Pinehurst No 7 is best recommended for its difficulty, if you like that sort of thing, and the number of elevated greens rather than any excellence in golf architecture. Holes seem to continually play uphill here and the focus on difficult rather than intelligent hazard arrangement or thoughtful design keeps the course from reaching the sort of heights expected of such a property. Holes 2 through 4, for instance, are all bunkered down one side but best approached from the other.

Difficult and surrounded by prestige homes a few miles from the hub of Pinehurst, No. 7 is a decent enough track but really only recommended for those unable to get tee times on the other top courses in the area, or those who enjoy punishing themselves.

For those unable to play Pinehurst No. 2 on every day of their stay in this golfing Mecca, Nos. 4, 7 and 8 are not bad back-ups – although no matter the length of stay a daily round on No. 2 is a much better option.