North Carolina Nine: The Cradle
Pinehurst is known for its storied history and championship golf courses. Pinehurst No. 2 is in line to host another US Open in 2024 and will host four more Open’s after that through 2047. In recent years, a new course design at Pinehurst has started to get some buzz: The Cradle. Getting its name from the origins of American golf, The Cradle is a great place to start a stay at Pinehurst as it provides a small sampling of the nine courses that line the property. The land where The Cradle now sits was originally home to some of the first holes built on the Pinehurst property. The course sits at the very front of the property adjacent to the main clubhouse. It’s a spot you cannot miss, literally and figuratively. The Cradle put simply is a nine hole short course. It can be played in under an hour. If you played very quickly you could probably get all nine holes in within 30 minutes. As of 2020, the fastest round was played in under 8 minutes.
The 10 acre course can be seen in full and sits adjacent to the clubhouse; The Cradle gives a golfer small but perfect opening picture of Pinehurst
The course was designed by Gil Hanse and was built in 2017. It has the look and feel of playing one of the main courses like No. 2 and even has the same Bermuda greens. Golf Channel calls it ‘The most fun 10 acers in golf’ and I am not going to fight that one. On the scorecard and a sign as you enter the course a Donald Ross quote reads ‘Golf should be a pleasure, not a penance’ which is a great summary for The Cradle and golf as a whole.
The longest hole is number nine which is 126 yards; the shortest hole carries just 56 yards. The nine hole course plays 789 yards (which stretched out could be one really long par 5) and is a par 27. So when I shoot three over par, it’s not quite the same as three over on nine holes of a full length course. Most golfers may carry a wedge or two and a putter, but you could bring one club out there for every shot and still set yourself up for success. I would bet to venture someone has had a decent score playing all nine holes with a putter.
The 9th hole is the longest on the course playing at 126 yards. It is also one of the hardest greens as it contains multiple tiers and a accurate well placed tee shot to hold the green.
Greens fees are $50 and tee times can be made in advance. If you are 17 or younger you can play for free. I have been to Pinehurst on two separate occasions and both times have played The Cradle. I could have likely walked up and gotten on without a tee time, but a tee time is the safe way to go. Also, it’s certainly the only course on property where you could go out with more than four in your group. One of the great things about The Cradle (amongst a long list) is that there is free replay for the entire day. You could spend a full day playing The Cradle over and over again and it would be a memorable day at Pinehurst.
The Cradle will be one of the most relaxing nine holes of golf you may ever play. During summer months there is a bar that sits near the eighth and ninth holes just off the course and a great way to end a day of golf with your group. There will be drinks flowing and music playing to end most summer days.
Backwards looking on the first hole green towards the Pinehurst clubhouse
There is no wrong answer when it comes to The Cradle. It should be worked into any Pinehurst trip whether that is to start your trip, end it, or just a place to have a cocktail hour to end the day.