Dan Maples designed it for families. The Longleaf Tee System makes it work for everyone else, too.
Dan Maples designed Longleaf in 1988, and Bill Bergin later added enhancements that refined the original routing without altering its fundamental character: an accessible, family-oriented course that plays comfortably for golfers across a wide ability range. The Longleaf Tee System, a flexible set of tee options that allows players to match their playing distance to their skill level, reinforces the inclusive design philosophy.
At 6,600 yards with a slope of 123, Longleaf is the least demanding of the courses in the Pinehurst coverage area. That is not a criticism. The course fulfills a role that few Sandhills layouts attempt: it provides a genuine golfing experience for mixed-ability groups, juniors, and golfers who want a round that refreshes rather than exhausts.
The routing moves through longleaf pines with the sandy soil and natural drainage that characterize the region. Maples kept the hazards visible and the fairways forgiving, creating a course where the primary challenge comes from green-complex positioning rather than forced carries or narrow landing areas. The result is a layout that plays faster than most in the area, with rounds typically coming in under four hours.
Green fees run approximately $140, placing Longleaf in the value tier alongside Legacy Golf Links. For groups building a four or five-round Sandhills trip, Longleaf fills the role of the recovery round: a day when the focus shifts from testing limits to enjoying the game in pleasant surroundings at a reasonable price.
Public access. Longleaf Tee System allows flexible distance matching. Green fees approximately $140. Pace of play is typically brisk.
The accessibility. Longleaf is the course in the Pinehurst area where a 25-handicapper and a 5-handicapper can play together without either feeling bored or beaten. The Tee System and the forgiving design make that possible without sacrificing the Sandhills setting that makes the round worth playing.
A Nicklaus-family design at $119 a round. The best pure value in the Sandhills.
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