Talamore Golf Resort

Reader Ratings / Reviews

• Talamore Golf Resort

  
  by The Golfin' Guy
  on February 06th, 2024 12:06

  Golfers who are planning a golf vacation to the Pinehurst area have a myriad of golf courses and accommodations to choose from. There are countless golf packaging companies ready to voice their opinion. And, depending on your budget, you can play some pretty historic golf courses if you’re willing to fork out some dough.
  
  As for me, I head to the Southern Pines area and two of the area’s finest golf courses with accommodations that are second to none: Mid South Club and Talamore. Both are part of the Talamore Golf Resort.
  
  In 1991, the owners of Talamore Golf Club handpicked Rees Jones to design the golf course. They were looking for a one-of-a-kind golf course in the Sandhills, and Jones solidly delivered!
  
  Talamore features over 150 ft. of elevation change, lakes, wetlands, massive bunkers including waste bunkers, and towering longleaf pine trees. Jones created Talamore to be more of a thinking man’s golf course, one which requires position and control over brute strength. You’ll have to manufacture shots if you want to score well.
  
  In 2017, Talamore made some monumental changes to the green complexes. They were restored to their original 1991 dimensions and the putting surface was changed from Bentgrass to Champion Bermuda, They now have a truer roll and a lot more speed. In addition, 5-foot TifEagle Bermuda green collars were also added around each green. Many bunkers were removed, and several areas were re-contoured to blend in with the surrounding terrain, providing more forgiveness in the landing zones and around the greens.
  
  Talamore is also home to the only sod wall bunkers in the Sandhills area. Talamore worked with Ecobunkers USA to create these wonderful sand traps because they are a lot easier to maintain. On average, 3-5% of any well-designed golf course is occupied by bunkers, yet they typically eat up 25-35% of the maintenance budget. Ecobunkers used layer upon layer of recycled astroturf to create the sod-wall effect - as many as 5,200 pieces – per bunker. This eliminates soil erosion, edging, plugged lies, and burrowing animals and makes maintenance of each bunker a lot less time-consuming.
  
  Talamore starts with a classic golf hole. It’s a long par 5 that plays 564 yards from the White Tees. Longball hitters need to be aware of the marshy area on the right side that can come into play off the tee if you don't keep it far enough left. You’ll get some extra distance off the tee as the fairway plays downhill, Play your layup out to the left to get around the bend. Your approach shot plays uphill onto a large green with a bunker that sits about 5 feet below it. Be sure to take enough club on your approach to compensate for the uphill.
  
  The 2nd hole is a 164-yard par three that for many golfers, will be their first introduction to sod-walled bunkers. There are two of them that sit directly between the tee and green; they also sit about 6 feet below the putting surface. Get up against them and you might have to chip out sideways or backward to hit your next shot. Fly your tee shot onto the green for best results; bump-and-run is not advised!
  
  Depending on your needs and desires, Talamore has several lodging options. Talamore’s Golf Villas offer wonderful amenities and panoramic views of Talamore’s signature holes. Inside, you’ll find plush and well-appointed accommodations including spacious living and dining rooms, bedrooms with two full-size beds, and full kitchens. Each living room and bedroom has cable TV and wireless Internet access. There’s also a washer and dryer in each unit if necessary. Other on-property amenities include a gracious southern style Clubhouse, a pool with cabanas, and a guest hospitality suite complete with an outdoor BBQ.
  
  The accommodations and lodging at Mid South are second to none — three-bedroom units with 1,800 sq. ft of total comfort. Everything in the condos is top-shelf and they need to be seen to be appreciated!
  
  Recently, new accommodations were unveiled. The Brooks and Palmer Cottages are spacious and amenity-laden, conveniently located just minutes from Talamore and Mid South. Both feature 4 bedrooms with 4 queen-sized beds, 4 full-size beds, and 4 baths, and comfortably sleeps 8! Each has a full kitchen, TVs in every bedroom, and big-screen TVs in the game room and living room. There’s outdoor dining for 8 on the old-school brick patios, a Weber grill, cornhole, and a separate firepit. Area with additional seating. What more could you want?
  
  Talamore offers some incredible golf packages that include golf, accommodations, breakfast delivered to your door, and a pig roast on Mondays and Thursdays. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another golf resort in the area that offers so much!
  
  When packaged together, the Mid South Club and Talamore are a formidable pair that will rival any two-course combination in the area. Throw in a few other local courses and you’ve got a golf vacation that will produce lifelong memories.
• Talamore Golf Resort

  
  by The Golfin' Guy
  on June 14th, 2019 12:12

  Talamore Golf Resort - The New Course and Mid South Club: A Formidable One-Two Punch
  
  The Talamore Golf Resort in Southern Pines, NC offers two of the area’s finest golf courses and accommodations that are second to none: The New Course at Talamore and Mid South Club, just down the street. Both properties have received numerous accolades from such reputable publications as Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Pinehurst Magazine and GolfLink.com.
  
  Back in 1991 when the Talamore Golf Resort opened its doors, the owners went out of their way to make it the ultimate golf experience by hiring world renowned golf course architect Rees Jones to create a one of a kind golf course in the Sandhills. But Talamore featured something even more unique than a new Rees Jones layout: llama caddies! It was the llamas that put Talamore on the international golfing map, and the press ate it up. In fact, there were more than 5,000 articles written and published all over the globe about Talamore and their llamas!
  
  While the llamas are no longer around – there are rumors that Talamore is considering bringing them back, at least on a limited basis – the Talamore Golf Resort and the New Course are flourishing. The New Course has a lot of obstacles you would associate with the Sandhills region: towering longleaf pine trees, lakes, wetlands, massive bunkers and waste bunkers and over 150 ft. of elevation change. Although the course plays over 7,000 yards from the back tees, being able to hit the ball a long way isn’t always going to be a benefit. Jones created Talamore to be a thinking man’s golf course, one which requires position and control over brute strength. You have to manufacture shots if you want to score well.
  
  When Talamore turned 25 a couple of years ago, management and ownership saw that as a good time to implement some needed changes. Superintendent David Walsh and his staff, along with General Manager/PGA Professional Matt Hausser and the skilled crew of Shapemasters set about to reimagine what the course should be all about. Through a combination of restoration and rejuvenation projects they were able to unlock the course’s hidden potential and make it more user friendly. 
  
  The biggest changes were made to the green complexes. Greens were restored to their original 1991 dimensions and converted from bent grass to Champion Bermuda, giving them a truer roll and a lot more speed. Sixty-inch TifEagle Bermuda green collars were also added around each green. A significant number of bunkers were removed; many areas were re-contoured to blend in with the surrounding terrain, providing more forgiveness in the landing zones and around the greens. The course conditioning was given a makeover and golf cart access was also improved, resulting in a 30-minute decrease in an average round of golf. Talamore is also home to the only sod wall bunkers in the Sandhills area; 12 bunkers that provide a fun and unique challenge.
  
  Talamore’s toughest hole – at least by scorecard standards – is the 16th hole. From the back tees, this gentle dogleg left par 4 plays 444 yards with a narrow fairway off the tees, guarded by dense pine forests on either side. It’s uphill all the way, more noticeably on your approach, making a long shot that much longer. The fairway bunker short of the green on the right side really shouldn’t come into play, but the nasty pot bunker short left sees its fair share of play. Par is an excellent score here.
  
  Talamore Golf Villas, which were constructed shortly after the club’s opening and have long been a favorite among golfers vacationing in the area. They offer wonderful amenities and panoramic views of the New Course’s signature holes. Inside, you’ll find plush and well-appointed accommodations including spacious living and dining rooms, bedrooms with two full-size beds and full kitchens. Each living room and bedroom has cable TV and wireless Internet access. There’s also a washer and dryer in each unit in case you lose a bet! Daily maid service is available too. Other on-property amenities include a gracious southern style Clubhouse, a pool with cabanas and a guest hospitality suite complete with and outdoor BBQ grove in their new outdoor pavilion with spacious seating, fireplaces and TV’s.
  
  When packaged together, the Mid South Club and The New Course at Talamore are a very formidable pair that will rival any two-course combination in the area. Throw in a few other local courses and you’ve got a golf vacation that will produce life long memories. For more information or to book your next golf vacation at the Talamore Golf Resort, visit them online.