acclaimed Donald Ross to oversee the designing of the golf courses.

Since Pinehurst Resort is a prestigious golf destination, you may wonder whether you can play the courses without staying there. If you dream of having a golf vacation at this picturesque resort, we have some good news for you – you can play Pinehurst No. 1, 3, and 5, as well as The Cradle, just by calling ahead at 855.835.0771, opt 5, and book your tee time at least one day in advance. For golf courses 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9, however, you have to be a resort guest.

The Pinehurst Golf Courses You Can Play Any Time and Becoming a Club Member

If you want to play the golf courses for which you don't have to be a resort guest, you'll have to pay green fees of between $50 to $490. Alternatively, if you fell in love with Pinehurst and want to play there often, you can become a member. Since 1947, the resort has been featuring the Pinehurst Country Club. To become a member, it offers transferrable and non-transferrable memberships in five different categories, namely:

• Signature Golf
• Premier Golf
• Classic Golf
• Sports
• Social

The Signature membership, for instance, has a $45,000 initiation fee and monthly dues of $620. For their investment, golfers are given access to one of the finest facilities in the world. Currently, members have more golf, more amenities, and more dining options than ever before, which makes this the most rewarding time to be a Pinehurst Resort member.

It's important to keep in mind that memberships are invitation-only, with invitations offered to new property owners of a property with a preexisting transferable membership. For those new to the community who don't know any members, the Membership Director can facilitate a tour of the Pinehurst Country Club, help identify a potential Member Sponsor, and an invitation can be given on their behalf.

Undoubtedly, becoming a member of the Pinehurst Country Club has many noteworthy, exclusive perks, as the club boasts nine championship golf courses and The Cradle, 16 clay tennis courts, 12 pickleball courts, an Olympic-sized pool, two championship croquet courts, a lawn bowling court, two fitness centers, and the private Lake Pinehurst, which is a 200-acre freshwater lake open for fishing, kayaking, or just relaxing or sunbathing.

The Takeaway

If you don't want to book a Pinehurst golf package, you can still play the otherworldly courses this historical destination has to offer, either by choosing to enjoy a round on the public ones or by becoming a member of the Pinehurst Country Club. Regardless of your decision, we highly encourage you to have a memorable experience at this awe-inspiring place. Pinehurst is known as the "Cradle of American Golf," which speaks volumes about the notoriety of this destination.

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