Carolina Trace Country Club Creek Course

This is a private golf club and residential community, but they do have a stay and play program, where you can stay in a rental home on site or a hotel nearby. Call the pro shop for the current arrangements and pricing. On our first trip to Pinehurst, we were told about this course, and decided to try basing here on our next trip. There's two great and different Robert Trent Jones, Sr. courses here, almost enough just to stay and play here, but it's convenient to the rest of the general Pinehurst area. The Lake Course and Creek Course are both challenging and unique to each other. The Lake Course winds around the 315-acre Lake Trace and plays to 6800 yards and a 136 slope from the back tees. The fairways are open and forgiving with Bermuda, and the bentgrass greens fast, with good undulations. There's some elevation change here, great par threes, and just a beautiful setting throughout. The Lake course features a pair of par fives on the back nine, the 14th and 18th holes, with risk-reward options for getting home in two. The 18th hole is the 80-foot drop in elevation over its 507-yard length. The Creek Course, opened in 1979, and has more elevation change, rolling terrain, and a creek running through the course. The fairways are are narrow and require accuracy, the slope is 133 from the back tees, 6800 yards. It is tougher around the greens, making getting up and down more of a challenge. With its elevation change, the Creek can feel more like a mountain course. I would recommend always, two great courses, very different in design and strategy, excellent conditioning and service.