The Golden Bear’s Gold Standard
Jack Nicklaus has long stated that Pinehurst’s No. 2 is his favorite course from a design standpoint, so it’s no surprise that his own masterpiece here draws influence from it. In fact, No. 9 offers meticulous design set amongst stands of longleaf pines that many believe rivals the very course that inspired it, both in terms of play quality and overall composition. The only way to truly know is to visit and play all 7,122 yards of this magnificent course for yourself.
Par & Yardage
Landscaping
- TEES: Bermuda 419
- FAIRWAYS: Bermuda 419
- ROUGH: Bermuda 419
- GREENS: Penn A-1/A-4 creeping bentgrass
COURSE DESIGNERS
- 1988: Jack Nicklaus
REDESIGNS & RESTORATIONS
- 2012: Jack Nicklaus
The 1st Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 13/5
A dogleg left is your opener to the Nicklaus Signature design on No. 9. Play your drive down the right center of the fairway to give yourself the best angle to the green. Avoid the bunkers short and right of the green. The only bail out is short & left of the green.
The 2nd Hole on No. 9
PAR 3 - HCP 17/13
The Doon Conservatory guards the front & right side of the green. Missing the green left is no bargain since it leaves you with an awkward chip shot with the green sloping toward the water.
The 3rd Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 7/7
This sharp dogleg right will test your shotmaking abilities as the hole is made for a power fade off the tee. Avoid the fairway bunker by staying left or, for you longer hitters, by carrying it. The approach is drastically uphill so hit an extra club. You can use the severe tier in the middle of the green as a backstop.
The 4th Hole on No. 9
PAR 5 - HCP 1/1
This par 5 is a true 3-shot hole, which doglegs sharply right. The banking on the left side of the fairway allows you to aim away from the water off the tee. Avoid the fairway bunkers on your layup shot. Your approach needs to be high into the elevated green.
The 5th Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 5/3
Play your tee shot down the right side of the fairway to avoid the bunkers on the left. The difficult downhill approach shot is the key to playing this hole well. If you’re not sure of the club selection, over club & play a bank shot off the slope that flanks the back left of the green.
The 6th Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 9/11
Hit the sloping left-to-right fairway off the tee as you need to spin your approach on this bunker-free par 4. The front left of the green is a false front that funnels short approach shots off the green. Note the severe tier in the middle of the green that slopes from front to back. Club selection and placement are crucial to hit this green in regulation.
The 7th Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 11/9
A wonderful par 4 that plays short, where if you play with control, there is a good chance for a birdie. Position your tee shot to the left-center of the fairway to have the best angle to the green. The deep green gets narrow towards the back.
The 8th Hole on No. 9
PAR 5 - HCP 3/15
This par 5 offers the best scoring opportunity on the front 9. Play your drive down the right side to give yourself a chance at hitting the green in two. The very deep green slopes dangerously from the front to back.
The 9th Hole on No. 9
PAR 3 - HCP 15/17
With water flanking the left side of the green, the picturesque par-3 9th will test your nerves. Note the collection area on the right side of the green that funnels marginal shots off the green. And be wary of the slope off the back of the green.
The 10th Hole on No. 9
PAR 5 - HCP 2/10
This is a classic risk/reward par 5. It is reachable in two for many golfers, but the lake that flanks the right side of the entire hole has captured numerous misplayed shots. Play smart and note the 130-yard lay-up distance to position yourself for a wedge approach.
The 11th Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 12/14
This short par 4 demands precision placement. If the pin is on the right side of the green, your tee shot needs to be on the left side of the fairway to see the flagstick. This green is very wide, but the ridge in the middle of the green makes an accurate approach shot necessary.
The 12th Hole on No. 9
PAR 3 - HCP 18/18
The shortest par 3 on the course, but varying winds and hole location can make this hole play as much as two clubs longer. Avoid the bunkers on the right at all costs. This dramatic two-tiered green makes putting from the wrong tier very challenging.
The 13th Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 8/6
Your tee shot should favor the left-center to avoid the large pine tree on the right. Big hitters may want to choose a club that will leave them no closer than 125 yards to the green. A good drive leaves a mid-iron to this three-tiered green, which is well-bunkered on both sides.
The 14th Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 6/2
The most demanding par 4 on the course. The fairway has a large slope down the right side that will feed drives to the left. Accuracy is a must off the tee to approach this green, which is guarded by bunkers short and left. To approach this elevated green, note the green depth & hole location.
The 15th Hole on No. 9
PAR 5 - HCP 4/12
Play your tee shot down the right-center of the fairway. No need to flirt with the left fairway bunker. In planning your approach shot, be sure to consider the multi-tiered green. A ball hit towards the front-left half of the green will roll off left. The back half has a gentle slope towards the back and there is an elevated tier on the middle left of the green.
The 16th Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 14/8
Big hitters may not want to hit a driver on this hole. Choose a club that will leave you 85-to-125 yards to the green. The middle of the green is the smallest target as there is a formidable drop off from front to back.
The 17th Hole on No. 9
PAR 3 - HCP 16/16
This hole looks deceptively shorter when looking at the bunker that is actually well short & left of the green. Trust the yardage & note the green depth and hole location. You can roll the ball onto the left half of the green, but a high shot is necessary to get the ball close to any right-side hole location.
The 18th Hole on No. 9
PAR 4 - HCP 10/4
This long par 4 will make you earn a good score to close your round. By playing your tee shot down the right side you may be able to shorten the hole, but you run the risk of getting hung up in the trees. Your approach shot requires a long iron into a well-guarded green. Par is a good score on this testy finishing hole.