What made this one-of-a-kind Pinehurst trip so special

Golf fans will remember Bryson DeChambeau’s U.S. Open win at Pinehurst for years to come. No. 2 provided a difficult test, the crowds were roaring and the championship closed with a dramatic finish.

And for a group of golf lovers who visited Pinehurst Resort in the weeks leading up to the U.S. Open, it was even more special.

As a part of a one-of-a-kind trip, a group of InsideGOLF members walked the closing stretch of No. 2 on the day the course closed to the public, three weeks ahead of the championship. Surrounded by empty grandstands and perfect conditions, their tour guides were golf broadcasting legends Peter Kostis and Gary McCord. It was a golf experience none of us will soon forget.

Walking the hallowed grounds of No. 2 wasn’t the only memorable experience on the trip, though. Over the course of three days, the group played The Cradle, Course No. 8, and Pinehurst’s newest track, No. 10, an exciting Tom Doak design.

“No. 10 was a must-play for me,” said InsideGOLF member Matt Parker. “It offered challenging, fun shots and some incredible views. I loved the blind shots over the bones of the old sand mines.”

Off the course, our group got the full Pinehurst experience. We stayed in the newly renovated Carolina Hotel and received special access to Golf Pride’s Global Innovation Center and Retail Lab. At Golf Pride, participants learned about improvements in golf grip technology and got to try out new products for themselves. In the heart of Pinehurst, we also visited the brand new USGA Experience and World Golf Hall of Fame, which features the sport’s history in an interactive setting.

Our final group dinner of the trip was incredibly special. We ate in the backyard of Dornoch Cottage, the home of legendary course architect Donald Ross. During dinner, we were treated to a fireside chat with Kostis and McCord, who answered questions about the future of golf and told some of their favorite stories.

To top it all off, event-goers received some top-notch swag bags. They featured Pinehurst U.S. Open apparel, GolfLogix green books, Fairway Jockey gift cards, a dozen Srixon Z-Star golf balls, a Cleveland wedge, Bask sunscreen, and a free driver fitting at True Spec Golf.

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