Staying in Raleigh for US Open @ Pinehurst

[BBTROY]

Hi guys,

I'm new here. Sorry if there is already a thread on this but i am having massive problems trying to sort out going to the US Open in June 2014.

I'm an Australian who will be holidaying and heading to the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst.

I have booked the nearest hotel i could find which is in Raleigh.

I intend to go on Saturday and Sunday and will buy the tickets from the USGA website for $135 each day, which is all good.

My big question is - will there be return public transportation from Raleigh to Pinehurst??

There only seems to be tour groups which have the big pricey packages or expensive limousines from the airport. I thought it would be so much easier. I have searched the net relentlessly.

Am i best to just hire a car? (i've never driven on the other side of the road in my life) or should i just wait until a later date to see if there will be public transport? Surely there would be wouldn't there?

Also, do they only mail tickets out?... there doesn't seem to be an E-Ticket option?

I've asked the USGA some of these questions via the website, but their answers are very basic.

ie. there will be free shuttles in a 2 mile vicinity of Pinehurst where the car drop off point is

[nevets88]

Am i best to just hire a car? (i've never driven on the other side of the road in my life) or should i just wait until a later date to see if there will be public transport? Surely there would be wouldn't there?

Yeah, you're probably best off hiring a car. It's not too bad making the opposite side of the road switch, lanes are wide here in the US of A and rentals are all automatic. And you'll find petrol is cheaper comparatively as well as rental rates.

I'm not a local, but have been to Southern Pines and Raleigh many times. That's a bit of a drive for the US Open on back to back days. I would book just outside Pinehurst somewhere, like Aberdeen or Carthage. Maybe the locals can chime in.

And I would get the tickets ASAP considering you're flying in from aways.

[BBTROY]

Thanks heaps nevet88 for the advice. Yeah I know, I should jump to it asap.

[GolfGuy123]

Hi guys,

I'm new here. Sorry if there is already a thread on this but i am having massive problems trying to sort out going to the US Open in June 2014.

I'm an Australian who will be holidaying and heading to the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst.

I have booked the nearest hotel i could find which is in Raleigh.

I intend to go on Saturday and Sunday and will buy the tickets from the USGA website for $135 each day, which is all good.

My big question is - will there be return public transportation from Raleigh to Pinehurst??

There only seems to be tour groups which have the big pricey packages or expensive limousines from the airport. I thought it would be so much easier. I have searched the net relentlessly.

Am i best to just hire a car? (i've never driven on the other side of the road in my life) or should i just wait until a later date to see if there will be public transport? Surely there would be wouldn't there?

Also, do they only mail tickets out?... there doesn't seem to be an E-Ticket option?

I've asked the USGA some of these questions via the website, but their answers are very basic.

ie. there will be free shuttles in a 2 mile vicinity of Pinehurst where the car drop off point is

Hey there...I live in Raleigh and will also be going to the US Open (probably only on Saturday). If you end up staying in Raleigh, definitely rent a car. Public trans. from Raleigh to Pinehurst would be too much of a headache.

I have driven to Pinehurst from Raleigh a few times, it's not bad... but as Nevets mentioned it might be just a bit much to do the back and forth thing on BOTH Saturday and Sunday. So if there is a chance you can find a hotel closer to the tournament, I would recommend that as well.

If for some reason you still end up making your way towards Raleigh, let me know!

[BBTROY]

Thanks heaps golf guy. Much appreciated. I've purchased my weekend tickets now so the most important thing is also sorted.

[nevets88]

You can also try AirbnB to look for boarding. Some people have had bad experiences with it but my personal experience with it has been good, just be wary of anything suspicious. I have a soft spot for Southern Pines it's one if my favorite golf destinations. It's not super-commercialized, it's like comfort food. Pinehurst, that general/candy/ice cream store is my fav. I've never been during a US Open so all that ruckus might throw my assessment out the window.

[BBTROY]

Thanks again Nevets. I'm getting excited already. The Presidents Cup in Melbourne was awesome, but I'm sure this will eclipse it.

[nevets88]

Thanks again Nevets. I'm getting excited already. The Presidents Cup in Melbourne was awesome, but I'm sure this will eclipse it.

Still some openings left but not many - I'd thought results would come up empty. 6K for a house. I'd want at least one video call before I even think about that.

https://www.airbnb.com/s/Carthage--NC?checkin=06%2F13%2F2014&checkout;=06%2F15%2F2014&source;=bb

[BBTROY]

Haha. Yeah, maybe you get to share with Miss Creamer or Gulbis at that price as they prepare for their major.

[Rick Martin]

Too early to make this the US Open 2014 thread?

Can anyone familiar with the area tell me what the drive from Ft Bragg will be like (to Pinehurst). I'll be going to practice rounds then probably Thursday round.

[iacas]

Too early to make this the US Open 2014 thread?

Yes.

[Rick Martin]

Oh yeah, forgot to ask -----anyone familiar w/ the parking/shuttle system - how far from Pinehurst #2 will they be hauling spectators?

[ScouseJohnny]

Renting a car at RDU during the week of the US Open at Pinehurst? Jump on that very quickly....I managed to land at RDU in the week of the 2005 US Open, and all Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar etc had to show me were empty parking spaces, (and I wasn't even going to the tournament). Luckily the Triangle is very well connected with public transit (the buses were even free in Chapel Hill, where I was staying). But rental cars are in very short supply at RDU during an Open at Pinehurst (and I guess the same is probably true of Charlotte International, too).

[RandyBobbitt]

I attended the 2005 Open at Pinehurst and even booking a year ahead of time, the closest hotel I could get was in Cary, just south of the Raliegh-Durham Triangle. I remember driving down U.S. 1 for about 90 minutes each day just to get to the public parking lot. Then we boarded busses and rode for another 30 minutes to get to the course. Be sure to leave your cell phone in the car, as they use metal detectors on tournament days.

[nevets88]

I attended the 2005 Open at Pinehurst and even booking a year ahead of time, the closest hotel I could get was in Cary, just south of the Raleigh-Durham Triangle. I remember driving down U.S. 1 for about 90 minutes each day just to get to the public parking lot. Then we boarded busses and rode for another 30 minutes to get to the course. Be sure to leave your cell phone in the car, as they use metal detectors on tournament days.

Ouch! So it's not just Merion or I forget other sites with traffic jams. Hope they improve on that this year. Isn't there a train station in Southern Pines?

Hey @BBTROY , how did your plans pan out?