Pinehurst Golf & Art Vacation
This area of rolling sandhills gently cloaked in pines truly is golf
heaven, so you may want to spend your days pitting your skills against
the many, magnificent courses the area has to offer. However, you
may also want to enjoy the artsy side of the south central Piedmont.
With so much to see and do in the area of NC, we recommend the following
3-day itinerary. Enjoy your visit by mixing and matching events to
your particular interest. Be sure to check days and hours of operation
for each venue.
Recommendations for Places to Eat and Places to Stay near Pinehurst, NC, are offered at the bottom of the page.
Beside golf and art, the Sandhills is known as horse country, with a
number of exquisite horse farms and riding venues. Carolina Horse
Park at Five Points is located a few miles south of Aberdeen on
Hwy 211. Here you’ll find 250 acres of protected land dedicated to
world-class equestrian competitions in Steeplechase, Eventing and
Dressage. The park is the only one of its kind in North Carolina and
offers the visitor a variety of events.
3-Day Itinerary (Brief)
Day 1
Play a round on one of Pinehurst’s legendary courses, then take a tour
of Pottery Country in and around Seagrove.
Day 2
Hit the links at Pine Needles, then browse Southern Pines’ collection of
shops, galleries, and gardens.
Day 3
Try your hand at a course designed by a golfing legend, then explore
North Carolina’s horse country.
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3-Day Itinerary (Detailed)
Day One
It’s time to hit the links at Pinehurst, but be sure and book your tee
times well in advance. The resort is popular with visitors, and even
with eight courses it isn’t always easy to get the time you want. Play
all morning and have lunch at the clubhouse, then luxuriate with a
massage or other services at The Spa at Pinehurst.
Now that you’re relaxed, take a short road trip and explore the area’s
pottery tradition. From Pinehurst, you head west on Highway 211 until
you come to Highway 705. You are now in Pottery Country, with more
than 80 family potteries carrying on a long-standing tradition. For the
next twenty miles you’ll see signs where you can pull off the road and
watch the artists at work as well as purchase one-of-a-kind pieces.
Near the end of Highway 705, you’ll come to the town of Seagrove
where the North Carolina Pottery Center tells the history of pottery
making with exhibits of pottery old and new. Return to Pinehurst and
finish your day with a relaxing dinner at Theo’s Taverna.
Day Two
On day two, you can walk in the footsteps of Annika Sorenstam and
Karrie Webb. Since 1996, Pine Needles has hosted the US Women’s
Open Championships three times and both Pine Needles and nearby
Mid Pines are as challenging as when Donald Ross first designed
them. Enjoy a round on each course, or improve your game with a
lesson or workshop from the Learning Center of renowned golf
instructor Peggy Kirk Bell.
After golf, visit the Southern Pines Historic District where an array
of restaurants and boutiques will delight you. Have lunch at Café Iano
where the lobster rolls are a specialty, then stroll along the tree lined
streets and browse the shops and galleries such as Gap Creek Candle
Company and Artist Alley. Campbell House Galleries is the home
of the Arts Council of Moore County and has three exhibit areas
with paintings and pottery by local artists for sale.
More local artists are featured at the Hastings Gallery in the Boyd
Library lobby on the campus of Sandhills Community College, but
the art is not for sale. From there, head to the Sandhills
Horticultural Gardens, also on the college campus and designed and
maintained by the Landscape Gardening Department and Sandhills
Horticultural Society. Several garden styles are featured in the 32
acres, including the Sir Walter Raleigh Garden (a formal English
Garden) and a native wetland trail. Finish your day at Ashten’s
Restaurant & Pub for steaks and seafood.
Day Three
Start day three with a round of golf at the home of the “Bear.” The
famous 18th hole at the Legacy Golf Links has challenged many great
golfers and the Nicklaus Design course is one of only three courses in
the area to host a USGA National Championship.
After your game, visit the Historic District of Aberdeen where you’ll
find quaint shops featuring antiques, collectibles, handicrafts and
unique gifts. Go Mexican for lunch at La Poblanita Mexican Café, a
local favorite, then head to the Artists League of the Sandhills.
Housed in an old storage terminal of the Aberdeen Rockfish Railroad,
the facility has 45 artists-in-residence studios and a gallery of their
work. Next on your list is Sky Art Gallery which features
contemporary paintings, mixed media and photography by local,
regional, national and internationally known artists.Finish your day with dinner at Thai Orchid Restaurant in Aberdeen, a local favorite for Thai food.
Top Places to Eat:
Theo’s Taverna (Pinehurst) – lunch, dinner
Café Iano (Southern Pines) – lunch, dinner (Fri-Sat)
Ashten’s Restaurant & Pub (Southern Pines) - dinner
Top Places to Stay near Pinehurst:
Pinehurst Resort
Knollwood House
Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club
Little River Golf Resort
More Pinehurst, NC Lodgings
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