Waking up in the morning and stepping onto a porch with sweeping views of lush fairways is every golfer’s dream. The Cottages at No. 8 bring that dream to reality. Discover how our land planning and landscape architecture team brought this project to life—Pinehurst Resort’s first on-course lodging alongside its historic greens.
The legend grows
Pinehurst Resort stands as one of golf’s true cathedrals. Located in Pinehurst, NC—affectionately known as “The Home of American Golf”— this iconic destination is our nation’s golfing mecca, akin to St. Andrews in Scotland. With the USGA establishing its second headquarters, Golf House Pinehurst, in 2024, the Resort’s legacy continues to grow. Offering ten distinct 18-hole courses, a celebrated par-three course, and world-class amenities, Pinehurst is more than a resort: it’s the ultimate retreat for golf enthusiasts from around the world.
Pinehurst Resort is no stranger to championship golf. From hosting multiple U.S. Opens including the upcoming the historic “double-open” U.S. Women’s and Men’s Open Championships in 2029, the Resort continues to be a proving ground for the game’s greatest players. With athletes and amateurs from around the world drawn to its challenging greens, the demand for premier accommodations has never been higher.
For over 125 years, Resort guests have stayed in its iconic historic hotels, such as the charming Holly Inn or the grand Carolina Hotel. Until now, none offered direct views of their legendary golf courses. Golf outings have grown in popularity over the years, with friends and groups coming together from far and wide. Today’s players seek more than just great golf: they crave engaging, one-of-a-kind experiences that elevate every moment of their stay.
In 2022, Pinehurst Resort decided it was time to immerse their guests in a complete and curated golf experience.
Reimagining what’s possible
KoontzJones Design was hired to help bring the Resort’s vision to life. Conceived as the Resort’s most exclusive and luxurious accommodations to date, The Cottages at No. 8. would offer something Pinehurst had never provided before: sweeping views of lush vegetation with greens, fairways, and lakes beyond, where guests can relax on their back porch and watch the game unfold on its storied course, Pinehurst No. 8.
Our team led the initial entitlement permitting and preliminary planning, identifying the most effective strategies to overcome difficult site constraints. Though the intent was to place The Cottages as close to the course as possible, developing adjacent to the fairways was far from straightforward. The site featured a dramatic, steep slope overlooking a protected wetland; balancing the desire to maximize breathtaking views while ensuring long-term stability proved challenging. Navigating the 30-ft “undisturbed” wetland buffer pushed our experts to implement innovative grading and site design solutions.
“Seeing this raw piece of land completely transform was a pretty dramatic shift. It was incredible to see the vision take shape.”
Trevor Hansen
Project Manager Landscape Architecture & Land Planning
Our design prioritized preserving the site’s existing natural features. The vision was for the Cottages to have an intimate, natural feel, as if the buildings had been there all along. We worked with the terrain to carefully incorporate the design alongside the mature vegetation and nearby wetland, adding complementary landscape and hardscape features that enhance the architecture and adjacent pristine environment.
Each of the nine Cottages was thoughtfully positioned and designed with a distinctive architectural style evoking the charm of a small New England village. Serving as the client’s design lead and construction administrator, we worked closely with the project’s partners, including LKC Engineering, 3North Architects, and general contractor, Red/Brand Construction.
“To be involved from entitlement to design to construction, it was amazing to see everything go from diagram to built plan.”
Devin Macfarlane
Landscape Architect
In total, The Cottages at No. 8 feature nine Cottages offering 54 bedrooms across multiple 4- and 8-bedroom floor plans. Exclusive amenities such as pavilion terraces, private fire pits and illuminated putting green provide guests with an immersive golf experience—seamlessly connecting them from the cottages to the tee, the green, and back again.
The best accommodations in golf
With final construction wrapping up in October, The Cottages at No. 8 are set to be a world-class lodging experience. Set within a lush landscape that evokes the timeless beauty of Pinehurst and the design principles of Fredrick Law Olmsted and Donald Ross, Pinehurst Resort has once again raised the bar, reaffirming its status as the premier golfing destination in the United States.
“Working with Pinehurst Resort to deliver this first-of-its-type project has been so exciting. We transformed our client’s vision into reality, resulting in the best accommodations in golf. It’s spectacular.”
Bob Koontz
Principal
Work with our Landscape Architecture and Land Planning experts
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