The Carolina Sandhills: Golf Paintings and Prints

Sandy ground, longleaf pines and wiregrass at Pinehurst, where Donald Ross built his most famous course.

The Sandhills of North Carolina are a band of rolling, deep sand in the middle of the state. The soil is too thin for most farming, but it drains quickly, supports longleaf pines and native wiregrass, and makes firm, fast ground for golf.

That combination drew the game here. In 1895 James Walker Tufts founded the village of Pinehurst as a winter resort, and in 1900 he hired Donald Ross, a young professional from Dornoch in Scotland. Ross spent most of the rest of his life at Pinehurst, and his Course No. 2, opened in 1907 and revised by him for decades, became one of the most influential courses in America.

Golf in the Sandhills looks the way it does because of the sand. Fairways are framed by open, sandy waste areas dotted with wiregrass and pine straw rather than by rough, and the ball runs on firm ground. Ross built his greens crowned, so that they shed shots toward tightly mown slopes and hollows, an idea often traced to the plateau greens of Dornoch. In 2010 and 2011 Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restored No. 2 to that look, and Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner rebuilt No. 4 in the same spirit in 2018.

Pinehurst No. 2 has hosted the U.S. Open four times, in 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024, and in 2014 it hosted the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open in consecutive weeks. It has also hosted the 1936 PGA Championship and the 1951 Ryder Cup.

Linda Hartough's Pinehurst paintings are of No. 2 and No. 4, including the 9th from the 2014 championships and the closing holes of No. 2.

The prints

#5 Pinehurst No. 2

The 5th is a hole that tests every facet of a golfer’s skill while showcasing the timeless beauty of Pinehurst No. 2. With a gently curving fairway framed by sandy waste areas and native wiregrass, precision off the tee is essential. The approach shot is no less demanding, as the green – one of Donald Ross’s signature crowned designs – repels anything less than perfect.

$250.00 – $950.00

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#9 Pinehurst No. 2

The 9th at Pinehurst No. 2 is a par-3 that embodies the course’s legendary design. With its crowned green surrounded by tightly mown runoffs, precision is paramount. The subtle contours of the putting surface demand a deft touch, while the natural beauty of the Sandhills provides a serene backdrop. This hole is a Donald Ross masterpiece, blending challenge and artistry in perfect harmony.

$25.00

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#9 Pinehurst No. 2, 2014 U.S. Open Championship & U.S. Open Women’s Championship

This uphill par-3 appears deceptively straightforward until you factor in Donald Ross’s signature crowned green, which acts like a natural fortress against imperfect shots. What makes this hole truly special is how it rewards precision while punishing the slightest miscalculation – balls that miss the target find themselves in the surrounding collection areas.

$225.00 – $325.00

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#9 Pinehurst No. 2, 2014 U.S. Open Championship & U.S. Open Women’s Championship

The 9th at Pinehurst No. 2 is a par-3 that showcases Donald Ross’s genius for creating deceptively simple yet profoundly challenging holes. With its subtle beauty and strategic demands, the 9th is a quintessential Pinehurst experience, blending artistry and challenge in equal measure.

$250.00 – $950.00

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#16 & #17 Pinehurst No. 2

The 16th and 17th holes at Pinehurst No. 2 form one of golf’s most demanding finishing stretches, a back-to-back par-4 examination that has decided countless championships. These consecutive holes showcase Donald Ross’s genius for creating strategic challenges that grow more intense as pressure mounts.These two holes have humbled major champions and defined careers.

$250.00 – $950.00

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#17 Pinehurst No. 2

The penultimate hole at Pinehurst No. 2 is a test of nerve and precision. Its crowned green, a signature of Donald Ross, repels all but the most accurate approaches. The sandy waste areas and natural contours embody the course’s rugged elegance. As you stand over your shot, the history of champions past lingers in the air, reminding you that every stroke here carries the weight of legacy.

$45.00

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#18 Pinehurst No. 2

The 18th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 is a par-4 that provides a fittingly dramatic conclusion to this iconic course. As the final chapter of Pinehurst No. 2, the 18th hole embodies the course’s blend of beauty, strategy, and challenge, leaving players with a lasting memory of one of golf’s most revered venues.

$350.00 – $450.00

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#18 Pinehurst No. 4

Framed by the natural beauty of the Sandhills, this hole begins with a tee shot that must navigate a wide but undulating fairway, bordered by native grasses and sandy waste areas. The approach shot is where the drama unfolds, as the green is elevated and well-guarded by bunkers, demanding precision and control. The putting surface, with its subtle slopes, challenges even the steadiest hands.

$250.00 – $950.00

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Looking for a particular hole?

Call the gallery and we will tell you what is available, framed or unframed.