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. That is seven major platforms — a level of availability that only the most iconic courses (Pebble Beach, St Andrews, TPC Sawgrass) can claim.
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. See also our TPC Sawgrass course matrix and St Andrews course matrix for other iconic venues.
Course Profile: Pinehurst No. 2
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| Architect | Donald Ross (1907), restored by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2010) |
| Yards | 7,588 (championship) |
| Par | 70 |
| Signature Features | Turtleback greens, wiregrass-native sandy waste areas, crowned fairways |
| 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 a wide margin. The community-created LiDAR version of No. 2 is exceptional — the wiregrass-native waste areas, the crowned fairways, and most importantly, the turtleback greens are all captured in the elevation data.
But the real differentiator is everything else. GSPro also has Pinehurst No. 4 (the Coore-Crenshaw redesign that many consider a worthy companion to No. 2), Pinehurst No. 8 (the Tom Fazio-designed Centennial Course), and The Cradle (the 9-hole par-3 short course by Gil Hanse).
If you are building a simulator setup specifically to play Pinehurst, GSPro is the only platform that 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 and course management data. E6’s version handles the turtleback greens well, though the putting physics feel slightly different from GSPro. Limitation: E6 only has No. 2 — not No. 4, No. 8, or The Cradle. Included in Apex ($499/year) and Fusion ($999/year) tiers.
Trackman Virtual Golf — Premium Licensed
Trackman Virtual Golf includes Pinehurst No. 2 in its premium library. The Trackman version is high-quality with accurate yardage books and green contour data. Given Trackman’s reputation for precision, the ball-flight and spin modeling is first-rate. Limitation: No. 2 only. Requires Trackman 4 or Trackman iO hardware ($18,000+).
FSX Play — Foresight’s Take
FSX Play includes Pinehurst No. 2. The course rendering is detailed, and the integration with Foresight’s launch monitors (GC3, GCQuad, Bushnell Launch Pro) provides excellent shot data. Limitation: No. 2 only. Requires Foresight/Bushnell hardware.
TGC 2019 — Older but Functional
TGC 2019 has a community-created version of Pinehurst No. 2. The graphics are dated compared to GSPro or E6, but the routing is accurate and the course plays well. TGC 2019 is the most affordable entry point — a one-time purchase with no subscription. Limitation: No. 2 only. Dated graphics.
Full Swing — Premium Option
Full Swing Golf includes Pinehurst No. 2 in its course library. Their course versions are accurate and well-rendered, but the hardware cost is significant.
Golfzon — Korean Market Leader
Golfzon’s TwoVision platform includes Pinehurst No. 2 in its international course library. Their version is well-rendered and plays smoothly on their premium hardware.
The Turtleback Green Challenge
Pinehurst No. 2 is defined by its turtleback greens — domed putting surfaces that shed shots in every direction. Donald Ross designed them to penalize imprecise approach shots, and the 2010 Coore-Crenshaw restoration restored them to their original severity.
On a simulator, the turtleback greens create a genuinely difficult challenge:
- Approach shot accuracy matters more than distance. Hitting the green is not enough — you need to be on the correct tier and the correct side of the hole.
- Putting from above the hole is a death sentence. The domed greens mean any putt from above the hole gains speed as it approaches the cup.
- Short-sided is catastrophic. Missing the green on the short side leaves a chip that must land softly on a domed surface.
Simulator strategy: Approach every hole from below the green. Accept that par from the fringe is a good score. Never aim at the pin — aim for the center of the green and accept a 30-foot putt.
Budget Build for Pinehurst No. 2
You do not need a $10,000 setup to play Pinehurst No. 2. Since it is available on GSPro, the most affordable option — or see our best golf simulator under $2,000 guide for other budget builds:
| Component | Budget Option | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Monitor | Garmin R10 (GSPro via connector) | $599 |
| Sim Software | GSPro annual subscription | $249 |
| Impact Screen/Net | GoSports 7x7 net | $199 |
| Hitting Mat | Basic 5x4 mat | $79 |
| Device | Existing gaming laptop | $0 |
| Total | ~$1,200 |
For a significantly better Pinehurst experience — where the turtleback greens read more accurately — 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 simulator platforms. Every major platform has it. But the platform you choose determines how much Pinehurst you can play.
- Choose GSPro if you want the full resort — No. 2, No. 4, No. 8, and The Cradle.
- Choose E6 or Trackman if you only care about No. 2 and want an officially licensed version.
- Choose TGC 2019 if you are on a tight budget and just want to play the routing.
The 2024 US Open showed the world what makes Pinehurst No. 2 special — the turtleback greens, the wiregrass waste areas, the crowned fairways. On a simulator, those same features make it one of the most rewarding courses to play, learn from, and master.
And the best part? You can play it tonight.