Can You Play Pinehurst No. 2 on Trackman? Here’s How

Pinehurst No. 2 is the course that separates sim platforms. Any software can render Pebble Beach’s ocean views and call it a day. Pinehurst requires accurate green modeling because the crowned, turtleback greens are the entire point of the course.

Trackman has the post-restoration routing of Pinehurst No. 2. This matters more than most golfers realize. The Coore and Crenshaw restoration removed the rough, exposed the native sandy waste areas, and returned the greens to their original Donald Ross design — firm, fast, sloping in every direction. If you play a pre-restoration version of Pinehurst No. 2 on GSPro or another platform, you are playing a different course.

What Makes Trackman’s Version Special

The greens are the story at Pinehurst No. 2. They are crowned — the centers are higher than the edges. A shot that lands two feet from the pin but on the wrong side of the crown rolls to the fringe. A good approach shot that lands on the correct quadrant stays close. The margin between a birdie putt and a 40-foot chip is measured in inches.

Trackman’s LIDAR scan captures these micro-contours with higher resolution than any community-built version. The waste areas — the native sand and wiregrass that replaced the rough — are rendered as actual hazards, not cosmetic decorations. You cannot just blast a ball anywhere and expect to find it. The waste areas in Trackman’s version are playable but unpredictable, exactly like the real course.

The course also plays firm and fast. Trackman’s surface physics model treats the fairways as actual turf with density and moisture values. Pinehurst without firm conditions is not Pinehurst No. 2. Trackman lets you set conditions that match the US Open setup.

How to Access It

Open Trackman Virtual Golf. Navigate to the course library. Search “Pinehurst No. 2” or “Pinehurst.” The post-restoration version is the one Trackman carries. Trackman also has the Cradle short course for a quick practice round.

Load it. Set firm conditions. Play.

The Holes That Define the Round

The 5th Hole: A 576-yard par 5 that bends right through the sandy landscape. The second shot is uphill to a green that sits above the fairway. On Trackman, the elevation change affects the club selection more than you expect. The crowned green rejects any approach that is not hit to the correct quadrant.

The 8th Hole: The most famous par 4 on the course. The green sits on a natural plateau surrounded by waste areas. The approach shot requires a precise carry and a precise landing point. On Trackman, you can see the waste area swallowing balls short and left. The green is one of the most punishing on the course.

The 16th Hole: A 522-yard par 5 with a green that is pure Donald Ross — crowned, fast, and surrounded by collection areas. The risk-reward decision on the second shot is genuine: go for the green in two and deal with the crowned surface, or lay up and leave a wedge that still requires an accurate landing.

How It Compares to Other Versions

GSPro has a highly rated version of Pinehurst No. 2 built by the community. It is excellent for a community build. But it is not officially licensed. The greens are accurate to the LIDAR data available, but the resolution is lower than Trackman’s professional scan.

Pinehurst No. 2 is notably absent from FSX Play. Foresight has No. 1, No. 5, and No. 7, but not the famous one. The licensing arrangement appears to limit where No. 2 appears.

Trackman’s version is the most accurate sim version of Pinehurst No. 2 available. The combination of professional LIDAR data, licensed access, and Trackman’s physics engine makes it the definitive sim version.

The Catch

Same as always. Trackman requires a $29,490 simulator purchase. The course is included, but the hardware is a major investment.

If you are serious about course accuracy and have access to a Trackman, Pinehurst No. 2 is one of the best sim experiences available on any platform. The greens alone are worth the time. Play it with firm conditions, post-restoration routing, and the wind turned up. You will understand why this course has hosted three U.S. Opens and why it will host two more by 2047.

For the full list of courses worth playing on Trackman, read The Best Courses on Trackman Performance. Need the full software breakdown? Check our Best Courses on Trackman Performance guide for the complete breakdown.