The so-called pair correlation function is a fundamental spatial point process characteristic that, given the intensity function, determines second order moments of the point process. Computation of a non-parametric estimate of the pair correlation function is a typical initial step of a statistical analysis of a spatial point pattern. Kernel estimates are popular non-parametric estimates but especially for clustered point patterns suffer from bias for small spatial lags. We introduce a new orthogonal series estimate which is much less biased for clustered point patterns. We consider consistency and asymptotic normality of the new estimate and also finite sample properties in a simulation study. Estimates are finally compared in an application to a data set of tropical rain forest tree locations.