Pinehurst No. 5

Ellis Maples's 1961 Pinehurst No. 5, Maples was one of North Carolina's founding architectural families and studied course design at the side of Donald Ross. He applied the Ross mentality of 'finding the course that lies in the landscape' to what became Pinehurst's first non-Ross routing, a thoughtful continuation of the resort's design philosophy after Ross's death in 1948. The signature hole is the par-3 14th, 'Cathedral Hole', named for the ancient pines framing the green that resemble the pipes of a church organ. Sports Illustrated has called the par-4 10th the best short par-4 at Pinehurst, with one of the most scenic approach shots on the property. Modest length and moderate challenge throughout make No. 5 an ideal arrival-day round, forgiving enough to warm up on, with enough Ross-lineage charm to feel distinctly Pinehurst. One of Pinehurst's best-kept secrets. Recommended for mixed-skill groups or as a rhythm-establishing round before taking on No. 2 or No. 8.