It's been called "the Cradle of American Golf" because of its place in the annals of U.S.
golf history. Golf in America didn't start here but it got a good shot in the arm here. Is it
any mystery, then, why there are so many golfing "babes in these woods?"
Towering longleaf and loblolly pines cascade in dense waves over sand-based ridges and
valleys, created by a receding sea thousands of years ago. The early Scot settlers dubbed
this region between North Carolina's piedmont and coastal regions "the Sandhills" the nickname
that today encompasses the Pinehurst Resort, the Village of
Pinehurst
and its immediate neighbors including Aberdeen and Southern Pines. Today, the name "Pinehurst" is
commonly used to designate the Village and its surrounding neighbors in addition to the Resort itself.
In an ecosystem that supports a rich variety of fauna and flora, the sun's rays hit the thick pines,
creating a mystical aura of light and shadow over the sandy soil that is ideal for year-round golf
because of it drainage properties in a mild climate.
The Pinehurst area's popularity as a residence and vacation destination is not hard to understand.
More young people are buying first or second homes here, and retirees love the serenity and
peace of the Sandhills, which also draw a high percentage of return visitors year after year.
The Pinehurst area is dedicated to quiet, peaceful living at a relaxed, unhurried pace.
Here, there are no neon signs and crowded, noisy night-time amusements. Yet this cradle
of American golf rocks with unforgettable experiences - a day on a premium golf course,
on a pristine lake fishing, or on the tree-lined lanes strolling and sightseeing may be
followed by a convivial evening with friends at Mr. B's Lounge in the Pine Crest Inn in
the village or on the verandah of Pinehurst Resort's Carolina Hotel.
First and foremost, visitors come for great golf and they get it. There are more golf
courses (43 in 2000) per capita in the Pinehurst area than in Myrtle Beach, and with the recent
completion of Route 1, the main highway from Raleigh, getting here is easier than ever.
If the migration of development south from the Raleigh/Cary area continues, the Pinehurst
area may one day be considered Raleigh's bedroom community.
With stiff restrictions on development and road signs, Sandhills planners are dedicated to
preserving the charm and quaintness that has been the hallmark of this area ever since
James K. Tufts founded Pinehurst over 100 years ago.
A Bostonian who made his fortune after inventing the first commercial soda
fountain, Tufts was a visionary and a philanthropist with a gift for spotting trends.
He visited in the area in the 1890's and fell in love with the place. His vision was
to establish a recreational and health resort affordable to all. He hired Frederick
Law Olmsted, who designed New York's Central Park, to lay out a New England-style
village on a 5,000-acre site which he acquired for $1 an acre. The site, laid barren by
years of timber harvesting, was replanted with thousands of seedlings that now
tower 80 feet high tall.
The jewel of the resort crown was the Carolina, set on a rise near the village.
In 1898, resort guests began hitting golf balls into a nearby field. When the
farmer protested because the practice disturbed his cows, Tufts turned his attention to
golf. He hired famed Scottish architect Donald Ross to design several golf courses
on the resort property.
Pinehurst #1
was built first followed by four others including
Pinehurst #2,
which was opened in 1907.
Ross, who went on to build or assist on 600 other courses around the States, including
Mid Pines and
Pine Needles in
Southern Pines,
owned the Pine Crest Inn and lived in Pinehurst until his death in 1948. He left a legacy
that is unmistakable in this travel destination that now sports a splendid mix of classical and modern
designs. The latter, built by some of the game's top names in golf design, including Fazio, Palmer,
Nicklaus, Player, Ellis and Dan Maples, and Mike Strantz, can be as confounding to tame
as they are scenic.
Since 1984, Pinehurst Resort has been part of the portfolio of The Pinehurst Company, the
resort division of ClubCorp of America, which has continued the Tufts' tradition of quality accommodations
and hospitality. Complementing this high-end resort are many golf communities and public accommodations
including historic inns and modern hostelries available at varying rates.
With such an array of fine courses in a beautiful, tranquil setting, it is no wonder that the
road for many traveling golfers leads back to the
Pinehurst area. 
Pinehurst Golf
