by CLAUDIO DeMARCHI
Have you ever wanted to call the Pinehurst area home? Just a dream – too cost prohibitive? Not anymore. The Talamore Resort and the Mid South Lodge in Southern Pines North Carolina, just minutes from Pinehurst, have introduced an “Extended Play Program” that can only be described as way above par. Believe me this is one time when being above par is good thing.
Located between the famed
Pinehurst Resort and Pine Needles,
the home of this year’s LPGA US
Open, it is tough to know where to
start with this experience. First of
all, the golf is amazing and the
different styles and rates of
accommodations are almost too
good to be true. This resort boasts
2 great courses, the Talamore
Golf Resort, rated 4 stars by
Golf Digest and the 4 ½ star,
Mid South Members Club. I would
consider the Talamore Resort Villas
to be the above standard
accommodations but for those with
a little more luxury in mind, then
the Mid South Lodge at the
Members Club is most suited for
you. Each villa has 2-bedrooms
with 2 full size beds, 2 bathrooms,
full kitchen/dinette and large living
room.
The following is a sampling of the
unbelievable “Extended Stay and
Play Packages”. These monthly
rates are per player, based on two
players per 2-bedroom villa.
2-week stays are also available as
are quad rates:
| Golf Seasons | Talamore Villas | Mid South Lodge | |
| Spring | March thru June | $ 1,295 | $1,495 |
| Summer | July thru August | $ 1,095 | $1,295 |
| Fall | September thru October | $ 1,195 | $1,395 |
| Winter | November thru February | $ 995 | $1,195 |
Oh, did I forget to tell you that all you golf for the month is included on either course. All you are required to pay is a $23.00 per person cart fee.
We started off playing the Rees Jones designed, Talamore Resort Course, which was named “North Carolina’s Golf Course Of The Year” by the North Carolina Golf Course Owners Association in 2002 and 2003.
From the tips, this course measures out to only 6,800 yards. But with a rating of 73.2 and slope of 140, yardage isn’t everything. Although somewhat lacking in water, it more than makes up for that with the undulating terrain and over 100 bunkers, many of them strategically placed to protect the tricky greens. As if Jones’s greens really need much protecting! Landing areas off the tee are generous, but the key to scoring well will be your ability to position your tee shot for a clear angle into the greens, especially on the dogleg holes.
One of the most unique holes, I
ever played is the par 3, 5th hole
where one day you could be playing
the blue tees from 181 yards
teeing off in a northerly direction
and the next day you could be
playing it from 137 yards and facing
west. Two completely different set
of tees for the one hole.
The next day we moved onto one of
Arnie’s masterpieces, the Mid South
Members Club, and talk about
saving the best for last. It’s no
wonder that the 2006 edition of
Pinehurst Magazine voted this gem
2nd only to Pinehurst #2 for best
golf course. While the Talamore
Resort Course lacked water hazards, the Mid South Club more than made up for it from 16 thru 18 with plenty more on the other nine.
Number 2 is the first of many beautiful and somewhat intimidating holes on the front side. The card indicates a shortish par 4 at 363 yards, but it is one of those risk/reward holes with water down the right hand side all the way to the green. This hole can set up the tempo for the rest of the round.
The par 5, 510-yard, 15th hole is ordinary looking off the tee but soon becomes as picturesque as they come, once you are within 100 yards of the green. A good tee shot and second shot should leave you 50 – 100 yards from an elevated fairway down to a tiny green sloping away with a deep bunker (which I managed to blade a sand wedge into) and beautiful small lake behind that.
Whether you’re planning to come to the Pinehurst area for a traditional golf vacation or an extended stay, you will want to consider the Talamore Villas or The Mid South Lodge.
For more information on The Talamore Resort Villas and Mid South Lodge Stay & Play programs, you can call them toll free @ 1 800 552 6292 or visit them online @ www.talamoregolfresort.com.
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