Mid Pines Inn Course
Southern Pines, NC, USA
Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club whispers tales of a bygone era, where the pines dictated play and golf was a gentleman's pursuit. Found amidst the rolling Sandhills of Southern Pines, the course exemplifies classic Donald Ross design – a masterful blend of natural contours and strategic challenge. Fairways, generous in width, often lead to subtly elevated greens, demanding precise approaches and rewarding thoughtful play; favoring those who can manage the ball through the wind that often sweeps across the undulating terrain. Ross’s original vision remains largely intact, a testament to its enduring appeal. While no major championships have graced these fairways, Mid Pines holds a cherished position in the hearts of amateur golfers, long a respected venue for state and regional competitions. Its appeal resides in its authenticity, a reminder of golf’s simple pleasures. The Mid Pines Inn, seamlessly integrated into the golf experience, exudes Southern charm. The club is a gathering place for those who appreciate tradition and understated elegance.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Public: #139
Best in USA
Public: #66
Best in NC
Public: #5
Golfers say Mid Pines delivers a classic Donald Ross experience with a superb layout featuring exceptional par-3s, challenging green complexes, and a walkable routing where tees sit steps from the previous green. Most praise the course's timeless design, noting it rewards strategic play without gimmicks and offers excellent value compared to pricier Sandhills options, with some highlighting the back nine and post-round atmosphere at the inn. Reviewers consistently mention the greens as both a highlight and challenge—extremely fast, undulating, and demanding precise approach shots—though one visitor found them disappointingly slow during their round. While some note limitations like cart-path-only restrictions and modest food service, the overall sentiment emphasizes Mid Pines as an accessible, pure golf experience that showcases why Ross's architecture remains beloved a century later.
8.5
509 players
Cool course! Not very hard if you know where to hit it but it is fun if you do!
Greens are extremely difficult. Putting from 30 yards off the green is not out of question.
Absolute classic, conditions pure even at the start of March.
Lot of cart path only. Food and range not great. Course layout fantastic and difficult. The greens are very fast and dangerous. Classic Donald Ross.
Mid Pines is a perfect example of why Ross is so great. If you’ve ever played one his courses, you’ll immediately love MP and this will feel like slipping on a pair of old loafers. The property itself would be the best course in almost any other area of the country. Once the new inn is renovated you can bet I will have an annual trip on the books. Perfect option if you want Sandhills golf without the high price tag of the resort at Pinehurst. Did a buddies trip here in peak fall for 3 nights in a cottage on #10 and it was under $1k a person with golf and breakfast daily.
The layout and property is amazing however when I played it last, the greens were horrendously slow and the course condition was in rough shape which really dampened the round. I would love to play out there again and raise this rating because there are so many things that make it a fun fair challenge. But I truly believe that poor greens can drastically impact the enjoyability of any course experience and that’s exactly how I feel about Mid Pines
Mid Pines is always a treat. It’s a bit more adventurous and demanding off the tee compared to Pine Needles, mixing in some fantastic doglegs & significant elevation changes for the Sandhills. It has classic Donald Ross turtleback greens but they weren’t as slick as I’d hoped.
Impossible not to have a great time playing Mid Pines. A throwback in the best way, still holds up to the modern game but the next tee is steps off the previous green. Looks easy at first glance but requires yours full attention from beginning to end which is amazing considering there’s no gimmicks. It’s easy to see why this place has remained a destination for 100+ years. Elite golfers would probably tear this place up but for normal folks this is exactly what I want out of a NC sand hills golf trip. Stateside this is the first place I would take someone who has never been out of their local bubble to experience true “good architecture”
God created Mid Pines, Donald Ross found it. Wonderful walk, sense of place, great design.
I love the course it’s my favorite of the Pines Needles Mid pines southern pines trio. All are great and one of my favorite golf trips. Mid pines is a course I’d play every day very cool terrain, very walkable, great par three variety and not as penal off the tee as its neighbors. Hard to lose a ball and nothing beats walking up 18 and seeing the Inn and having a drink on the patio post round.
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FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Mid Pines Inn has a Course Vaults score of 8.5 out of 10 based on 204 explicit golfer ratings.
Mid Pines Inn was designed by Donald Ross, George Waters, and Kyle Franz.
Yes. Mid Pines Inn is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Mid Pines Inn is 72.
Mid Pines Inn plays 6,723 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Mid Pines Inn is 135.
