1. The Pit Golf Links
City: Aberdeen, NC
Category: Golf
Telephone: (800) 574-4653
Address: 410 Pit Links Lane
Description: A few miles south of Pinehurst in Aberdeen is The Pit Golf Links, a unique course because it was built on the site of an old sand quarry. Architect Dan Maples creatively routed holes over and around mounds from the mine, which produced sand in the 1930s to make concrete for the Blue Ridge Parkway. About 15 miles northeast of Pinehurst is Tobacco Road, another interesting course on the site of a former sand quarry. Maverick architect Mike Strantz took much creative license with this layout, which has been described as “The Pit on steroids,” and was voted the 10th hardest course in America by Golf Digest magazine.
2. Legacy Golf Links
City: Aberdeen, NC
Category: Golf
Telephone: (800) 314-7560
Address: 12615 US 15
Description: Jack Nicklaus’ son, Jack Nicklaus II, added a second Pinehurst-area design to the family portfolio by creating Legacy Golf Links. The label “challenging, yet enjoyable” fits this course perfectly. Picturesque par-3s, reachable par-5s, and testy par-4s flow naturally among longleaf pines in a pastoral setting.