PLAYROUND COURSE GUIDE

How to Play Pinewild Country Club — Holly Course

Course strategy, tee-specific yardages and a hole-by-hole game plan for Pinewild Country Club — Holly Course in Pinehurst, NC.

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Pinewild Country Club — Holly Course golf course

Pinewild Country Club — Holly Course

Pinehurst, NC
Black Tees tees · 6,926 yards
COURSE OVERVIEW

About Pinewild Country Club — Holly Course

Designed by Gary Player and opened in 1996, the Holly Course at Pinewild Country Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina, is a precision-focused shot-maker's course. Routing through magnificent longleaf pines, the course emphasizes target accuracy over length, featuring compact green surfaces, strategic water hazards, natural waste bunkers, and undulating sandhills terrain.

COURSE STRATEGY

How to play Pinewild Country Club — Holly Course

Off the tee

Fairways are framed by tall longleaf pine trees and native sandy waste areas. Strategic shot placement is crucial, as straying off the fairway leaves difficult recovery shots through pine corridors.

Elevation & terrain

Gentle rolling Sandhills topography creates subtle elevation changes, downhill drives, and elevated greens that require precise club selection.

Approach play

Approaches are demanding due to small target greens guarded by water features, fronting wetlands, and deep green-side bunkers.

Around the greens

Greens are on the smaller side with subtle slopes and surrounding mounding, punishing missed green approaches with delicate chip shots.

Best way to play it

Prioritize tee-shot accuracy and distance control into small green targets while respecting water hazard placements.

Key takeaways

  • Shot-maker's layout designed by Gary Player prioritizing accuracy over pure distance.
  • Features smaller green surfaces updated to Diamond Zoysia turf.
  • Water hazards and wetlands play an active role on multiple holes, requiring disciplined hazard management.
  • Berrim-framed longleaf pine corridors make fairway positioning essential off the tee.
YOUR GAME PLAN

Hole-by-hole game plan

Hole
Par
Yards
HCP
Strategy
1
4
400
7
Aim for the center of the fairway to avoid pine trees and set up an unobstructed approach to the compact green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~160 yards remaining by raw distance.
2
5
519
3
Focus on finding the fairway off the tee to establish a clear second shot layup zone.
Your 240 yd driver · ~279 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
3
3
178
17
Target the middle of the green surface to avoid tricky recovery chips off perimeter slopes.
4
4
435
9
Favor accuracy over distance off the tee to ensure a clean approach line.
Your 240 yd driver · ~195 yards remaining by raw distance.
5
4
325
13
Play conservatively to the wide portion of the fairway and target the center of the elevated green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~85 yards remaining by raw distance. Favor position and approach angle over extra tee-shot distance.
6
5
573
5
Manage fairway positioning across layups to give the best angle into the small green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~333 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
7
4
433
1
Drive down the center of the fairway to avoid tree overhangs and secure a flat lie.
Your 240 yd driver · ~193 yards remaining by raw distance.
8
3
166
15
Choose sufficient club to carry front guards and land cleanly on the small putting surface.
9
4
424
11
Position your tee shot to the fairway center to avoid pine trees and set up an unobstructed approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~184 yards remaining by raw distance.
10
4
367
16
Control tee-shot direction to give yourself a short or mid-iron approach.
Your 240 yd driver · ~127 yards remaining by raw distance.
11
5
482
10
Prioritize distance control and positioning off the tee to negotiate water and bunkering hazards near the green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~242 yards remaining by raw distance. The green may be within range for your second shot depending on lie and conditions.
12
3
207
14
Ensure full carry over the water hazard; if missing, favor the left side to avoid rear bunker shots sloping back toward the lake.
13
4
390
6
Avoid the fairway pinch off the tee or shape a left-to-right shot, then pick precise clubbing to clear the water hazards pinching the approach corridor.
Your 240 yd driver · ~150 yards remaining by raw distance.
14
5
554
4
Keep tee shot and layup in the fairway to establish an easy wedge approach to the small putting surface.
Your 240 yd driver · ~314 yards remaining by raw distance. Plan this primarily as a three-shot hole.
15
4
444
12
Favor the wide center fairway to create an unobstructed approach line.
Your 240 yd driver · ~204 yards remaining by raw distance.
16
4
443
2
Aim down the center of the fairway to enable a clean approach shot into a compact green.
Your 240 yd driver · ~203 yards remaining by raw distance.
17
3
164
18
Target the middle of the putting surface to bypass surrounding mounding and sand traps.
18
4
422
8
Play a left-to-right tee shot or take less club to keep away from the water hazard along the left side.
Your 240 yd driver · ~182 yards remaining by raw distance.

Course information and strategy are provided for planning purposes. Yardages, course setup, hazards and playing conditions can change. Always confirm current course information before your round.