Pinehurst NC in December?!

First off... is it miserable cold? Are the courses pretty brown at that time?

A few buddies and I are looking into a trip to Pinehurst, and we came across a halfway decent deal. It would be for December 11-13.

Staying at The Pit (I know its not the greatest) for 2 nights and includes the standard 3 rounds of golf for like $240 a person.

The courses we have to choose from are:

Anderson Creek
Beacon Ridge
The Bluff
Deercroft
Hyland Hills
Legacy
Longleaf
Whispering Woods

Which two would be the best choices? Would it be a miserable cold trip with golf sprinkled in, or a trip that is cheaper and well worth it?

Any help/info is well appreciated!

Found another for $199 which includes 3 rounds of golf at 3 of these courses.

Tobacco Road
Anderson Creek
Beacon Ridge
Foxfire
Legacy
Seven Lakes
Southern Pines CC
The Carolina
Whispering Pines
Whispering Woods
Woodlake

Which 3 would you choose?

My brother played courses #'s 2 and 5 early this month. Ofcourse still a lot to weather until DEC, but he raved about how well the are.

http://www.pinehurst.com/north-carol...lf-courses.php

Perhaps a N.C. member can't enlighten ya on the temps/copnditions.

Average high temperature that time of year is 54, average low is 34, so frost is a possibility. You never know what the weather will do, could be in the 60's could be in the 40's. A friend of mine was there 3 weeks ago and had rain every day.

My friend went last November. Ultra cold.

I've only ever been there in october so it was warm and the course was perfect. Look at it this way I don't think you need to worry about anything because it might be chilly but you're playing pinehurst. The price looked good also so why not. Good luck

I went to the area last year in February (right at the end) and it was damn cold, but the week before I was wearing shorts... it is just a guessing game, we could have great weather or it could be cold. Most courses at least overseed the fairways, so they should be green... but the rough might be browning up a bit... it will still be good golf though.

Following are the courses I have played and what I thought...

Legacy Golf Links - great course, modern, but traditional layout... despite a 2 hour frost delay I had a ball and it was in great shape.

Whispering Pines - good solid layout... very Donald Ross-ish (although not one of his)... conditions good, but not as good as big resorts like Pine Needles or Pinehurst. Would definately play it again.

Southern Pines - fantastic and challenging short little course, interesting greens and greenside areas... similar conditioning to Whispering Pines.

Pine Needles - immaculate even in winter, probably the best course I have ever played and I have played several supposed top 50 public. This course is a perfect example of traditional Ross design.

Tobacco Road - haven't played yet, but have played it's sister course (Tot Hill Farm) and I enjoyed it. Target golf at times, very tricked up, but memorable and fun... just wouldn't want to play a course like it 3 days in a row, but it would make a good middle round.

Foxfire - comparable to Whispering Pines and Southern Pines... very solid traditional layout.

If I had to pick three rounds in the area from your lists...
1) Legacy
2) T-Road
3) Southern Pines
BUT... I would see how much extra Pine Needles would cost and seriously think about slipping it in there... it is every bit as good as Pinehurst #2 (if not better, minus the history).

Just a thought... Myrtle and Hilton Head will be a little bit warmer due to costal climate... might want to see if they have any bargains... if not, just bring some warm clothes and be ready for any weather you might get. It snowed about 3 minutes one of days we played, but it was still a great time... our warmest day was about 50 for a high, but like I said the week before and week after were a fair bit warmer.

I wouldn't plan a golf trip there for December regardless of savings. Plenty of locals have heaters in their carts and do play year-round though. It's just not the cold, it's the wind. I have no idea why but that area is darn windy for being so far inland. Just my two-cents worth.

I used to live in Raleigh. It's going to be hit or miss weather wise. In early December, I think your chances are good. It it was after Jan I'd say no. I still go back every year for either Thanksgiving or Christmas and I always play. Great thing about that area is you can have snow one day and 75* 3 days later.

it'll be fine. i doubt it'd be less tha 50 during the day .... but possibly as high as 72 or so...

Well booked the trip!

Playing Beacon Ridge, Legacy and Tobacco Road. Got the entire trip for $169

It's really hit or miss but chances are probably fairly good that midday would be okay. I know in January of this year it was sub-40 all weekend during a tournament there that my son decided not to play in. He was so happy.

This is hands down better than your first list of courses. I have played all but four of the above courses and some are quality courses for sure. Played Tobacco Road and enjoyed that. A tricky Stranz design with some target golf, but very cool and different course. Foxfire is my favorite perhaps on this list, 10 minutes from my house and I enjoy it tremendously. They put a few million into that course a few years back and it shows. Lovely track to play. Legacy and the Carolina are both nice courses as well and I play them a few times each year. Equal in quality I would say. All these courses have websites and many have good pics of the holes and such. You really can't go wrong with the four I suggested. Also, if time allows, check out Little River. Great course and fun lay out. If you want something truly different, schedule a day to play Tot Hill Farm in nearby Asheboro. Actually, it is out in the country, but near the town of Asheboro. Only a 40 minute or so drive from Southern Pines. Played it for the first time this year and absolutely loved it. Like no other course I have played. Check the site below and look at the pictures... http://www.tothillfarm.com/thegolf.html Good dinner to be had at... Beefeater's Lob Steer The Barn Bonefish Grille Outback If you need any golf stuff while in town, check out Robert's Discount Golf on US1. Nice well stocked shop and been there forever. Often has coupons and special rates for local courses on the clip board by the door. Feel free to shoot me a PM if I can be of any assistance.

That place looks outstanding! Do you belong to PCC or do you just bounce around the area to play?

Foxfire is fun and a good choice when getting your game together in the Spring. It features friendly fairways where the edges tend to move wayward balls back toward the middle. That said the east course was my favorite only because I played it a little better. West course ... hole #2 got me both times I played it. Friendly place too.

I play all over man. My parents had a home on Pinehurst #7 (fantastic course) right on the 4th green for years. When they moved about 5 years back, I no longer has access to play Pinehurst itself as a member. Well, my father in law works with Pinehurst course maintenance and can get me on cheaper, but I don't feel need to take advantage of that often. To be honest, too many courses around for it to make sense. We lived ON the course and could not get a tee time when we wanted at times. All the folks paying premium green fees on golf packages and such were more important it seems. Unfortunate for any "club" to operate that way, but that is how it is. This is largely what put a bad taste in my dads mouth and why they moved. Only about 20 minutes away, but they left PCC for this reason. There are so many quality area courses, I will never pay to be a member of Pinehurst myself, although I will occasionally play some of my favorite Pinehurst courses (#2 & #7). Then remember Myrtle Beach is 2 hours away and has some 100+ area courses. We weekend near there and get a good bit of golfing done at the coast. So many courses... As for Tot Hill Farm, it is one of the most interesting golf courses I have ever played. Just got out there for the first time last year and will be playing it many, many, times in the future. Fantastic round of golf and a relative unknown to the hordes that rush into Pinehurst although just 40 minutes or so away. Huge elevation changes from tee to green on several holes, reminds me of some nicer courses in the Smoky Mountains (western NC). Great condition, greens top shelf, just quality everywhere you look. And cheap too! Like I said, a relative unknown in the area (for now).

Foxfire is one of my favorite courses in the area. I like the east and west myself. Ten minutes from my house, I am biased a bit. But it represents Sandhills golf at it's finest. Sandhills is the area of NC in case anyone is not familiar. A classy lay out and great value. Several million dollars was spent a few years back and the course has never been better. New club house and driving range included. Great value and a bit of a hidden gem. There are few places I would rather make prints in the morning dew.