Course Name: Pinecrest Golf Club
Designer: Beckman Weremay (2002)
Location: Carolina, Rhode Island
History: Described as “South County Rhode Island’s Best Kept Secret”, Pinecrest opened in 2002 and is one of the top public 9 hole courses in the state.
Conditions: 7/10, With fast greens, lush rough, and rolling fairways, the conditioning at Pinecrest is one of its best assets. My only complaint would be that some of the bunkers are in terrible shape or under repair.
Value: 6/10, $18 for twilight and $22 on the weekends, Pinecrest offers pretty solid value. Carts are extra, but Pinecrest is not an overly difficult walk.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
Blue 35 2891 34.3 130
White 35 2611 33.1 123
Red 35 2309 35.0 122
Hole Descriptions: Don’t be fooled by Pinecrest’s short length; there are some very challenging holes out there, and even the short holes are made difficult due to elevation changes, dense pine trees, and undulating greens.
At 320 yards, the short opener is a very fair uphill par 4. Trees line the right side of this fairway while the left side slopes steeply down a hill. The most difficult part of this hole is the approach due to three surrounding greenside bunkers and a severe back-to-front slope.
The 2nd hole is one of the best holes on the course and certainly one of the most difficult. At 385 yards, this hole is a sharp dogleg right and plays quite a bit downhill. Dense trees line both sides of the fairway and misses off the tee will inevitably lead to bogeys or worse. The 2nd green is very tiny and guarded by a pond on the left. Any misses long of this green will make getting up and down to a back pin impossible due to the back-to-front slope.
The 3rd hole is another fantastic design. At 348 yards, this hole plays straight uphill and is lined by OB left and thick trees on the right. Beware of the false front on this tiny green.
At 540 yards, the 4th hole is the only par 5 on the course. This is a behemoth dogleg left lined tightly by trees on both sides. This firm, sloping fairway narrows as the hole proceeds, making accuracy on the layup a must. Like most greens at Pinecrest, this one slopes hard back-to-front. If there was one critique I have of Pinecrest, it would be that the par 3’s are fairly bland. With the beautiful topography, it’s a shame there isn’t a forced carry long par 3. The 5th hole is the first par 3, playing only 120 yards to a difficult green.
The 6th hole is the number 1 handicap hole as a 382 yard dogleg right. While I’m not sure this is the most difficult hole on the course, it is still a challenge as trees line both sides of the fairway and the approach shot plays uphill. The 7th hole is another one of my favorites at Pinecrest. At 337 yards, this straightaway par 4 plays straight downhill and is framed by tall trees on both sides. It’s really just a beautiful hole and certainly a good scoring opportunity if your drive finds the fairway.
The 145 yard 8th hole is the second bland par 3. This hole plays uphill and features a tiny, shallow green. The 314 yard finishing hole is sort of a letdown after so many strong par 4’s. Straightaway, this hole is narrow but any drives that find the fairway will leave only a wedge in.
General Comments: I didn’t know Carolina, Rhode Island was a thing but it’s fitting that this course is located there, as its tall pine trees resemble courses in the Carolinas. On a related note, Pinecrest is located on Pinehurst Drive and I was only a bit disappointed when I didn’t drive up to Donald Ross’s masterpiece…There’s no driving range at Pinecrest but there’s a tiny, well-kept practice green to warm up on. Pace of play has always been good at Pinecrest, and it very well might be South County RI’s Best Kept Secret.
Verdict: Fun, challenging, and always in great condition, Pinecrest is easily one of my favorite 9-hole courses in the state and one that I highly recommend if you only have time for a quick nine.
