Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4

[dagolfer18]

Hey y’all! So, there’s a junior golf tournament at Pinehurst two weeks from Saturday, and it will be played over two days: No. 2 on Saturday and No. 4 on Sunday. I believe we will be playing the blue tees (around 6900 on both courses if I remember correctly), but I’m looking forward to it.

So, any tips on what particularly to practice over the next two weeks, or just what to expect when playing the courses? I think it’ll be good experience for me. 

[GolfLug]

Nice! 

Have not played no. 2 but have played no.4 so take my post FWIW. These are high pedigree courses. 6,900 yard tees for an 18 hcp (from your profile)  is a lot of course. If you want to enjoy the experience be reasonable about your expectations as far as scoring is concerned. Greens are usually fast and it's easy to rack up bunch of 3-4 putts. 

Take time to study how the holes are laid out. 

Yeah, but go hard at it but it's fairly easy to put up a silly high score so keep your  sense of humor and have fun. 

Edited January 29, 2021 by GolfLug

[Yukari]

I played both.  #4 has been redesigned within the last 5 years or so.  

Play to the middle of the green.  Turtle back greens make it hard to go after the pin if it is on the edge.  There were few shots I thought I hit it perfect only to find out the ball rolled off the edge of the green.

[bkuehn1952]

The greens will eat most of us alive on No.2.  At 6,900 yards, unless you are a big hitter, you will be hitting a lot of club for your approach, which will often find you in the greenside bunkers. So sharpen up your sand game.  @Yukari has some good advice about middle of the green.

[Bear0906]

Pinehurst is as fine a golf facility as anywhere.  The practice tee is great along with multiple chipping and sand greens.  Spend some time on the Thistle Dhu putting green it will certainly warm you up for the greens on both courses.  I have been there three times on vacations and my son 4 times in the last 3 years (2 on vacations and 2 with the college team, 21 years old and he has already played all the Pinehurst courses). 

I am normally a good chipper and short game player (4.7 index) and that has been my downfall playing the Pinehurst courses.  Also GolfLug, Yukari and bkuehn1952 are correct, when playing your practice rounds notice where the green complexes move so that you can hit your approaches to the correct spot for the best birdie chances.

Good luck and you are going to love it there.

[Sandy Lie]

So being a Member at Pinehurst I can offer this advice.  One is to play the right tees, but you mentioned it’s a Junior Tournament.  We’ve had several of those lately and the tees played are usually determined by age.

Anyway, right now the courses are playing long due to all the rain we have been having. Most greens are very receptive right now but again the weather can change that.  There are very few greens that you can play short and have the ball bounce forward. Most have false fronts, so as the previous poster said, the middle of each green is your friend. Also if the temperatures drop like they have here the past several days beware of greens in the shade. Many of those are playing firm and the ball will not hold.  So depending on the tee time you have greens will play firm and fast in the morning.

How’s your short game?  Right now the grass is thin and tight lies around the green can be difficult, so consider putting within 10 feet, yes, 10 feet!

There are very few flat greens. Most are upside down soup bowls!

Hit the fairways!  If you find the waste areas take the safe shot out. I’ve seen to many guests try to go for it and take a big number on the hole.  Get around the green with your 2nd shot and get up and down.  

Let’s presume you hit every fairway. For course #2 here is where you can miss the green and still make par.

1. Short, right or long. 
2. Short left, left and long. 
3. Short middle. (Left bunker is deep, over the green is big trouble!). 
4. Short and long left. 
5. Short, but only on the right front. Right side is ok to.  Left is not good at all. Shots to the     green should be to the right side of the green. 
6. Short only. 
7. Short only. 
8. Short only. 
9. Any miss is bad! 
10. Short.  Avoid right front bunker, it’s always lacking sand. 
11. Short.  Avoid bunker area short right of the green. 
12. Short. Left long. 
13. Elevated green.  Hit the green, all misses are bad. Right side bunker is somewhat ok. 
14. Short. Long or right is not good! 
15. Short or left only! 
16. Short only! 
17. Short left only. 
18. Short only! 
 

So missing short in most cases is best. If your bunker play is good and I’ll just assume it’s ok since you play in tournaments then just watch the contours of the greens when getting out. 

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2021 by Sandy Lie

[DaveP043]

I'll echo everyone, middle of the green is a great spot on almost every green, do NOT chase pins on the edges.  The turf is always very tightly cut, and there's little or no rough, so chips and pitches have to be hit REALLY precisely.  But with that tight turf, putter from off the green is a good choice lots of the time.  @Sandy Lie says its good 10' off the green, I'd be willing to try it even further.   There are a bunch of practice areas beyond the main putting green, I suggest you go out there and figure out what kinds of short game shots work best for you on that tight turf.  Don't be afraid to putt, but practice a little before you play.

I know you're something like a bogey golfer, I think you can play the Pinehurst courses just fine, just don't get too aggressive.  Even short game stuff, get on the green, do your best to two-putt.  Bogeys will be fine, pars will be great.

[Sandy Lie]

Course #4; where to miss the green. 
#4 is similar to #2, hit the fairways, stay out of the waste area.  So by green this is where to miss: 

1. Purposely miss short. One of the few greens you want to do this on. Hitting the green can at times see your ball run through the green. 
2. This green has so many moguls you would think your on a ski slope. Best miss is left of the green. 
3. Same as #1, miss short and the ball should release forward. A back pin invites trouble, yes there’s a bunker back there! 
4. Short and deadly! Easy to make a double or worse on this short part 3.  Do not miss left or right! 
5. Long par 4! Most members hate it.  A miss right of the green can spell bad news! Miss left!
6. Nice par 3. Best miss is left.  Long is no good and right is a bunker so deep you can’t see the putting surface. 
7.  Short front of the green and right are the best miss.  Green surface is like a rollercoaster! 
8. Best miss is the right front or right side. Green is high on the right side so you would be putting downhill from that side. 
9. Elevated green. Best miss is right! Don’t be long, you may find yourself on the next tee box. 
10. Front left is the miss. Another green that is high on the right side. 
11. Best miss is short. Left in the bunker is 2nd best. Don’t go right or long on this Par 3. 
12. Short is ok here. But you will be putting up hill!  Don’t go long, many U.S. Amateurs went long and found the 13th fairway. 
13. Front side miss is ok. Water left, hillside right! 
14. Best miss is short, next is right!  Water left, stay away! 
15. Short is ok, left it to hilly, bunkers right and long!  Uphill putts from the front. 
16. Don’t be short, left, right or long!  Hit the green! 
17. Best miss is short or right. If the pin is right front watch out! 
18. Best miss here is left front or left side. Long is gone, right puts you below the green!

I’ve played each of these courses over a 100 rounds each!  I’m an average 4-5 handicapper, I can shoot low 70’s on either of these courses but I can also shoot an 85+ as well.

Have fun! Hope this helps.
 

Edited January 29, 2021 by Sandy Lie