One of golf’s most famous destinations is gaining another course.
Pinehurst Resort announced the creation of No. 11, the second course at the Pinehurst Sandmines area of the property.
Construction at Pinehurst No. 11 will begin this year. The Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design is expected to open in late 2027, a little more than two years from now.
No. 11 joins Tom Doak’s design of Pinehurst No. 10 at the 900-acre site that used to be mined for its deep reservoirs of sand.
There will be a 6,000 square-foot pro shop and locker room opening this June and the Sandmines restaurant and bar will be open for business in August. Plans for lodging for guests staying on property are ongoing and could be in place by the end of 2027.
Coore and Crenshaw are no strangers to Pinehurst as the prolific design duo were responsible for the much-ballyhooed restoration of No. 2 more than 15 years ago. That work was all about bringing the Donald Ross masterpiece back to its original spirit; this time Coore and Crenshaw will be starting from scratch.
“It’s such a wonderful site, just because of its inherent character,” Coore said. “That character was essentially created, not all of it is natural, but it has all been reclaimed by nature. This land is left over from all that mining from the 1930s. The spoil piles are here, and Mother Nature provided the trees, and it’s all incredible. It’s not too often you get that kind of combination and it creates a site that is extraordinarily interesting for golf.”
While the No. 10 layout is known for its expansive vistas, No. 11 plans to be more winding and twisting with jutting ridges and massive mounds to be played over and around.
“The two courses really couldn’t be more different, and we love that,” said Tom Pashley, President of Pinehurst Resort. “The designs of No. 10 and No. 11 complement each other so well by contrasting so much. Golf in the North Carolina Sandhills can be an experience unlike any other and we believe the golf at Pinehurst Sandmines will be a great representation of that.”
There are many types of property in the Sandhills region of North Carolina but it’s believed the No. 11 course has different characteristics—man-made and natural—than anything else in the area.
“It’s this choppy, ridge-y ground,” Coore said. “It’s not as much elevation change but it’s so quirky with the ridges and the piles and the trees and the angles. This is going to be so intimate in scale. You’re winding your way through trees and over old piles and across ridges. We’re far, far, from the sea but we have these contours and features and landforms that remind you of spots in Ireland or Scotland. And yet here it is, in Pinehurst.”
I can’t wait. There are few better places to play golf in the country than Pinehurst. The property looks unbelievable and will be a departure from what we typically expect from the Pinehurst golf experience.
This is yet another reason to visit. I’m hoping the addition of another course helps with the ever-present demand of golfers streaming into North Carolina.
What are your initial thoughts? Let me know below in the comments.
Top Photo Caption: An aerial view of Pinehurst No. 11’s property. (Courtesy Pinehurst Resort)
Randall Robbins
3 weeks ago
Adding #11 should be great – always enjoyed playing The Pit before it became #10, the terrain there is very challenging as it is, so cutting into other areas should make for an outstanding course, considering who is doing the building. Need to get back soon!