March 2021 Ohio Golf Journal

Local Knowledge from the Home of American Golf The Pinehurst, Southern Pines & Aberdeen area in North Carolina is ready to welcome golfers this spring season By Brad King W ith the eyes of the golf world aimed squarely in its direction, Pinehurst, N.C. — also known as “the Home of American Golf” — stands more than ready to shine this spring. Boasting nearly 40 golf courses within a 15-mile radius, North Carolina’s Sandhills region — Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen and other quaint, surrounding communities — consistently delivers some of the country’s finest golf, as well as world-class dining, shopping, entertainment and more. When planning any visit to the Pinehurst area, some important local knowledge might make your trip even more memorable. The 2024 U.S. Open Championship on Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s No. 2 Course will be followed by national championships at Pinehurst in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. Next year, another of Donald Ross’s most praiseworthy creations, nearby Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, will play host to its fourth U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Ross restoration expert Kyle Franz impeccably renovated both Pine Needles and its sister course, another Ross gem Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club . Local knowledge tip: Now, the resort offers a new way to navigate the links. Finn Scooters are available at Pine Needles or Mid Pines, offering an unforgettable experience while also speeding up pace of play. If you can’t play Pinehurst No. 2, Southern Pines Golf Club may well represent the next best example of what Ross had in mind. Nine holes opened in 1906, and by 1912 the course had been expanded to 18 holes. Now under management of the company that owns and operates nearby Pine Needles and Mid Pines, Southern Pines is in the midst of an 18-month course improvement plan that is expected to include design tweaks from Franz. Golf Advisor ranked Talamore Golf Resort in Southern Pines as the No. 1 golf course in North Carolina and No. 9 in the U.S. in its latest ratings. “I cannot wait to go back and play this course again,” wrote one rater. “Amazing resort quality conditions at a fair price.” Talamore and nearby Mid South Club are sister properties under the Talamore Golf Resort umbrella of clubs. Planning to play Tobacco Road Golf Club in nearby Sanford? The widely heralded but equally challenging Mike Strantz design will certainly test your skills. Local knowledge tip: The safe strategy for teeing off on hole No. 1 — an intimidating 558-yard par-5 bordered by nasty mounds of rough — is to Pinehurst No. 4 by Gil Hanse packs powerful punch