Pine Needles Golf Club and Lodge is a great value

Pine Needles Resort, Pinehurst, NC

Par 72
Architect - Donald Ross, restoration by John Fought
Excitement Level - 8/12
Difficulty 5/12
Cost - $95 in high season, many half price packages available
Conditioning - Four Stars
Value - Four and One-half stars
Overall rating - Four stars

Here is a terrific example of great value. You can play a course which has hosted to U.S. Women's Open's and is preparing for the third in 2007 for around $45.

Ross' greenside contours are nowhere near as severe as at the Pinehurst Resort, but a good mix of par-4 lengths, alternating shot values and varied green complexes make the round interesting, strategic and fair for all levels of play. Conditioning was terrific. The old style Lodge is quite confortable. Mix in a day at Tobacco Road and The Pit and you have another trip to make to Golftown, USA in addition to the pilgrimage to play No. 2.