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A SOUTHERNBELLE

There’s no escaping the feeling of

history that pervades throughout the

Pinehurst Resort. Hallowed ground for

golfers, no doubt, but this

idyllic parcel of North Carolina has a

rich heritage not based only on the

is the starting point for a

destination that only continues to grow

in stature. It was then that James W.

Tufts sold his stake in the American Soda

Fountain Company and assigned a

portion of the proceeds to the purchase

of 5,500 acres of land in the North

Carolina Sandhills. Known for its curative

powers, this terrain would form the basis

of a luxury health retreat and at a price a

shade over a dollar per acre, it looks like

a pretty shrewd investment.

Whilst it was by no means the only pur-

suit on offer at Tufts’ Pinehurst

development, golf has become

synonymous with the resort in the same

manner that its courses are with one

man: Donald Ross. Born in Dornoch –

home, unlikely by coincidence, to the

majestically beautiful Royal Dornoch –

Ross emigrated to the United States in

and wound up as the club

professional at Pinehurst in 1900. While

playing and teaching remained interests,

it was to be his course architecture

practice that became the Scotsman’s

At Pinehurst, the Ross legacy is irresist-

ible. The first four of the resort’s

astonishing eight courses were crafted

by Ross, with varying lengths, challenges

and characteristics but all bearing his

unmistakable fingerprint; the raised,

crowned greens, best exemplified on the

storied No. 2 Course, are his hallmark.

Jack Nicklaus said that Ross’s “stamp

as an architect was naturalness”, while

Bobby Jones described Pinehurst as “the

St Andrews of United States golf”.

Since 1980, Clubcorp have overseen an

all-encompassing regeneration project

following the passing of ownership from

the Tufts family, and the results, most

recently with the careful restoration of

the original Ross design for the No. 2

Course. This fabled layout, site of

countless magical moments

including Payne Stewart’s dramatic 1999

U.S. Open triumph, was unveiled for the

second time in March 2011. Coore and

Crenshaw, the contractor for the work,

have prioritised the Ross characteristics

with sparkling results; this is indeed one

of the most special golfing experiences

available in the United States.

What else can you expect from

Pinehurst? If 8 golf courses weren’t

enough – Rees Jones and Tom Fazio are

among those to contribute the resort’s

latter 4 – then the property has much

more. Not forgetting the site’s holistic

roots, the Spa at Pinehurst offers more

than 50 experiences. Aquatherapy and

relaxation areas join specialist

treatments, including those tailored for

golfers, at the highly rated complex.

Now more than a century old,

visiting Pinehurst will see you immersed

in history, and nowhere more than at The

Carolina, the leading

accommodation option; dubbed the

Queen of the South’, The Carolina is a

the ultimate Pinehurst experience, but

is just one of four choices. The Holly Inn

and The Manor may lack The Carolina’s

century of history but are superb in their

own right, while the resort also has a

collection of villas and apartments that

provide a more independent experience.

Few destinations worldwide, let alone in

the U.S., offer the sort of concentrated

championship golf experience as that of

Pinehurst. If you love the game, you can’t

help but fall in love with Pinehurst.

Donald Ross’ fabled No. 2 Course

The last of eight courses

Luxury at The Carolina

Direct flights from LGW into Charlotte

with US Airways, or from LHR into Raleigh

Durham with American Airlines leaves you

with just an hours’ drive to this beautiful

quaint village steeped in golfing history.

Once there, make sure you try some of

the local pubs where there are many

golfing stories to be shared.

HOLLY INN, PINEHURST

STAY: Five Nights, Bed & Breakfast

PLAY: Three Rounds of Golf

Includes No. 2 Course & Tobacco Road)

FLY: Return to Charlotte with US Airways

From £1,145 per person

Valid January 1 - March 1, 2014

PINEHURST CONDOS

STAY: Seven Nights, RoomOnly

PLAY: Four Rounds of Golf

FLY: Return to Charlotte with US Airways

From £879 per person

Valid January 1 - February 22, 2014

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