Ohio Golf Journal August 2020

The key to having a successful golf trip during this pandemic is in the planning ahead. Lodging cannot be made spur-of-the-moment; reservations need to be made weeks in advance. Even larger hotel chains are not allowed to operate at full capacity thus, rooms are limited. Dining can also be challenging at times; hotel breakfast buffets are not allowed. Each guest must be served by hotel personnel, but restaurants were available in all locations, even though many others were closed. Every establishment we visited was extremely diligent about sanitizing everything, from the menus in the restaurants to the luggage racks in the hotels. It shouldn’t be a surprise to any traveling golfer that Pinehurst was prepared for these troubling times. Talamore Golf Resort and Pine Needles, long-time Pinehurst favorites were well groomed and ready for golfers. The two Talamore courses both have undergone recent renovations. The original Rees Jones- designed Talamore, which opened in 1991 and drew nationwide attention for utilizing llamas as caddies, is now called The New Course at Talamore. The llamas are still there but retired from the course and headquartered near the 14th tee. Construction on the Mid South Club, Talamore’s second course, started in 1988 but the course didn’t open until 1993. It is an Arnold Palmer design and was acquired by Talamore in 2004. Mid South also had its greens converted from bentgrass to champion bermuda. The spectacular double green for holes 9 and 18 is still the biggest eye- catcher on the property but clearly the work done on both layouts as well as in the accompanying villas represent a major upgrade. It should be noted that Talamore has cottages and condos that can help families, or golf groups stay together, but maintain complete separation from other guests. The condos are luxurious and are perfect for a buddies’ golf trip or girl’s golf getaway. Ohio Golf Journal