Palmer

Designed by Arnold Palmer and part of the Mid Pines and Pine Needles resort corridor in the Sandhills of North Carolina, this course sits in one of American golf's most storied regions. The Sandhills have long drawn players and architects alike for their sandy, well-drained soil, towering longleaf pines, and a climate that stretches the playing season well beyond what most of the Southeast can manage. Vass sits just north of Southern Pines and Pinehurst, a stretch of highway that has produced more celebrated golf per square mile than almost anywhere in the country.

As a resort track bearing Palmer's name and design sensibility, expect a layout that rewards bold, attacking play — The King was never one for timid architecture. His designs typically favor risk-reward decisions off the tee, generous landing areas that reward length, and greens complexes that demand imagination around the edges.

The Sandhills resort scene runs the full spectrum from historic classics to modern destination courses, and the Palmer sits comfortably in that tradition — a worthy stop for anyone making a proper golf pilgrimage through this part of North Carolina.