Pinehurst No. 4 Review: The Smarter Pinehurst Splurge for Most Golfers

There is a specific kind of golfer who talks themselves into Pinehurst No. 2 because it is the famous one, then quietly has more fun somewhere else on property.

That somewhere else is usually Pinehurst No. 4.

This is not a fake firsthand review where I pretend I just walked off the 18th green with a personal relationship to every sandy shoulder and every Gil Hanse contour. This is a practical review built from Pinehurst’s current official No. 4 course page, current FAQ and golfer-guide logistics, current 2026 maintenance schedule, and Pinehurst’s own guidance on what makes No. 4 different.

The question is simple:

Is Pinehurst No. 4 actually the smarter Pinehurst splurge for a lot of golfers in 2026?

Yes.

For a lot of trips, absolutely yes.

Quick Verdict

Pinehurst No. 4 is worth it if you want:

• a Pinehurst round that still feels premium without asking you to suffer just for the brand name
• wider, more forgiving fairways than No. 2 with plenty of strategy still baked in
• a course that looks easier to enjoy for a broader range of handicaps
• the cleanest “second headline round” on a Pinehurst trip

It is not the right answer if you only care about history, only want the resort’s crown-jewel bragging rights, or need the cheapest possible way to say you played Pinehurst.

What Pinehurst No. 4 Actually Is

Pinehurst’s current official No. 4 page says the course was originally opened in 1919, now plays as a par 72 at 7,227 yards, and was created by Gil Hanse in the timeless tradition of golf in the North Carolina Sandhills. The same page says the 2018 redesign helped it earn “Best New Course” and “Top 100 Course” recognition.

That already tells you the basic personality.

This is not Pinehurst trying to clone No. 2 and sell the sequel.

Pinehurst’s own 2023 No. 4 explainer says the redesign focused on the natural landscape and uses rolling topography and ridgelines to create bigger vistas, a more dramatic routing, and an old-world feel. That same piece describes wide and forgiving fairways and accepting green complexes that were meant to emphasize fun and appeal to low and high handicappers.

That is the entire argument for No. 4 in one breath:

• Pinehurst feel
• Sandhills visuals
• real strategy
• less punishment-for-punishment’s-sake energy

Why No. 4 Makes So Much Sense

It is the anti-masochist Pinehurst round

If No. 2 is the resort’s architecture exam, No. 4 sounds like the course that still wants you to enjoy the day while you are taking it.

That is not the same thing as easy.

It is just a different flavor of hard.

Pinehurst’s own description leans into wider fairways and more accepting green complexes, which is exactly why so many regular Pinehurst golfers keep saying they actually enjoy No. 4 more.

If you want the broader resort map first, read best golf courses in Pinehurst, North Carolina and the full Pinehurst No. 2 review. Those two pages frame the central trip question really well:

• which course explains Pinehurst best
• which course is the smartest to actually play

Those are not always the same answer.

It still looks like serious golf

There is a bad version of “more playable” where the course just becomes bland.

No. 4 does not sound like that.

Pinehurst’s current course page still sells:

• rolling topography
• dramatic vistas
• sandy, wooded, and lakefront property
• a routing that feels distinct from the more famous course next door

That matters because you are not paying Pinehurst money for “perfectly pleasant.”

You are paying for golf with a real identity.

It is probably the best Pinehurst round for golfers who hate losing the ball to their own ego

If you are the golfer who keeps turning one aggressive decision into an exhausting hole, No. 4 looks like the better fit than No. 2.

That does not mean you can show up brain-dead.

It means the course sounds more willing to let you recover from a small mistake without converting it into a personality crisis.

That is why the practical strategy stuff still matters. Before a trip like this, I would revisit how to play front pins without making bogey, how to play back pins better, and stop short-siding yourself. No. 4 sounds friendlier than No. 2, not immune to bad decisions.

The Access Rules Are Still Resort Rules

Pinehurst’s current FAQ says that to play courses 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, you must be a member or resort guest.

So no, this is not your loophole “I will just slide in from the parking lot and outsmart the system” course.

It is still part of a proper Pinehurst trip.

That matters because the value conversation is not just about one green fee. It is about:

• where you stay
• how many resort rounds you book
• whether No. 4 replaces or complements No. 2
• how much you care about playing the most famous course versus the one that might fit you better

The Walking and Caddie Setup Matters

Pinehurst’s current FAQ says the resort highly encourages guests to use a caddie on No. 2 and No. 4 because both are cart path only.

The same current FAQ lists:

• Caddie: $85 per bag
• Forecaddie: $45 per player
• Single bag: $100

It also says:

• carts are restricted to paths on No. 2 and No. 4
• push carts are available on a first-come, first-served basis
• golfers should use a single-strap carry bag under 24 pounds if using a caddie

That is not just budget trivia.

It tells you what kind of day this is supposed to be.

This course wants to be walked properly, not sort of driven from the edges while you pretend that is the same thing.

Pinehurst’s No. 4 explainer also says the course starts a short walk from the main clubhouse and driving range, and that resort guests can take the trolley or shuttle from their hotel and warm up before the round.

That sounds small. It is not.

If you are already spending Pinehurst money, showing up rushed and under-loose because you treated the round like a local muni time is dumb.

Timing the Trip Is Still Important

Pinehurst’s current 2026 maintenance schedule says Course No. 4 is set for:

• May 26 through June 5, 2026 maintenance
• Monday afternoon topdressing from May 1 through August 31

That is exactly the kind of detail golfers forget until they are standing on the first tee trying to act surprised that the expensive surfaces are not in peak shape.

There is also a useful recent confidence note here: Pinehurst published in August 2025 that No. 4 had reopened after a greens-restoration project designed to bring the surfaces back to the standards the resort wanted guests to experience.

So if you are booking outside the maintenance window, there is a pretty fair case that the course should be in a healthier current place than a golfer who has not checked the details might assume.

Who Should Play No. 4

Play it if you want one Pinehurst round that still feels prestigious but less punishing

Some golfers want the history lecture and the full-brutality test.

That is No. 2.

Some golfers want a premium Pinehurst experience that still feels like golf instead of a long-form apology tour.

That is where No. 4 starts looking really good.

Play it if your trip already includes No. 2

This is the cleanest No. 4 use case.

If you are already doing the crown-jewel round, No. 4 looks like the best complement because it gives you:

• the same destination
• a different design personality
• a broader recovery window
• a real chance to enjoy the architecture without spending all day in defensive mode

Pass it if your entire trip is about “the one famous Pinehurst course”

If you only have one big Pinehurst swing to take and your goal is to understand why the place matters in the first place, I still think No. 2 is the answer.

That is not a knock on No. 4.

It is just the difference between the resort’s most famous course and, quite possibly, its smartest one for normal humans.

Practical Stuff to Know Before You Go

Wear shoes you trust for a lot of walking

Cart-path-only golf plus Pinehurst scale means the walking part is not cosmetic.

If your shoes are still a maybe, fix that before the trip with best golf shoes for walking 2026 instead of testing your feet on the property.

Show up early enough to warm up like an adult

No. 4 starts close to the clubhouse and range. Use that.

If your first three holes always feel like on-course calibration, read the pre-round warm-up routine and how to play your first three holes without starting stupid before you spend resort money on a sloppy opening stretch.

Treat the caddie or push-cart decision like part of the round, not a side note

This is one of those places where logistics affect the golf more than people admit.

If you do not want to carry, book the caddie early.

If you do want to walk on your own terms, be prepared to grab a push cart quickly and get on with it.

Is It Actually Worth It?

Yes, if you want the Pinehurst round that sounds most likely to balance:

• premium trip feel
• resort identity
• smart strategy
• actual enjoyment

No. 4 still costs real money and still requires a proper Pinehurst plan.

But the golf case sounds clean:

it is Pinehurst with more room to breathe.

That is a very attractive sentence.

Bottom Line

Pinehurst No. 4 looks worth it in 2026, especially if you want the smarter Pinehurst splurge instead of automatically defaulting to the harshest one.

The current official resort rules still make it a guest-only round, the caddie and cart-path setup are part of the real cost, and the current maintenance schedule is worth checking before you book.

But if your question is which Pinehurst course a lot of normal golfers may enjoy more while still feeling like they got the full destination-golf treatment, No. 4 has a hell of a case.

Image: Birdie Report