GolfTravelReviews: The Reviews "The Pinehurst Area: Cradle of American Golf"

Introduction

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 5000-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.

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