Pinehurst No. 9

Jack Nicklaus's 1988 Pinehurst No. 9, the Sandhills' only Jack Nicklaus Signature course, originally built as The National Golf Club and acquired by Pinehurst Resort in 2014 as the facility's ninth layout. Classic Nicklaus architecture on a pine-sandhill parcel: wide fairways, forgiving landing areas, and heavily bunkered undulating greens that test the mind more than the driver. The routing opens with a dogleg-left par-4 that demands an accurate tee shot followed by a high fading approach to a heavily bunkered green above you, an unusually strong opener. The 189-yard par-3 2nd is an all-water carry to a picture-postcard green. The par-4 closing hole is memorable with water running left for the final 100 yards and a green tucked next to the water protected by a cluster of bunkers. 7,118 yards par 72. The only Jack Nicklaus Signature in the Sandhills, important distinction for anyone studying Nicklaus alongside Ross, Hanse, Maples, and the Fazio brothers at Pinehurst. Paired with No. 8 (the Tom Fazio Centennial) for resort guests doing the full 11-course Pinehurst tour.