Hanse starts work on new Short Course at Pinehurst

News from the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina this month, that ground has been broken on a new Short Course designed by Gil Hanse and set, quite incredibly, directly in front of the resort’s famous clubhouse. Occupying a 10-acre parcel of land, the course includes what were previously the 1^st green sites on the No. 3 and No. 5 courses, as well as seven originals by Hanse and his design team.

From the Resort’s media release comes the following:

Built by Hanse Golf Design, the short course will have nine holes ranging in distances from 65 to 117 yards and feature many of the elements players face on the restored Pinehurst No. 2, integrating the native sandscape and wiregrass commonly found at Pinehurst during Donald Ross’s era.

“Pinehurst’s short course is designed to be enjoyed by all golfers, including regular players, beginners, friends on a buddy trip and families out to enjoy the game in a relaxed setting,” Hanse says. “The course will be a fun alternative or addition to a round while at the same time honoring the heritage and traditions of golf at Pinehurst.”

The short course will be built on 10 acres of property formerly occupied by the first holes of Pinehurst Nos. 3 and 5, and play will be easily viewed from the historic South Veranda of the Pinehurst Resort Clubhouse. Both of the greens from the original holes will remain in the short course routing.

Work began in earnest on Monday morning as Pinehurst Resort grounds and maintenance crews removed the turf from the former first hole of Pinehurst No. 5. On Wednesday, turf removal began on the former first hole of No. 3.

The short course’s other greens will blend into the landscape with tightly mown runoffs in the surrounds. Some of the greens will feature subtle contours while others will have a plateau style. The bunkers will have the rough-hewn nature of the original Ross bunkers and will also blend seamlessly with the exposed sand surrounds.

Plans to move and expand the Thistle Dhu putting course near the clubhouse veranda continue to be developed.

“We believe the beauty of the short course and Thistle Dhu will provide a magnificent front yard for Pinehurst,” Hanse says.

The short course is part of a larger plan that was announced by Pinehurst in November to further restore the original character and spirit to the Pinehurst golf experience. The centerpiece of the plan will be Hanse’s complete redesign of No. 4, which will include exposed sand and native wiregrass, wider fairways and natural topography. The No. 4 redesign is scheduled to begin  this fall with the course reopening in fall 2018.

“While Pinehurst is the country’s most historic golf resort, we’re constantly evolving,” says Pinehurst Owner and CEO Bob Dedman. “The opening of the short course, along with the No. 4 redesign and last summer’s opening of the Deuce bring a new level of energy and excitement to the Pinehurst experience.”

The Short Course at Pinehurst is expected to open later in 2017.

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