Crooked Tree Golf Club

Rees Jones design opened 1991 in Southern Pines, "the Llama" to locals. The llama caddie program started as a publicity stunt for the resort's grand opening: an Associated Press writer played with a llama caddie, the story ran in 300 newspapers, and the estimated PR value cleared $3 million. Eventually the llamas were retired to pasture by the 13th green for being too distracting; in December 2021 the resort welcomed a new baby llama named "Jones" in honor of Rees. The course itself is a serious Rees Jones layout through Sandhills longleaf pines, par 71, ~7,020 yards from the back. Stay-and-play villas on-site; sister property Mid South Club is across the road for a 36-hole stay. Worth booking even if the llamas are a side attraction now, the design holds up.