This area of rolling sandhills is covered with classic golf courses, so
golfers of all skill levels will enjoy the magnificent links the area has to
offer. However, you’ll also enjoy the many historic sites in this section
of the south central Piedmont. Either way, this 3-day itinerary will
teach you much about your game and the region’s fascinating history.
3-Day Itinerary (Brief)
Day 1
Play a premier golf course, taste some classic Carolina ‘cue, and tour
an 18th-century cotton plantation.
Day 2
Another 18 holes beckons, as well as a look at some literary masters
and a hike through a peaceful nature preserve.
Day 3
Take your game up a notch at a Q-school course, and discover the
colorful history of railroads in this part of the Piedmont.
With so much to see and do in the area, 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.
Suggestions as to where to stay and eat near Pinehurst are offered below the detailed itinerary.
3-Day Itinerary (Detailed)
Day One
Spend your first morning testing your skills on a Dan Maples-designed
premier golf course. Little River Golf & Resort rests on the site of a
former equestrian landmark and offers the golfer 200-foot elevation
changes with narrow rivers and thick forests on its 6939, par 72 lay
out. The course rating is 73.5 and it has a slope rating of 134 on
Bermuda grass.
Afterward, head into the town of Carthage for a great Sandhills
barbecue lunch at the family owned Pik N Pig before you begin your
exploration of the area’s history at the Bryant House and McLendon
Cabin. These two structures serve as a museum of daily life in the
18th and 19th Centuries and are maintained by the Moore County
Historical Association. Check for opening times before you go.
The Carthage Historical Museum houses 200 years of artifacts
pertaining to local history. Carthage was once the home of a
renowned buggy factory and several exhibits celebrate this fact. From
here, head north of Carthage to the House in the Horseshoe, a pre-
Revolutionary War era cotton plantation. The name comes from its
location on a bend in the Deep River. The house features period
furnishings and was once the home of Governor Benjamin Williams.
Afterward, head back to Carthage for a casual dinner at Derby’s Ale
House.
Day Two
Day two finds you on the Reese Jones designed course at Talamore
Golf Club. This par 71, 6840-yard course has a 72.9 rating and with a
slope of 142 on Bermuda grass, and is ranked in the Top 100 Courses
on Golflink.
After your round, head to the Southern Pines Historic District for a
little shopping and browsing. Have lunch at Café Iano where the
lobster rolls are a specialty, then learn more about the history of
Southern Pines at the Shaw House Properties. This collection of
three historic museum houses depicts the daily life of the early
Scottish settlers. Then it’s on to the Weymouth Center for the Arts
& Humanities and the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame. Once
the home of novelist James Boyd, author of Drums and Bitter Creek,
the center sits on 24 acres surrounded by stately longleaf pines and is
listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Finish the day with a walk in nearby Weymouth Woods Sandhills
Nature Preserve. The preserve has nearly 900 acres of wildflowers,
wildlife, streams and ponds, four and one-half miles of hiking trails,
and an interactive museum. Enjoy a relaxing dinner at Ironwood
Café or Chef Warren’s.
Day Three
On day three, take your golf game to school at Deercroft. This classic
Sandhills layout has been ranked in GOLFWEEK's Top 50 Courses and
has hosted the PGA Tour Qualifying School Tournament. Golf Digest
called Deercroft “the best kept secret in the Sandhills.” Located south
of Aberdeen, this par 72, 6566-yard course has a rating of 72.1 with
a slope rating of 130 on Bermuda grass, and it will teach you
something about your game.
When the course is finished with you, explore some of the area’s
history, beginning with the National Railroad Museum & Hall of
Fame, Inc. in the hamlet of Hamlet. A testament to the town’s once
significant place as a major railroad crossroads, the museum exhibits
railroad memorabilia, a model railroad layout, and a re-created
telegraph office. It is housed in a former railroad depot, circa 1900,
whose late Victorian architecture has made it one of the most
photographed stations in the eastern US. Have lunch at the Seaboard
Station Restaurant for some great Southern cooking.
Afterward, scoot up US Highway 1 to Aberdeen for a tour of Malcolm
Blue Farm. This circa 1825 Scottish farm in features a museum, a
restored farmhouse and a gristmill. Down the road, visit the 1790
Bethesda Church and Cemetery with its Old Slave Gallery and
graves of area pioneer settlers. Look in the church walls for bullet
holes from a Civil War battle. Continue to the Historic District of
Aberdeen to browse the antiques shops and art galleries, and finish
the day with dinner at Thai Orchid Restaurant, a local favorite for
Thai food.
Top Places To Eat:
Pik N Pig (Carthage) – lunch, dinner
Derby’s Ale House (Carthage) – breakfast, lunch, dinner
Café Iano (Southern Pines) – lunch, Fri/Sat dinner
Ironwood Cafe (Southern Pines) – dinner, Sunday brunch
Chef Warren’s (Southern Pines) - dinner
Seaboard Station Restaurant (Hamlet) - lunch
Thai Orchid Restaurant (Aberdeen) – lunch, 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
Not staying near Pinehurst? F