Pinehurst Resort (No. 2)

Overview: Pinehurst Resort No. 2, located in the sandy pine forests of North Carolina, is Donald Ross's undisputed magnum opus and one of the most famous championship courses in the world. Characterized by its towering longleaf pines, sandy waste areas, and lack of traditional rough, the course's true defense lies in its legendary, crowned 'turtleback' greens. These inverted-saucer putting surfaces repel anything but a perfectly struck approach, putting a premium on short game creativity and strategic iron play.

History: Opened in 1907, Ross spent nearly half a century refining No. 2, continuously adjusting the bunkering and green contours until his death in 1948. In 2011, the course underwent a landmark restoration by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, who stripped away decades of thick rough and introduced native wiregrass, restoring the course to its original, rugged sandhills character. It has hosted three U.S. Opens, a Ryder Cup, and is designated as the first Anchor Site for future U.S. Opens.

Did You Know? Donald Ross famously lived in a house right off the third green of No. 2, allowing him to watch golfers struggle on his creation and make daily notes for adjustments. The course hosted the 1999 U.S. Open, where Payne Stewart famously holed a dramatic 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole to defeat Phil Mickelson, a moment commemorated by a bronze statue behind the green.