If you're looking for cheap then you could check out Sanford golf course, it's about 45 minutes away from Pinehurst. I really like it but I've only played the $20 a round courses since I started playing golf. I'm still itching to play one of the $60 and up courses but I don't want to spend that much until my game improves significantly.
Carolina lakes is pretty nice too if you don't mind a million houses lining both sides of each and every fairway and at the end of the greens. It's another $20 a round course and it's about the same distance.
Quail Ridge seems alright too (about 30 minutes from Pinehurst straight up US1).
I can't wait for the grass to start turning green, all the courses I've played still have that ball hiding brown grass on them.
Tobacco Road is really green right now but I'm not going to play that one yet due to the price and my skill level.