Page 42 - Westchester Golf Guide - May 2022

TRAVEL | Pinehurst
the 3rd hole, don’t forget to pay your respects to Dornoch Cottage, the home of legendary architect Donald Ross, just a pitch shot away from the green.
A different challenge awaits on Pinehurst No. 4, where Gil Hanse designed an all-new course that opened in 2019 where “big” is the operative word. He and design partner Jim Wagner took advantage of the topography to build expansive fairways, as well as giant bunkers, water hazards, and greens. The greens on No. 4 may be more receptive than No. 2’s, but that’s because they’re larger, in keeping with the scale of the course. Forty- footers don’t make three-putts any less likely, though.
If you believe a round of golf should have giggles as well as struggles, be sure to play a round (or two) on the Cradle, the delight- ful Gil Hanse-designed par-3 course that sits between the massive putting green with its own 18-hole putting course, “Thistle Dhu,” and the Pinehurst clubhouse. The Cradle is perfect for families to enjoy together (kids play free with a paying adult) or serious golfers to hone their wedge play and putting.
But there’s more to do in the neighbor- hood than chase your little white ball around the pasture. You shouldn’t miss Pinehurst
Pinehurst No. 2, Hole 7 (top); Pinehurst No. 4, Hole 6
Village, where diners shop, and shoppers dine, in the almost too-picturesque hamlet. And just a few minutes away is Southern Pines and Aberdeen, where you can explore histori- cal sites, visit a whole community of potters, or immerse yourself in the beauty of refined horticultural gardens or natural hiking trails, not to mention shop, eat, and imbibe to your heart’s content. A remarkable number of visi- tors come for tennis and other sports besides golf, too.
Pinehurst and the surrounding Sandhills
area is one of the most user-friendly golf des- tinations in the country. From LaGuardia, it’s an easy flight to Raleigh, followed by an hour- or-so drive to Pinehurst. Accommodations are available in every price range and style. Enjoy 10 food-and-beverage experiences at the Pinehurst Resort and probably another 50 or 60 in Southern Pines and Aberdeen. A couple not to miss are Elliott’s on Linden for contem- porary fine cuisine and the Pinehurst Brewing Company for barbecue, pizza, microbrews, and raucous company. •
40 GOLF 2022 WESTCHESTERMAGAZINE.COM Photos by Chip Henderson