Pinehurst, N.C. – So, Pinehurst is growing. Like, a lot. And why not? Golfers love it, and honestly, I’m just here for the unfolding drama of grass and sand, one awkward divot at a time.
Why’s everyone talking about Pinehurst No. 11? Picture this: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, those golf course magic-makers, are gonna sprinkle their design fairy dust at Pinehurst Sandmines. Construction kicks off later this year and, fingers crossed, we’ll be hitting (and probably missing) balls there by Fall 2027. These guys also did wonders on Pinehurst No. 2 about 15 years back, and let’s just say the hype is real.
The Sandmines, which is also home to the new-ish Pinehurst No. 10 by Tom Doak, started its life quarry-style – all about digging up sand. Now, it’s evolving into a golf wonderland. The land’s contours still kinda shout about its past life as a mining hotspot, and I guess Coore & Crenshaw find that pretty enticing. Maybe they just love a good story?
“It’s a fantastic site, thanks to its very own personality,” Coore mentioned. He’s kind of in awe of how those old mining remnants and the stuff Mother Nature added – like trees and spoil piles – blend together. I mean, how often do you see land part-built by humans and part-nature just asking for golfers to swing away?
And Tom Doak’s No. 10, it’s all about dramatic elevation and “wow” views. But No. 11? Coore & Crenshaw have this vision where the course will be all twisty and winding, with ridges that’ll challenge even the most steady-handed golfer. These folks at Pinehurst just love mixing it up.
Tom Pashley, who’s the Pinehurst Resort President, chimed in saying it’s great how different No. 10 and No. 11 will be from each other. It’s like they’re brothers, but one prefers camping and ginger ale while the other’s all about city life and espresso.
For Coore, with his North Carolina upbringing and all, designing here is like a homecoming – but with a surprise twist. No. 11 terrain? It’s like nothing he’s seen before. He talks about it being choppy and quirky, full of rises and falls, like nature’s unpredictable art. You almost expect to see a leprechaun or something.
Fast forward a short bit – Pinehurst Sandmines is not just about golf courses. Oh no. They’re opening up this massive pro shop and all that in June. Swing by in August, and there’ll be a new restaurant and bar too. Lodging plans? Yeah, those are cooking up as well – could be ready by the end of 2027.
Bob Dedman Jr. (big boss at Pinehurst) wants Sandmines to be something special, something that’ll stick in the golf world’s collective memory. No doubt, with Coore & Crenshaw on No. 11 and Doak on No. 10, the possibilities have got him jazzed up about what’s to come.
If you’re itching for more details, hit up pinehurst.com. And yeah, Pinehurst Resort boasts an insane legacy. It is, after all, the Cradle of American Golf. Tons of championships have been here. You name it – U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup… they’ve done it all. And, they’ve got 10 championship golf courses fit for any golfer’s daydream. Booking tee times and packages? Just visit pinehurst.com or call them up.
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