Pinehurst No. 2 on GSPro vs E6 vs TGC 2019: Which Version Is Best?
Pinehurst No. 2 is the course that broke the US Open. The turtleback greens are the most unique challenge in American golf. Hit the center of the green or watch your ball run off the edge into a collection area. There is no middle ground.
Getting those greens right in a simulator is the difference between a good Pinehurst experience and a wasted download.
Which Platforms Have It
GSPro: Yes. The best version is by BigFudge. Free with $250/year GSPro.
E6 Connect: Yes. Officially licensed, included in Expanded ($600/year) tier.
TGC 2019: Yes. Community-built, included in base game.
The Greens: The Only Thing That Matters
Pinehurst No. 2 is a course with generous fairways, minimal rough, and greens that will make you cry. The comparison comes down to one question: which platform handles the turtleback greens correctly?
E6 Connect (9/10): E6’s greens are the most accurate. The scanning data captured the inverted-saucer contours. The 3rd green — the most diabolical on the course — rejects offline approaches correctly. The 5th green’s false front sends short approaches rolling 20 yards back. Putts that look downhill and straight break 4 feet because the green is shaped like a dome. E6’s green physics handle the speed and break correctly. You’ll three-putt. You’ll know it’s your fault, not the software’s.
GSPro (8/10): BigFudge’s version has excellent greens. The LIDAR data captures the general shape. The turtleback effect is present — hit the wrong part and your ball runs off. But the micro-contours aren’t as nuanced. You’ll make a few putts on GSPro that you’d miss in real life. It’s 90% of the way there. For most players, that’s enough.
TGC 2019 (5/10): TGC’s greens are too flat. The turtleback effect is barely noticeable. You can miss the center of the green and still hold it. That’s not Pinehurst. That’s a generic course with Pinehurst’s name attached.
Winner: E6 Connect — the greens make the course, and E6’s version gets them right.
Waste Areas and Lies
Pinehurst’s sandy waste areas are a defining feature. They’re not bunkers — you can ground your club — but they change your shot strategy.
GSPro (8/10): BigFudge’s version handles waste areas better than E6. The lies are more penalizing. Hitting from a waste area in GSPro affects your ball flight noticeably. You’ll club up and swing easier. That’s the real Pinehurst experience.
E6 Connect (7/10): E6’s waste areas look better but play easier. The visual is more accurate — the sand and pine straw mix looks right — but the lie penalty is softer. You can hit from a waste area in E6 and not change your strategy much.
Winner: GSPro — the waste areas matter more in GSPro, which is closer to real Pinehurst.
Cost
GSPro: $250/year. Included.
E6 Connect: $600/year (Expanded tier). Included in Expanded but not Basic.
TGC 2019: $20-30. Included.
The Verdict
| Category | GSPro | E6 Connect | TGC 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 8/10 | 9/10 | 5/10 |
| Waste Areas | 8/10 | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Playability | 8/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost | $250/yr | $600/yr | $20-30 |
| Overall | 8.7/10 | 8.7/10 | 5.3/10 |
If the greens matter most: E6 Connect. The turtleback greens are the entire point of Pinehurst, and E6 gets them right.
If the total experience matters more: GSPro. The waste areas are more realistic. The rough penalty is better. The cost is significantly lower.
My pick: GSPro. BigFudge’s version is so good that the E6 advantage on greens isn’t worth the $350/year premium.
For platform-specific guides: Can You Play Pinehurst No. 2 on E6 Connect? and Can You Play Pinehurst No. 2 on GSPro?. Read the full reviews: GSPro Review and E6 Connect Review.