Pinehurst No. 2 on Simulators: Complete Course Matrix Guide
By the Course Matrix Writer | July 23, 2026
The 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 gave us one of the most dramatic finishes in golf history — Bryson DeChambeau’s greenside bunker escape on 18, Rory McIlroy’s three missed putts inside six feet on the final four holes, and a turtleback green that decided the national championship.
And here is the best news for simulator golfers: you can play it at home.
Pinehurst No. 2 is one of the most widely available championship courses in the simulator world. It is on GSPro, E6 Connect, Trackman Virtual Golf, FSX Play, TGC 2019, Full Swing, and Golfzon — seven major platforms.
But Pinehurst is more than No. 2. It is a resort with nine courses, and if you know which platform to choose, you can play five of them from your living room.
This is the thirty-first installment of our Course Matrix Series, and we are taking on the most architecturally distinctive US Open venue in America.
Course Profile: Pinehurst No. 2
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| Architect | Donald Ross (1907), restored by Coore & Crenshaw (2010) |
| Yards | 7,588 (championship) |
| Par | 70 |
| Signature Features | Turtleback greens, wiregrass-native waste areas, crowned fairways, no rough |
| Major Host | 1999, 2005, 2014, 2024 US Open — plus 2029, 2035, 2041, 2047 |
| Simulator Availability | GSPro, E6 Connect, Trackman, FSX Play, TGC 2019, Full Swing, Golfzon |
| Other Courses on Sim | No. 4 (GSPro), No. 8 (GSPro), The Cradle (GSPro) |
Platform-by-Platform Breakdown
GSPro — The Gold Standard (All 5 Courses)
GSPro has the most complete Pinehurst experience by far. The community LiDAR version of No. 2 captures the wiregrass waste areas, crowned fairways, and turtleback greens in the elevation data.
The real differentiator is everything else: GSPro also has Pinehurst No. 4 (the Coore-Crenshaw redesign), Pinehurst No. 8 (the Tom Fazio Centennial Course), and The Cradle (the Gil Hanse 9-hole par-3). GSPro turns your simulator into the entire resort. Cost: $249/year or $499 lifetime.
E6 Connect — Officially Licensed
Pinehurst No. 2 is one of E6 Connect’s premium licensed courses. The E6 version is polished and tour-ready with accurate pin positions. The putting physics handle the domed contours well, though they feel slightly less severe than the real course. Limitation: No. 2 only. Included in Apex ($499/year) and Fusion ($999/year) tiers.
Trackman Virtual Golf — Premium Licensed
Trackman Virtual Golf includes Pinehurst No. 2 with accurate yardage books and green contour data. Ball-flight and spin modeling is first-rate. Limitation: No. 2 only. Requires Trackman 4 or iO hardware ($18,000+).
FSX Play — Foresight’s Take
FSX Play includes Pinehurst No. 2 with detailed rendering and excellent shot data integration with GC3/GCQuad/Bushnell Launch Pro hardware. Limitation: No. 2 only.
TGC 2019 — Older but Functional
TGC 2019 has a community-created version. Dated graphics, but accurate routing and the most affordable entry point — a one-time purchase, no subscription. Limitation: No. 2 only.
Full Swing & Golfzon
Full Swing Golf and Golfzon’s TwoVision both include Pinehurst No. 2 in their premium libraries. Accurate, well-rendered versions — but No. 2 only.
The Turtleback Green Challenge
Pinehurst No. 2 is defined by its turtleback greens — domed putting surfaces that shed shots in every direction. On a simulator:
- Approach accuracy matters more than distance. Hitting the green is not enough — you need the correct tier and side. A ball that lands 10 feet from the pin on the wrong side of the dome rolls 30 feet away.
- Putting from above the hole is a death sentence. The dome adds speed as the putt approaches the cup. Without feel from your feet, these putts are extraordinarily difficult.
- Short-sided is catastrophic. The flop shot is high-risk because the green rejects anything landing with too much spin.
Simulator strategy: Approach every hole from below the green. Never aim at the pin. Accept par from the fringe as a good score.
Budget Build for Pinehurst No. 2
You do not need a $10,000 setup. Since No. 2 is on GSPro:
| Component | Option | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Monitor | Garmin R10 | $599 |
| Sim Software | GSPro annual | $249 |
| Net | GoSports 7x7 | $199 |
| Mat | Basic 5x4 | $79 |
| Total | ~$1,200 |
For better green-reading accuracy, step up to the Square Golf Launch Monitor ($1,699) or Rapsodo MLM2 Pro ($699).
The Bottom Line
Pinehurst No. 2 is one of the most accessible major championship courses on simulators — seven platforms have it. Choose GSPro for the full resort experience (No. 2, No. 4, No. 8, The Cradle). Choose E6 or Trackman for an officially licensed standalone version. Choose TGC 2019 for a budget-friendly routing.
The turtleback greens, the wiregrass waste areas, the crowned fairways — the 2024 US Open showed the world what makes Pinehurst No. 2 special. On a simulator, those same features make it one of the most rewarding courses to play and master.
And the best part? You can play it tonight.