Okay, here is my blog post about the Pinehurst Red Lot:
So, I went to Pinehurst for the U.S. Open, driving in from Fayetteville with a bunch of my clients. I knew parking could be a mess, so I did some digging beforehand. I even thought about turning my yard into a parking lot and renting spaces. Turns out, plenty of folks do that during the Open!
First off, I found out there are two main lots for fans: the Red Lot and the Blue Lot. The Red Lot is up north on NC-73, and the Blue Lot is south on Sand Pit Road. I decided to go with the Red Lot since it was a little closer to where we were coming from.
I heard some people say you could pay up to $60 for parking, but I was hoping for a better deal. Since it was the Thursday round, I figured it might not be as crazy as the weekend. I also checked out the regular parking situation in Pinehurst. The Village Green lot and street parking were available, but only for three hours. I was expecting to be at the course all day, so that wasn’t going to work for us. I found an overflow parking lot at 55 Rattlesnake Trail, but it’s only open until 5 pm.
Since we were a group, I looked into VIP or valet options, but it seemed like a hassle. So, we decided to stick with the complimentary parking in the Red Lot. They offer a free shuttle service, which is convenient.
Getting there was pretty straightforward. We followed the signs and found the Red Lot easily. It’s a huge field, so there was plenty of space. I made sure not to make any dumb parking mistakes like ignoring signs or misusing disabled spaces. You know, the usual stuff. And I kept an eye out since some parking lots can be poorly lit. Safety first, right?
- We hopped on the shuttle, and it took us right to the course. No hassle at all.
- The shuttle was comfy and air-conditioned. This was a nice touch.
- Inside the course, I saw some folks with the wrong shoes on. No sandals allowed! I made sure we were all wearing proper golf attire – collared shirts and nice pants.
- We even checked our bags, since there’s a size limit. It was 12″ W x 12″ H x 16″ L, but they would have made an exception for medical stuff.
Overall, it was a smooth experience. I expected parking to be a nightmare, but it turned out to be pretty well-organized. The Red Lot was a good choice, and the free shuttle was a lifesaver. If you’re heading to Pinehurst for the U.S. Open, don’t sweat the parking too much. Just follow the signs, use the free lots, and you’ll be fine.
