Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club is a 1921 Donald Ross course paired with a Georgian-style inn at 1010 Midland Road in Southern Pines, NC — one of the most authentically preserved Golden Age layouts in the country, recently restored to national acclaim and currently undergoing a full inn renovation under new hospitality management.
Whether you're planning a golf trip to the Sandhills or just scoping out your options, keep reading for everything you need to know before you visit.
A Brief History of Mid Pines
Mid Pines grew out of the early-1920s golf boom around Pinehurst, when a group of wealthy businessmen sought to meet surging demand in the area.
They acquired roughly 180 acres at $125 each and commissioned Donald Ross — already well established at Pinehurst — to design the course, while New York architect Aymar Embury II drew up the Georgian Revival clubhouse and inn. The course cost $46,152.15 to build and opened in November 1921 as a private club.
After serving a military purpose during World War II, the property reopened in 1944, and Julius Boros — who would go on to win three majors, including the 1968 PGA Championship at age 48 — became head professional in 1950.
The Bell/Miller family purchased Mid Pines in 1994, uniting it with sister course Pine Needles across the road, then added Southern Pines Golf Club in 2020 to complete a rare 54-hole Donald Ross portfolio under one ownership group.
The most recent chapter began in December 2025, when Mid Pines and Pine Needles entered a joint venture with Marine & Lawn, a golf-focused hospitality brand under AJ Capital.
Marine & Lawn took over hotel and food-and-beverage operations and is leading a full reconstruction of the inn, while the local ownership group retains the golf courses.
The Golf Course — Donald Ross Design and the 2013 Restoration
Mid Pines plays to a par 72 at roughly 6,700–6,732 yards from the tips, with a course rating of 71.4 and a slope of 126–127. Those numbers undersell the challenge. Ross built his defense into the greens — crowned, contoured, and grainy — rather than the length, so the course plays harder than it looks.
The routing follows the natural roll of the Sandhills terrain, with generous fairways, strategic bunkering, and a layout that constantly shifts direction, meaning no two consecutive holes run the same way.
Kyle Franz restored the course in 2013 using a 1939 aerial photograph as his guide. The work reclaimed roughly 15,000 square feet of putting surface, expanded greens by 20–25%, removed around 400 trees, and brought back the sandy waste areas and wiregrass that define the original character.
GOLF Magazine recognized it as Best U.S. Resort Renovation and Restoration of the Year. Franz, notably, also worked on Coore & Crenshaw's restoration of Pinehurst No. 2.
A few holes worth knowing before you play:
- 2nd: An uphill par 3 over water
- 4th: A short par 4 (~330 yards) with a severe left-to-right canted green
- 6th: A strong par 5
- 18th: A downhill, dogleg-left par 4 finishing beneath the inn — widely considered one of the best finishing holes in the state
The course ranks 88th on Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Public Courses (2025–26) and 24th in North Carolina for 2026. It's walkable, caddie service is available, and the fairways and greens are Bermuda grass overseeded with rye through the winter months.
Lodging, Dining, and On-Site Amenities
The Mid Pines Inn dates to 1921 and carries that history throughout — original furnishings, antiques, and a Georgian-style character that plenty of guests find charming.
The property has 63 rooms across several categories, plus private villas that sleep 6–14 guests with kitchenettes. Room types include Inn/Parlor rooms, Golfview rooms overlooking the 18th hole, two-room suites, and named villas like the Holly (a log home built for Julius Boros off the 10th green) and the Boros Hospitality Suite for groups.
Standard amenities cover the basics: outdoor pool, fitness center, tennis courts, pro shop, conference space, and free Wi-Fi. That said, guest reviews of the rooms have been consistently mixed — dated finishes and general wear come up often.
The 2025 Marine & Lawn renovation targets exactly this, with a full inn reconstruction, a new pool, and a reimagined Knollwood Hall for weddings and events. Confirm the inn's open/closed status before booking.
Dining is a genuine strength. Three spots worth knowing:
- Mid Pines Dining Room: The main restaurant, seating up to 150, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- The Terrace: A smaller 50-seat space for more casual meals
- Pop's Lounge: Named for Frank “Pop” Cosgrove, this is your post-round spot — burgers, sandwiches, and drinks on the terrace overlooking the 18th green
The Sunday brunch has built a strong local following, with a seafood station (crab legs, oysters), prime rib, lamb shanks, and unlimited mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Across Midland Road at Pine Needles, the Crest Dining Room and In-The-Rough Lounge offer a more elevated alternative if you want to mix it up during a multi-day stay.
Green Fees, Stay-and-Play Packages, and Booking Tips
Mid Pines uses dynamic pricing and doesn't publish fixed rates, so the figures below are guest-reported and subject to change. That said, the seasonal pattern is consistent:
| Season | Approximate Green Fee |
|---|---|
| Winter | Best value — rates drop significantly |
| Summer | ~$175 |
| Fall | ~$200+ |
| Peak Spring/Fall | ~$215–$235 |
Stay-and-play packages are the smartest way to book, especially if you're planning a multi-day trip. They require double occupancy and a two-night minimum, and come in three tiers — from a breakfast-only 18-hole option up to a full-board 36-hole package with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. All packages allow play across all three Ross courses: Mid Pines, Pine Needles, and Southern Pines Golf Club, which adds real value if you're making a dedicated Sandhills trip.
Third-party platforms advertise packages from roughly $167–$187 per person per night, but be aware that taxes and service charges on top of those “from” rates can shift the final number considerably. Inn rooms start around $119/night on aggregators depending on the season.
Given the ongoing Marine & Lawn renovation, confirm availability and current pricing directly before booking — the inn will be closed for 6–8 months during reconstruction. Reach the resort at 800-323-2114 or the pro shop at 910-692-9362.
Getting There and Nearby Golf
Mid Pines sits at 1010 Midland Road, Southern Pines, NC 28387, about half a mile from US-1 and directly across the road from Pine Needles. Four airports serve the area:
| Airport | Distance |
|---|---|
| Fayetteville Regional (FAY) | ~32–50 miles |
| Raleigh-Durham (RDU) | ~58 miles / ~70 min |
| Greensboro/Piedmont Triad (GSO) | ~88–90 miles |
| Charlotte Douglas (CLT) | ~103–110 miles |
RDU is the most commonly used option for most travelers, though Fayetteville is worth considering if you're coming from the south.
Nearby golf is one of the strongest arguments for basing yourself in the Sandhills. The immediate Ross trio alone — Mid Pines, Pine Needles (ranked #3 in NC, host of four U.S. Women's Opens), and Southern Pines Golf Club (an underrated value) — gives you 54 holes of original Ross architecture within a few minutes of each other. Beyond that, roughly 40 courses sit within a short drive, including Pinehurst Resort's marquee layouts (No. 2, No. 4, No. 8), Tobacco Road, Dormie Club, Talamore, and Forest Creek.
Off the course, downtown Southern Pines is worth an evening, and the Tufts Archives in Pinehurst holds Ross's original drawings — a worthwhile stop for any architecture enthusiast. Other options nearby include the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, equestrian venues, and antiquing in Cameron.
Practical Tips for Planning Your Visit
When to go: Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are the sweet spots for weather and course conditions. October in particular tends to hit the right balance of comfortable temperatures and slightly softer demand. Summer is hot and humid but meaningfully cheaper, and an early tee time helps. Winter rates are the lowest you'll find, with playable conditions on warmer days — just accept that turf quality may be inconsistent given the Sandhills' transition zone climate.
On the course: Walk it. Mid Pines is designed for it, and the routing rewards the pace. Caddie service is available if you want a local read on the greens, which you might — Ross's crowned, grainy putting surfaces will punish approach shots that miss the right section of the green. Dress code runs standard resort: collared shirts, no denim on the course. Confirm specifics with the pro shop before you arrive.
During the renovation: The inn will be closed for 6–8 months during reconstruction. Pine Needles across the road is the natural alternative for lodging, with Talamore and Mid South as nearby backup options. You can still play Mid Pines as a daily-fee round in the meantime.
A few things worth adding to your itinerary:
- Outside golfers can book tee times up to 30 days in advance — don't wait for peak season
- The Sunday brunch is genuinely worth planning around
- Have a drink on the terrace overlooking the 18th after your round
- The Boros memorabilia inside the inn is a nice piece of golf history
- Use Ship Sticks for club transport to avoid checking bags at the airport
Conclusion
Mid Pines is a rare thing — a Donald Ross course that has barely moved from its original routing in over a century, restored with care and recognized among the best public courses in the country. The inn has its rough edges, but that's changing.
Once the Marine & Lawn renovation wraps, this property has a real shot at matching the quality of the golf with lodging to suit.
For now, it's best approached as part of a broader Sandhills trip — pair it with Pine Needles and Southern Pines Golf Club, walk the Ross trio, and enjoy the region for what it genuinely is: one of the finest golf destinations in America.
