Trip to North & South Carolina

Hopefully somebody can provide advice on a trip I have booked to North & South Carolina: -

Firstly I've 3 days at Pinehurst playing #2, 4 & 7. I had planned to do some sight seeing round the Outer Banks after this, is it worth me scrubbing a day off the sight seeing to play Pine Needles?

Secondly, because I'm British and didn't fully consider the time of year my last few days in the States coincide with Thanksgiving. I'm booked to stay at Sea Pines on Hilton Head, get there on the Wednesday play Wednesday and Thursday then head to Charlotte for the flight home on Friday.

The question is will anyone be around? Do people take vacations over Thanksgiving or is it exclusively people going home to spend time with their family?

Thanks for the help, any other tips would be much appreciated.

IMO you want to play the even numbers at pinehurst. if you could trade 7 for 8 i think it would be an upgrade. You will have great round no matter what but i like 8 better.

#2 is one of if not my favorite courses ever. if the greens are fast...wow. It is user friendly and fun. Great pro shop at #2! History is just dripping out of the whole place.

Make sure you stop at Dugan's Bar in the village also visit the golf shop next door.

Sightseeing is over rated, play pine needles!!

Have not been to hilton Head so i can't comment there. hope you have a great trip.

I agree about skipping the site seeing on the Outer Banks and play Pine Needles instead.  Its about 6+ hours of driving out of your way to get to the Outer Banks and back which, in my opinion, is not really worth it.

Haven't been to Hilton Head over Thanksgiving, but my hunch is that it will be pretty quiet.  I wouldnt expect that there would be a lot of people around and a lot of restaurants will probably be closed on Thanksgiving day.

Thanks guys, the Outer Banks was more like a 3 or 4 day trip. I can easily trim a day off it, so extra golf is easy.

You've confirmed my thoughts about Thanksgiving, I'm sure I'll find somewhere to serve me beer on that night though.

If you want to go to South Carolina, Santee is amazing. Not as well known as Myrtle, but it is much cheaper and still great golf. They get a lot of visits from Canadians who are going down to Florida for the winter.

You should try to play Harbour Town in Hilton Head

or Oyster Bay

Thanks, its on the itinerary, playing Heron Point there as well. Actually, playing Harbour Town on Thanksgiving - may have the course to myself!

Sounds like a really fun trip.  Hilton Head is a great place to escape for a few days; not much to do, but the golf is outstanding.  I wouldn't expect an empty golf course on Thanksgiving (a day off is still a day off for golfers), but it won't be Labor Day either.  I used to live near HH and played a ton of golf out there--you won't be disappointed.  You may be a bit surprised at how hard Harbour Town is for a 6800 yard course.

On your way to the outer banks there is a course that is on the way if you are traveling highway 64.  The course is in Merry Hill NC, about an hour from the outer banks, and the name of it is Scotch Hall Preserve.  It is an Arnold Palmer design, and the course is 3 years old.  It is in the middle of nowhere, no one knows about and plays it.  The course is in immaculate condition, on the sound so the wind can be an issue especially in November.  I recommend trying it out, the cost is around $50.  You might see two other foursomes while you are playing.

Thanks to everyone for the guidance, will probably try and fit in a round at Scotch Hall as well!

I can assure you I will not underestimate Harbour Town, Wanstead is a short course with small greens and trees that you need to stay out of, I find it hard enough being longish and wayward and I know Harbour Town will be much tougher.