Play Day: Talamore Golf Resort (NC)
Our play day today is a road trip: we hop in the car and head south on i95 to Pinehurst, North Carolina and Talamore Golf Resort.
There are two courses less than two miles apart: Talamore, a Reese Jones design cut through the pines that initially made a splash years ago with the use of llamas as caddies... and Mid South, an Arnold Palmer signature course in a gated community, a private club that also is open for limited resort play.
It's the same ownership as the Talamore Family of Courses in this region: Talamore (Ambler), Applecross and Old York. When you join one, you have privileges at them all, and a steady stream of those members takes advantage of the discounts they receive in North Carolina.
But anyone can head to the Pinehurst area and play those two courses. If you do, plan a stay-and-play at Mid South if you can. The lodges there are magnificent, within steps of the clubhouse and practice areas and with beautiful views of the golf course. The villas at Talamore are also very nice, and both courses will provide plenty of challenges for your game. From the tips, they can bring you to your knees. Choose the right set of tees, and you'll have a blast.
You can find some pics and video at the Talamore Golf Resort page here at TeeItUpPhilly.com, including more info and a link to the website.
Local Knowledge:
Play: If you're looking to round out your trip with more golf, you have plenty of choices. If cost is not an issue, playing the recently restored Pinehurst #2 is a must, of course. Two other nice options are Pine Needles and Mid-Pines, both Donald Ross courses, although they are pricier than they used to be. Towards the other end of the economic scale, here are two nice values: Southern Pines Golf Club (Donald Ross) and the Country Club of Whispering Pines, which has two 18-hole layouts that are a lot of fun to play.
Eat: There are more restaurants in the area than you can shake a stick at. In the Village of Pinehurst, I really enjoy Dugan's Pub, which makes a Buffalo Chicken Salad that is world class. The Pinecrest Inn is a big post-round favorite of many golfers, and the Hickory Tavern on Highway 15-501 is a sports bar with decent food and a ton of TV's.
—
Click here for more golf blog posts.
—
Ed Abrams anchors mornings on KYW Newsradio, and you can hear his Golf Reports there on Fridays and Saturdays. He has also created a pair of websites: www.DealTrackerGolf.com, featuring leads on the best golf equipment deals… and www.TeeItUpPhilly.com, with video course tours, audio swing tips and local golf deals
