Offering roughly 600 golf courses throughout the state, North Carolina is one of the top golf destinations in the country. Not only does the Tar Heel State offer great golf and matching weather, RV options are plentiful, too.
Pinehurst Resort
Located 90 miles east of Charlotte and 70 miles south of Raleigh, Pinehurst is synonymous with golf, and legendary course architect Donald Ross, who called the area home for 50 years. Founded in 1895 in the heart of the North Carolina Sandhills, Pinehurst Resort is an unparalleled destination featuring nine world-class golf courses, an award-winning spa, three historic hotels, tennis, and other recreational activities.
In addition to the nine championship golf courses, The Cradle, a nine-hole short course, recently opened. Designed by golf architect Gil Hanse, The Cradle features holes ranging from 56 to 127 yards. Mere steps from the Resort Clubhouse is the same area where in 1898 Dr. Leroy Culver carved the first nine holes out of the sand. Over the next century, Pinehurst came to be referred to as the Cradle of American Golf.
There’s a lot to explore in and around Pinehurst, and if you plan to play all of the courses, Sycamore Lodge in nearby Jackson Springs is a good choice for parking your RV. The pet-friendly facility offers 200 full hookup sites with amenities like a bass-stocked lake and a swimming pool.
Putter Boy Sundial at Pinehurst
Pinehurst Resort also offers numerous golf-related activities, like posing for a photo with the famous Putter Boy statue, which is also a sundial.
While most think of Pinehurst as an iconic golf destination, the Village of Pinehurst actually preceded the first golf course in Pinehurst. Explore the historic homes and charming streets of the Village of Pinehurst in the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage.
Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park, created the Village to mirror a New England-style village with winding paths that encourage exploration. The carriage seats four comfortably.
Pinehurst No. 2, which has hosted three previous U.S. Open championships, will again host the U.S. Open in 2024.
For more information on Pinehurst Resort, visit their website Pinehurst.com. You can also read more about Sycamore Lodge on RV LIFE Campgrounds.
Rick Stedman is an avid golfer, RVer, and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Rick writes a golf column, “The RV Golfer,” which is published every month in rvlife.com. He can be reached at rstedman@gmail.com.
Sycamore Lodge doesn’t have 200 sites, more like 170 and only 40 sites have full hookups although there are dump stations on the way out and they may have a honey wagon. You must either be a member of a club such as Coast to Coast to stay there or attend a sales pitch. After saying all that it is a nice park and Pinehurst is a beautiful area.
Sycamore Lodge is a member-only campground.