Pinehurst was an easy 75 minute drive down US1 from Raleigh, and the final 5 minutes or so was remarkable enough to prompt me to hang up the cell phone and pay closer attention to the surroundings. I reduced speed as the streets gradually narrowed, and rolled down the windows to catch the smell of freshly cut lawns and seasonal blooms as the day faded away.
My plan was to spend an evening in luxurious comfort near the golf course I had selected to play the next morning, Tobacco Road, which zig zags among the ancient sand dunes near Sanford, NC. It's reputed to be one of the ten toughest courses in America, so it was with an expectation of being bruised and battered by the game on Saturday morning that I checked in to The Carolina.
Our room was spacious and spotless, with all the conveniences you'd expect from a Mobil 4-Diamond Resort, including a large plasma TV, which we never had occasion to turn on by the way. After an invigorating swim in the outdoor pool, we took the complimentary shuttle to The 1895 Grille at The Holly Inn. It was great to enjoy a cocktail before dinner and a nice bottle of wine with our meal knowing the shuttle would be available all night if needed. The Grille offered heart-friendly selections which made it easy for me to order, and I feasted on the pan seared filet of Alaskan halibut. Word to the wise - for a table in this intimate setting, reservations are a must.
After dinner, we walked through the nearby village and discovered an excellent local rock band performing in an underground pub - Dugans. We danced a set and then opted to pass on the shuttle ride back to the resort, and jumped on a couple of comfortable, old fashioned bikes provided by The Holly Inn for a late night cruise around the village.
While my companion enjoyed a Pine Salt Scrub and Holly Berry Back and Foot Treatment at The Spa at Pinehurst Saturday morning, I headed out for a duel with Tobacco Road. The course is mentally challenging because of multiple blind carries, difficult angles and unexpected hazards. I was warned to expect a daunting first hole, and not to be discouraged by a poor score. But I parred the first hole, and halfway through the round was just three strokes over par and feeling quite confident. My concentration was focused, and I was hitting distance and direction targets outlined by the course map. That changed quickly on the back nine, and I scrambled home eighteen shots over par.
If you'd like a more specific recommendation to help plan your own One Tank Trip to the Pinehurst area, feel free to shoot me an email and I will refer you to some wonderful local contacts.
Safe travels!
