Tommy Armour once remarked about Pinehurst, "the man who doesn't feel emotionally stirred when he golfs at Pinehurst beneath those clear blue skies and with the pine fragrance in his nostrils is one who should be ruled out of golf for life."

More professional championships have been held at Pinehurst than anywhere else in the US and include the 1936 PGA won by Denny Schute, 1951 Ryder Cup,-US, 1999 US Open-Payne Stewart, and 2005 US Open-Michael Campbell, and the Mens'/Womens' US Opens in 2014 won by Martin Kaymer and Michelle Wie respectively. There's nine golf courses at Pinehurst, No. 1-9 with the even courses generally regarded as the favored layouts, but a few odd ones are outlined herein as well.

No. 1 is a straightforward and playable, parkland design journeying through hilly, pine tree lined fairways. There's numerous slight doglegs, several ponds, and 40+ sand traps scattered about the fairways and guarding the modest, raised greens. There's four sets of tees overall with the tips playing to a short 6,089 yards, 68.4/118, course/slope ratings, the initial nine holes were designed by Dr. Leroy Culver in 1898, the 2nd nine added by John Dunn Tucker, and Donald Ross tinkered with it constantly.

No. 2 was designed in 1907 by Scottish golf course architect Donald Ross with later renovations by Walter Travis and Rees Jones with a redesign by Coore/Crenshaw to restore it to the original features. The simplicity of No. 2 is brilliant-wide fairways through the pines to diabolical green complexes all bordered by natural sandy waste areas. The greens are massive, on average 5,000 feet, but over half of the green area is not available for pin placements due to the slope and undulations. Off-line approach shots end up in a series of collection areas surrounding the greens where recovery to par is challenging. It plays to 7,588 yards from the US Open tees, 76.5/138, course/slope ratings with four shorter tees.

No. 4 is is viewed as the 2nd best course of the Pinehurst Resort collection, and a true championship caliber layout with a total of 188 sand hazards including Fazio's trademark pot bunkers-140 in all! It also offers some of the most picturesque scenes at Pinehurst including the 13th and 14th with forced carries over a large lake along with azaleas wrapping around the numerous green complexes reminiscent of Augusta National. It was the host site of the 2008 US Amateur and plays to 7,117 yards, 74.2/136, course/slope ratings from the back tees with four shorter tees. It's an original 1919 Donald Ross design with a Robert Trent Jones and Rees Jones re-design in 1973 and 1982 respectively before a 2000 Tom Fazio enhancement and a Gil Hanse redesign to a more naturalistic approach in 2017.

No. 6 is the choice for the best unknown course at Pinehurst. The golf course is a hilly, parkland layout along isolated fairways bordering steep fall-offs and thick vegetation with the back nine one the most challenging in Pinehurst. The course has 57 sand bunkers along the fairways and greens and just five water hazards overall. It plays to a total yardage of 7,053 yards, 74.7/139, course/slope ratings off the back tees with four shorter tees, a design by George Fazio in 1979 with a redesign by Tom Fazio in 1991 and 2005.

No. 7 meanders through a residential development over hilly, pine tree lined fairways with ample driving lanes off the tee. There's 75+ sand bunkers along the fairways and greens, several ponds and wetlands, and numerous doglegs with elevated greens and tees. From the tips it is 7,216 yards, 75.5/149, course/slope ratings with 4 alternate tees, a Rees Jones design from 1986.

No. 8 marches over a large, 420 acre tract of land along pine tree lined fairways and through wetlands with sand bunkers in play throughout the fairway landing zones and guarding the greens. In addition, there's four water hazards including two forced carries where heroic play is required. The greens have some of the same characteristics as No. 2 with dips and swales, sloping surfaces, and false fronts, but are a shade more forgiving. It plays to 7,092 yards, 74.1/138, course/slope from the tips with four shorter sets of tees, designed by Tom Fazio.

Pinehurst No. 9 is the former National Golf Club which was purchased by Pinehurst in 2014. The golf course is a parkland design over rolling topography and along broad fairways with strategic sand bunkering along the landing zones and greens. The layout is visually stunning with tall pines, grassy swales, groomed waste areas, and a variety of lakes and streams bordering the fairways and greens. It plays to 7,122 yards, 75.5/138, course/slope ratings off the back tees with four shorter tees, designed by Jack Nicklaus.

The Cradle is a 9 hole, par 3 layout located directly in front of the massive clubhouse on the 10 acre site of what once was Pinehurst's first 9 hole layout. It was designed by Gil Hanse in 2017 and has holes ranging from 56 yards to 127 yards over slightly undulating land and green complexes.