Pinehurst

Scotsman Donald Ross was lured to Pinehurst at the turn of the century. Here he sculpted three of his course masterpieces, the best-known of which is Pinehurst #2, site of the 2005 U.S. Open. (Indeed, Ross lived and worked in a cottage behind the third hole at Number Two, tinkering with his design until his death.) The resort's eight championship courses are playable in the chiller months, and its complex of spas, restaurants, and the general ambiance of Pinehurst—from quaint town to the "Putter Boy" statue that's emblazoned on all merchandise—makes Pinehurst the essence of golf tradition.

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