Pinehurst Travel Facts

GETTING THERE: Pinehurst is in central North Carolina. Its season, usually from Oct. 1 through April, opens early this year for the Amateur. Best air connections are via Eastern, United and Piedmont to Raleigh, 58 miles from Pinehurst; or Eastern, Delta, Southern and Piedmont to Charlotte, 115 miles away. The remaining distance from either airport can be managed by Airmotive charters (six-passenger Aero Commanders) or by car. The rail connection is by Seaboard to Southern Pines, four miles away.

STAYING THERE: Pinehurst's two hotels run on the American plan (lunch is taken care of by a ticket to the country club). The fashionable 250-room Carolina has single rooms for $16 to $24 and double for $28 to $42. A single room at the air-conditioned Holly Inn (80 rooms) runs $14 to $21, and a double $24 to $38. A Howard Johnson motel offers double rooms for $10 to $12, and a few miles away, near Southern Pines, the Pine Needles Lodge has double rooms for $36, with meals.

GOLFING THERE: During the Amateur all Pinehurst. Inc. hotel guests can play courses 3 and 5 as part of a $22.50 all-week admission ticket. From Oct. 12 to Nov. 11 and Feb. 21 to April 27 rates for guests are $8 for one round and $4 for each additional round. At other seasons: $4 a day and $17 a week, with no limit on the rounds.