Yesterday, I decided to go out and get in a round of golf at nearby Hyland Hills.  Hyland Hills is an 18 hole course in Southern Pines, NC - one of over 40 courses within about 10 minutes of Pinehurst. There are golf front homes and condos right on the course. I showed up at about 4 thinking I would play 9 holes to get back in time to catch live coverage of the US Open.  In the Pro Shop, they told me the "after 1 pm rate" was only $29 for 18 holes (cart fee included).  GREAT deal for a decent course in the heart of North Carolina Golf Country.  In any event, the course plays 6,300 yds from the Men's tees (rating of 69.1) and 6,900 from the back tees (71.9).  Playing from the back really isn't that long because a lot of the tee shots are downhill. It's been dry here and the greens were really soft.  The fairways are generally very wide and foregiving and the hazards are few and far between. The course is located on one of the highest spots around, so the views are nice and there's usually a gentle breeze (which is nice in the Summer months. You'll get your share of uphill and downhill lies because the course is very hilly. The fairways are in nice shape and generally well maintained. My favorite hole - No. 7, which is a nice straight par 5 with a slightly uphill first shot that you have to hit at least 220 yards in order to be able to see the green for your second shot, with a good approach for us average golfers. The pro shop leaves a little to be desired, but the staff is great. Hyland Hills offers very inexpensive lodging - probably the cheapest in the area, and a restaurant with the basics. The course is about 2 miles north of Southern Pines, and is the closest one to horse country. It's also pretty close to Fort Bragg - 30 to minutes away. For tee times, call 910-692-3752, although I have never found it to be very crowded. Oh, there's also a very basic practice range.  If you are looking to relocate to golf country here in NC, there's no better value for your money than you'll find in the Pinehurst areas.  Give us a call at 800-788-8814 or check us out on the web at http://www.mcdevitttownandcountry.com  If you are looking for golf game, you can always e-mail me at noel.mcdevitt@sothebysrealty.com