 The Carolina Golf Club, located in Whispering Pines, NC, is an Arnold Palmer design that a lot of local low to mid handicappers love to play. The course is surrounded by a residential community where very few homes have been built – owing largely to the fact that the long awaited clubhouse has still not materialized.
The Course
The Stats:
- Par 71. Pro Tees – 6,928 yards (73.2/142)
- Men's Tees – 6,587 yards (71.6/134)
- Senior Tees , 6,044 yards (69.8/122)
My favorite holes : the 15 th (Par 3), the 6 th (Par 4) and the 2 nd (Par 5).
This is a tough course from all tee locations because you really have to hit straight shots to have a chance to hit greens in regulation. Plus, the greens are very sloped and tricky, so if you are like me and rely a lot on having to get up and down in 2 to make par, you'll have an interesting round! There are also a lot of hazards on the course. If you hit balls into the woods a lot, bring extras. But, if you use your straightest hitting clubs and don't worry about distance, you can shoot a very satisfying score. The terrain is hillier than most Pinehurst area courses.
The Club
There is no clubhouse, and the Pro Shop and Grill are in modular buildings. They are both adequate though, and the staff is very accommodating. So, if you are just there to play golf, it does not make any difference. The rates are among the most reasonable in the area – again probably because there's not a fancy clubhouse. I played in the afternoon this past June for $45 with a cart . I played after 4 on a weekday in July for only $25. Rates in the Spring and Fall are a bit more, but it is a great deal still. With the Golf Capital Card , you qualify for incredible discounts . The practice range is below average, although there's nothing to hinder a good warm up.
Real Estate
Homes and Building Lots are available at The Carolina, including golf front property. The community is gated and a handful of homes have been built, but the neighborhood has been held back because of the lack of Clubhouse. The location is great because the Carolina is on the Southern Pines side of Whispering Pines, making it only about a 5 minute drive to all of the shops and restaurants in town.
Sandhills Community College and the O'Neal School are less than 2 miles away; and Pinehurst is about 4 miles from The Carolina, so it is easy to get to the Village of Pinehurst and to the Hospital. Finally, the Whispering Pines location puts the community within a reasonable commute to Fort Bragg for military families seeking a high quality of life and great schools.
We think that The Carolina has a bright future, and that it is only a matter of time before the community gets a Clubhouse. Once that happens, we think that The Carolina will be one of the most popular gated golf communities in the area.
The Bottom Line
The golf is a great value – maybe one of the best in the Pinehurst Area when it comes to the challenge that you get for your money. As far as the real estate goes, the sky is the limit – you just never know when the community will make its surge. When it does, the potential is incredible. No properties are currently listed for sale.
However, if you would like for us to put you on our mailing list to be the first to know when property does come on the market, please e-mail me at: noel.mcdevitt@sothebysrealty.com
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