Country Club of Whispering Pines

With two championship 18-hole courses in the heart of North Carolina golf, you'll love today's featured venue: $25 for 18 Holes with Cart and Range Balls at Country Club of Whispering Pines in Whispering Pines near Southern Pines ($74 Value. Good Any Time until October 1, 2014.)

The Country Club of Whispering Pines stands out, even in the heart of the Sandhills golf destination. Considered to be one of the finest golf facilities in the state, Whispering Pines has earned its reputation by offering players luxurious amenities, high-quality service and a uniquely diverse playing experience.

The Country Club of Whispering Pines consists of two separate layouts, The Pines Course and The River Course. The Pines Course, formerly known as The East, combines length with subtle terrain changes. A standout in the "golf courses of the Sandhills," The Pines combines a series of holes boasting excellent design. The generous fairways, large greens and varied teeing areas give golfers of all skill levels fair challenges throughout the round. The back tees play a healthy 7,094 yards, so golfers should come ready to make use of every club in their bag.

The other 18-hole course, The River, has a northeastern country club vibe, complete with elevation changes and towering oak trees lining the fairway and overhanging greens. On the back nine, players are treated to tranquil lakes and meandering streams. Though it plays to a shorter distance of 6,521 yards from the back tees, The River Course demands more accuracy than distance.

Both courses were designed by the legendary Ellis Maples, a prodigy of Donald Ross, who utilized his unique talent and ability to craft multiple themes on one property with these courses. At the Country Club of Whispering Pines, Maples has employed the open, hard pan rough, sparsely covered with native pine straw and love grass. These characteristics have garnered the course a reputation as the most natural 36 holes in the Sandhills.