You could start or end your odyssey with Donald Ross' famous Pinehurst #2, host to the 1999 U.S. Open won by Payne Stewart and this past June's U.S. Open won by Michael Campbell. Campbell, in fact, stayed at the nearby Pine Needles Resort, so you can not only "play where the pros played" but "stay where they stayed". Pine Needles Resort has hotel lodging, along with many private cottages and fabulous instructional programs at its renowned training facility. The Pine Needles course provides the finest putting surfaces possible and the entire course has been recently renovated and restored to its original 1920's layout. Their sister course across the street, Mid Pines, is also a Donald Ross original and comes with a breathtaking 112-room Georgian-style Inn overlooking the 18th green with several villas along the 10th fairway. For the average player, Pine Needles will be fun, exciting, demanding and fair. For the expert golfer, and even the pros, Pine Needles from the tips offers all the challenge one can handle, just as Ross planned it more than 75 years ago. What more do you need to know than the USGA is coming back to the site of the 2001 U.S. Women's Open with the 2007 edition.

Pinehurst's newest resort, Little River Farm Golf and Resort is a wonderful Don Maples design spread over 450+ acres of an old equestrian horse farm. The course consists of rolling hills, trees, plenty of water and 200-foot elevation changes. And you better watch out for the little river. Little River Farm Golf and Resort is a must-stay-and-play. The resort offers a 20,000-square foot clubhouse, golf villas, a large outdoor swimming pool, conference meeting rooms, fine dining, a grand old-style tavern and new residential development is now underway as well.

Deercroft Golf Club, a mere 20-minute drive from Pinehurst is the course that Golf Digest describes as the best-kept secret in the area. It ranked in Golfweek's Top 50 courses five years in a row and has played host to two PGA TOUR qualifying school sectionals. Obviously, Deercroft Golf Club comes highly recommended.
The Pinehurst/Sandhills area is still a hidden gem, gleaming with golf history, wonderful weather, affordable lodging and over 40 great golf venues. Only an hour south of the Raleigh/Durham airport, the "Sandhills" offers plenty of golf package deals, quaint shops, restaurants and the famous Pinehurst Resort and Spa. With the blink of an eye one can count over twenty 4-Star Golf Digest rated courses along with the 5-Star Pinehurst #2. So pack your bags, grab your clubs and hold on for a great golf ride. The "Sandhills" has it all.