Nestled in the Sandhills of central North
Carolina lies a roughly triangular area
encompassing the villages of
Southern Pines,
Aberdeen,
and the quaint little walking
village of Pinehurst
which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also created New
York's Central Park - and Pinehurst Resort. The center of Pinehurst-area golf is,
and always has been, the Resort's world-renowned
#2 course.
Today the area is home
to 43 excellent courses - and counting. It is known as the "Home of American Golf".
Steeped in tradition, exuding refinement and genuine southern hospitality, and with
golf weather year round, the Sandhills area is truly a golf mecca. In addition to
Pinehurst Resort's #2, several others are among the nation's elite. The list of leading
course designers includes Palmer, Maples, Nicklaus, Player, Jones, Fazio -- but the
name "Donald Ross" dominates. The legendary Scottish course designer came to Pinehurst
in 1900 to redesign the new Resort's
#1,
stayed for 48 years, and created the Resort's
#2,
#3 and
#4 (significantly updated
in 2000 by Tom Fazio and reopened as a new course),
as well as the courses at
Pine Needles
and Mid Pines.
In all, Ross designed or redesigned
more than 400 others in North America but considered #2 his home course, calling it "the
fairest test of championship golf I have ever designed".
Pinehurst and professional golf have long been synonymous. In 1940 Ben Hogan won his first
pro tournament at Pinehurst. Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Cary Middlecoff won tournaments
here. A young Arnold Palmer was a regular at Pinehurst during college days at Wake Forest.
And who could forget the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst #2, where an exuberant Payne Stewart,
clad in signature traditional knickers and tam-o-shanter cap, won his second Open just
months before an untimely death. The Open returns to #2 in 2005. Pine Needles, site of
the 1996 U.S. Women's Open, again hosts the tournament in 2001. And Legacy GolfLinks
hosted the USGA's 2000 Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. Area courses also
host other professional tournaments.
A trip to the Pinehurst area will reward golfers not only with first-rate golf, but
experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. Play the area's excellent newer
courses, but do include at least one Ross venue on your itinerary and commune with both
the spirit of this "holy" game and the spirits of golf's greats who walked these hallowed
fairways before you.
Lodging - Resorts
Golfers coming to the Pinehurst area have a choice of many excellent
accommodations, from
cozy B&B's serving gourmet breakfasts to hotels and condos to first class resorts with rooms
and suites overlooking their famed golf courses and featuring other on-premise activities for
golfers and families. Whichever you choose, you'll be welcomed with genuine 'southern hospitality'
and a comfortable bed. The older properties, several dating back to the early 1900's and the
beginnings of "Pinehurst", have been lovingly refurbished and updated with all modern conveniences.
The "hoteliers of Pinehurst" make your comfort their business.
Golf Schools
First-class golf has been a way of life in these gently rolling sand hills for a century -
what better place to improve your game or learn to play! The area's golf schools in resort
and resort-like settings set the mood for learning, and instruction by PGA-licensed
professionals is first-rate. Schools are available for all levels, as well as special
ladies-only Golfaris, parent-child clinics, classes for juniors, corporate clinics, and
short game schools. Why not make your next trip to the Pinehurst area a "learning vacation".
Restaurants
Dining in the Pinehurst area is almost as good as the golf. A variety of venues provide dining
options from down-home Southern specialties to international menus including Mexican, Italian
and Japanese, to delis and quaint tea rooms, to savory sandwiches in the clubhouse grill. The
area's bed & breakfasts send you off to an early tee time filled with their very own
tantalizing breakfast specialties. And of course the familiar national chains are well
represented, too, for those who need to grab a quick bite on the run between rounds at
different courses. Some of the area's chefs are nationally recognized, and their special
culinary creations more than equal their big-city counterparts. Whatever your taste,
whatever your budget, you're sure to enjoy the Pinehurst area dining experience - almost
as much as the golf!
Golf Communities
The Pinehurst-Southern Pines-Aberdeen area is a wonderful place to visit. It's also
a wonderful place to live. The mild weather allows year-round golf, and the area is
also known for its beauty, charm and tranquility. Whether you're planning to move to
the area soon or are looking for the perfect golf community to retire to sometime in
the future, the Sandhills offers a plethora of properties and home sites. From private
gated golf communities to quaint homes in the villages and towns to condominiums, and
even large estates in the area's 'horse country', you'll find a large selection to
choose from. Rental properties are also available, both year-round and seasonal, as
are commercial, investment and industrial properties. 
