Although it’s a decade old, the South course at Forest Creek Golf Club near Pinehurst, North Carolina, looks as if it’s always been there, which is high praise and the common denominator of classic designs. In that respect, it’s one of Tom Fazio’s finest creations.

Sturdy and straightforward, the South is a parkland course with plenty of elevation changes, winding its way through Sandhills pines. Like any good Fazio design, there is a premium on driving, but the real work begins with the approach shot. Players must find the correct and strategic parts of the spacious greens that feature plenty of movement.

The bottom line is that the South won’t leave you feeling beaten up at the end of the round, but if you have shot a good score, you have earned every bit of it. The South, just three miles from the Village of Pinehurst and its renowned resort, might not be the most famous in town, but among the cognoscenti, the layout ranks very high.

Par: 72
Yardage: 7,067
Year founded: 1996
Architect: Tom Fazio