Founded in the late 19th century, this luxurious historic resort resides within the celebrated Pinehurst Historic District. The district itself constitutes the entire Village of Pinehurst, which was the brainchild of James Walker Tufts during the 1890s. A Boston-area businessperson, Tufts was interested in creating an accessible holiday destination that specialized in promoting the general health and well-being of its guests. Tufts specifically had his fellow New Englanders in mind, who he wanted to help escape the region’s notoriously long, cold winters. The soda-fountain magnate selected some 6,000 acres in the warm North Carolina Sandhills where he could start developing his utopia. Tufts soon hired the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to create the bucolic village. Originally called Tuftstown, Olmsted thoroughly designed a municipal layout that featured a beautiful series of buildings created with Colonial Revival and Queen Anne-style architecture. Among the many historic structures to appear during this time was the first of what would become Pinehurst Resort: The Holly Inn.

Defined by its stenciled ceilings and motif carvings, The Holly Inn debuted before an excited crowd on New Year’s Eve of 1895. Nevertheless, it became an overnight sensation among Pinehurst’s many visitors. The demand for accommodation became so great at The Holly Inn that Tufts had to construct another lodging nearby. Debuting as The Carolina Hotel shortly before Tufts’ death in 1902, the new building quickly endeared itself among the resort’s distinguished clientele. It soon became known as the “Queen of the South,” as well as one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Village of Pinehurst. Both structures would later be joined by a third historic building called The Manor Inn in 1923. All three of these structures have since transformed Pinehurst Resort into one of the nation’s leading vacation getaways. Many of the nation’s most prominent individuals vacationed at the Pinehurst Resort at one point or another, including John D. Rockefeller, John P. Morgan, and Will Rogers. Some celebrities—like Annie Oakley—even worked at Pinehurst for a time. Several U.S. Presidents have even visited the resort, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Warren G. Harding.

Golf has played an integral part in Pinehurst’s ascent as a world-renowned destination. Historians celebrate Pinehurst Resort for its role in popularizing the sport of golf throughout the United States during the Gilded Age. Tufts endeavored to make his fledgling resort the epicenter for American golfers, hiring the renowned Donald Ross to oversee the day-to-day operations of its golfing services. To that end, Ross started developing the first four of Pinehurst’s nine-championship caliber golf courses with the first one appearing in 1898. Yet, Pinehurst’s most famous course—Pinehurst No. 2—would appear later in 1907. Designed by Donald Ross, it would serve as the site for more championship tournaments than any other golf course in America. Among the many well-known competitions held at Pinehurst No. 2 are the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and the U.S. Open, as well as the North and South Open Championship. Dozens of famous professional golfers have graced its fairways as such, including Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus. No trip to Pinehurst Resort is thus complete without experiencing its rich historical connection to the sport of golf.

Donald Ross: While numerous people have helped create Pinehurst Resort’s historical golf courses over the years, the iconic golf course designer Donald Ross unquestionably had the greatest impact. Born in Dornoch, Scotland, Ross’ legendary career began when he apprenticed under Old Tom Morris at historic St. Andrews during the late 1890s. He harnessed several important skills from Morris that ranged from club maintenance to landscaping. Ross then used his education to parlay a job at the Royal Dornoch Golf Club near his childhood home. Unfortunately for Ross, the pay was abysmal. With the encouragement of Scottish expat named Robert W. Willson, Ross decided to try to find more rewarding work at one of the many new professional golf facilities that had started opening across the United States. Willson subsequently financed Ross’ trip across the Atlantic in 1899, who helped him settle down just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Ross accepted a job as the resident golf pro at the Oakley Country Club, where he left an immediate impression upon its members. Word soon spread of his talents, which eventually attracted the attention of prominent businessperson James Walker Tufts. In the midst of developing the resort town “Pinehurst” within the North Carolina sandhills, Tufts decided to hire Ross to head the new settlement’s golf club.

Ross headed south that winter, although not without some cajoling from friends who doubted the entire endeavor. Nevertheless, Ross went to work in 1901, serving as the primary golf instructor for a single, 18-hole course created a few years prior by Dr. Leroy Culver and John Dunn Tucker. Ross decided to completely renovate its fairways, after conferring with Tufts, thus jumpstarting the work on the future Pinehurst No(s). 1 – 4 over the next two decades. (He also developed a practice range as a little experiment, too—today, that area exists as Maniac Hill.”) Detail oriented in the extreme, Ross meticulously landscaped the golf courses with the utmost care. Each course featured several of Ross’ iconic designs, including the clear lanes, fall-away slopes, and of course, the crowned green. (Some scholars refer to the crowned green with a more informal title—the “turtleback” green.) Most amazing of all, Ross managed to create challenging, intricate designs while moving as little earth as possible. As such, each course appeared as if it was a natural part of the geography. Pinehurst No. 2—which opened in 1907—was his greatest feat. In the words of Pinehurst Resort itself: “Water comes into sight on only one hole, and it is not in play. The course is not particularly long, the rough is native sandscape and wire grass, and it is almost impossible to lose a golf ball. Yet any golfer who goes around close to his or her handicap will have had a good day.”

Over time, Pinehurst No. 2 and its sibling courses quickly became the crown jewels that Tufts had originally envisioned. (Tufts himself would die not long after its development started in 1902.) Their success further catapulted Ross’ reputation throughout the United States, inspiring many other destinations to hire him to design their respective courses. In all, Ross would create (and redesign) over 400 unique golf courses across the country, with some of his most notable being at the Seminole Golf Club, Oak Hill Country Club, and the Aronimink Golf Club. Nevertheless, the work Ross achieved while employed by Pinehurst Resort was his most satisfying. Indeed, he would spend more time modifying the layout of Pinehurst No(s). 1 – 4 more than any of his other creations. (Experts at Pinehurst Resort allege that part of his obsession lay with Bob Jones’ decision to select Alister Mackenzie to design the fairways at Augusta National Golf Club. They posit that it was his way of keeping Pinehurst Resort’s courses ahead of anything Mackenzie installed.) Today, Ross is remembered for the profound influence he had on golf. Numerous professionals have since attempted to mirror his designs through to the present, including the architects who built most of Pinehurst Resort’s other five outstanding golf courses. In fact, Ross’ legacy is still so great today that the World Golf Hall of Fame even inducted him posthumously in 1979.

North and South Open (1940): Now defunct, the North and South Open was once one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the United States. It was originally organized in 1902 and quickly became one of the most important competitions for professionals in the nation. In fact, the North and South Open played an integral role in establishing Pinehurst Resort as one of America’s preeminent destinations for golf. Many illustrious golfers competed—including Walter Hagen and Sam Snead—who used it as an avenue to advance their own careers. But the North and South Open was also an opportunity for unestablished professionals like Ben Hogan at the time. Heading into the 1940 golf season, Hogan was just an aspiring golfer starved for success. Indeed, Hogan had yet to win any significant event in the seven years he had dedicated to playing golf professionally up to that point. One report from the era even indicated that Hogan was barely finding a way to make a living, with only a mere $30 to his name. But when Hogan entered the North and South Open that March, he believed he was on the cusp of stardom. Hogan proved to be very perceptive, as he proceeded to dominate the competition that year. Among his accomplishments involved overcoming a bunker shot on the 11th hole and tying the competitive course record for Pinehurst No. 2. When the final round concluded, Hogan had even managed to beat Sam Snead by three strokes! Hogan would go on to emerge as one of the nation’s top golfers, becoming just one of four players to win a career grand slam: four U.S. Opens, two Masters, two PGA Championships and one British Open.

9th Ryder Cup Matches (1951): On November 2, 1951, some of the world’s finest professional golfers descended upon Pinehurst Resort for yet another round of the Ryder Cup—an international tournament held between two teams of ten golfers from Great Britain and the United States. Despite originating in the United Kingdom, the American team had won six of the last eight competitions. The 1951 Ryder Cup would prove no different, as another spirited American group would eventually overcome their British rivals by a score of 9 ½ to 2 ½. Lasting for three days, the entire competition was played exclusively at Pinehurst No. 2. (Interestingly, most of the golfers took Saturday off to watch a college football game at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.) The talented American team—consisting of golfing legends Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, and Jimmy Demaret—managed to stay ahead of an equally impressive British crew led by the accomplished Arthur Lacey. But the highlight of the event transpired when American amateur Skip Alexander against top British pro John Panton. Even though the Americans held around a four-point lead heading into Sunday’s final showdown, Alexander had to tread lightly—Panton was widely regarded by many as the top player on the British roster. Making the matchup appear even more lopsided was the state of Alexander’s health heading into the competition. Both of his hands had been mangled a year prior in a deadly plane accident that saw him emerge as the only survivor. Nevertheless, Alexander succeeded in upsetting Panton, playing the best golf of his life that afternoon. In fact, Alexander topped Panton by as wide a margin as 8 & 7!

99th U.S. Open (1999): The first of several U.S. Opens held at Pinehurst Resort, the 99th U.S. Open has since been hailed as among the best events in golf history. Hosted from June 17 – 20, the tournament saw elite professionals—like Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh—mesmerize fans with their skills. Nevertheless, the most memorable moment of the tournament occurred on the last match of the day when Payne Stewart and Phil Mickelson competed for a shot at the title. Regarded by fans as “The Duel at Pinehurst,” the final leg of the tournament experienced an epic showdown between Payne Stewart and Phil Mickelson. Stewart and Mickelson were neck-and-neck throughout the day, with each golfer overcoming the other by a matter of inches. But Stewart only managed to pull slightly ahead of his rival after he sank a major putt on Pinehurst No. 2’s 17th hole. Mickelson nonetheless managed to mirror the brilliance of Stewart’s shot, hitting his ball onto the green from six feet away via his 7-iron. The performance whipped the crowd into a frenzy, causing NBC commentator Roger Maltbie to announce, “it’s getting kinda wild out here.” In the words of volunteer scorer Ron Crow, another observer from the day: “At first I thought I was in a small earthquake… The ground shook some because of the reception the gallery gave those two players.” The round reached its climax on the following hole, however, when Mickelson attempted to make a long put to tie. Missing the hole by two feet, Stewart subsequently drilled his shot from 15 feet away!

Arnold Palmer, winner of seven major golf championships that include the PGA Championship and the Masters Tournament.

Arthur Lacey, captain of three British teams for Ryder Cup and chairman of the PGA from 1949 – 1951.

Babe Zaharias, Olympic gold medalist and winner of ten major golf championships.

Ben Hogan, winner of nine major golf championships that include his famous “Triple Crown” season.

Bobby Jones, winner of 13 golf championships that include the U.S. Open and the British Open.

Byron Nelson, winner of five major golf championships that include the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Open.

Curtis Strange, winner of two major golf championships, specifically the U.S. Open in 1988 and 1989.

Dai Rees, winner of 43 championships and captain of the historic 1957 British Ryder Cup team.

Donald Ross, golf course architect responsible for creating and redesigning around 400 courses throughout his lifetime.

Francis Ouimet, winner of the U.S. Open in 1913 and regarded as the “father of amateur golf.”

Glenna Collett, winner of six U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships, two Canadian Women’s Amateurs and a French Women’s Amateur.

Gene Sarazen, winner of seven major golf championships that include the U.S. Open, the British Open, the PGA Championship, and the Masters Tournament.

Gary Player, winner of seven major golf championships that include the PGA Championship and the Masters Tournament.

Harry Vardon, winner of seven major golf championships that include the U.S. Open and the British Open.

Jack Burke Jr., winner of two major championships that include the PGA Championship and the Masters Tournament

Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 major golf championships—the most of any professional golfer.

Jimmy Demaret, winner of three major golf championships, specifically the Masters Tournament.

Johnny Miller, winner of two major golf championships that include the U.S. Open and British Open.

Lloyd Mangrum, winner of one major golf championship—the U.S. Open in 1946.

Louise Suggs, winner of 11 major golf championships that include the Western Open, the Titleholders Championship, the Women’s PGA Championship, and the U.S. Women’s Open.

Maureen Orcutt, winner of twelve major championships, including the Women’s Eastern Amateur, Canadian Women’s Amateur, and North and South Women’s Amateur.

Max Faulkner, winner of one major golf championship—the British Open in 1951.

Peggy Kirk, winner of one major golf championship—Titleholders Championship in 1949.

Phil Mickelson, winner of six major golf championships, including the Masters Tournament, the British Open, and the PGA Championship.

Sam Snead, winner of seven major golf championships that include the PGA of America and Senior PGA Tour.

Tiger Woods, winner of 15 major golf championships and winner of the PGA Player of the Year a record 11 times.

Tom Watson, winner of eight major golf championships that include the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, and the British Open.

Vijay Singh, winner of three major golf championships that include the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship.

Walter Hagen, winner of 11 major golf championships, including the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship.

Glenna Collett: One of the most successfully golfers in history, Glenna Collett is celebrated for her impact on golf in the United States. In fact, the World Golf Hall of Fame even remembers to her today as being the best female golfer of her age. She first began pursuing golf as a young teenager, where she studied under the renowned instructor Ernest Jones. Jones was incredibly impressed with Collett’s natural ability, commenting that she had a natural affinity for the game. Indeed, Collett was able to successfully compete in the U.S. Women’s Amateur just two years after starting! Even though she failed to win the tournament, her performance was harbinger of what lay ahead—she would eventually win the U.S. Women’s Amateur six other times. Collett also won six North and South Women’s Amateurs (held at Pinehurst Resort), as well as six Women’s Eastern Amateurs. She even managed to win the Canadian Women’s Amateurs, the French Women’s Amateur, and finished as the runner-up in two consecutive British Ladies Amateurs. In total, Collett won 49 championships, ending her competitive career with a victory at the Rhode Island Women’s Golf Association tournament. To honor her accomplishments, Collett won numerous awards throughout her retirement, including the esteemed Bob Jones Award.

Maureen Orcutt: Originally born in New York City at the beginning of the 20th century, Maureen Orcutt would rise to become one of America’s most established female golfers. In fact, she would often be regarded as one of the “Big Four” alongside Helen Hicks, Virginia Van Wie, and Glenna Collett. Orcutt was instrumental in establishing women’s golf in the United States, attracting a large national fanbase due to her prowess with a club. Her greatest successes transpired while competing in the Women’s Eastern Amateur competition, walking away with seven titles starting in 1925. She also won the Canadian Women’s Amateur twice, as well as the North and South Women’s Amateur three consecutive times during the early 1930s. In fact, Orcutt returned to Pinehurst much later in life to compete in the North and South Senior tournament, which she also won three times in a row. (Her time at Pinehurst proved to be her most fulfilling, based on comments she made about Pinehurst No. 2 in the twilight of her career.) Nevertheless, victory in the preeminent U.S. Women’s Amateur tournament remained elusive, finishing second in 1927 and 1936, respectively. Still, her experience netted her significant respect, particularly within the world of golf. Indeed, the New York Times even bestowed her as one of its primary golf critics.

Louise Suggs: Enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame, Louise Suggs is credited today with founding the modern Ladies Professional Golf Association. But her history in the sport harkens much further back to her youth when she first began winning competitions as a teen. Her successes continued well into adulthood, too, winning three North and South Women’s Amateur titles at Pinehurst Resort. Furthermore, her early career saw hard-earned victories at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the Titleholders Championship, and the Women’s Western Open. After winning numerous tournaments, Suggs eventually formed the LPGA alongside 12 other colleagues for female golfers who wished to turn professional. Indeed, some of her cofounders were two of her biggest rivals at the time, Babe Zaharias and Patty Berg. Following its creation, Suggs became one of the organization’s greatest winners, acquiring the titles to several major championships. In addition to winning more Titleholders Championships and Women’s Western Opens, (which had now become a part of the LPGA’s main circuit), Suggs also won the U.S. Women’s Open and the Women’s PGA Championship. In fact, Suggs became the first professional female golfer to have a career grand slam, following her victory in the 1957 Women’s PGA Championship. In honor of her renowned accomplishments, Suggs was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1951.

Babe Zaharias: Regarded as one of the most accomplished female athletes in American history, Babe Zaharias experienced remarkable success at Pinehurst during the Women’s North and South Amateur in 1947. Interestingly, Zaharias was already a household name by the time she began competing competitively in golf—she had actually been an All-American in multiple sports while part of the Amateur Athletic Union. Zaharias had even won two gold medals in track and field for the United States during the 1932 Summer Olympics! After performing in vaudeville for a time, Zaharias decided to play golf for work. Struggling initially, Zaharias eventually emerged as a leading female golfer by the late 1940s. The climax of her success began in 1946, when she won 13 straight tournaments—including the U.S. Women’s Amateur. She subsequently followed up her triumphs with a memorable victory at Pinehurst Resort’s Women’s North and South Amateur, beating an up-and-coming star named Louise Suggs. Then, two months later, she became the first American women to win the British Ladies Amateur. (Other titles that Zaharias won included the Titleholders Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open, and three separate Women’s Western Opens.) A founding member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, Zaharias has since been remembered for her immense impact on the sport.

Peggy Kirk Bell: Known as “Peggy,” Margaret Anne Kirk Bell was an American professional golfer who strongly promoted the inclusion of women into professional golf. Bell had always held a fascination with the sport, playing her first rounds of golf at the age of 17. She continued her professional career while a student at Rollins College, where she refined her skills by competing in dozens of amateur tournaments. But people throughout the country started paying attention to Bell when she won the Palm Beach Championship and the Titleholders Championship during the late 1940s. She then firmly established herself as one of the leading golfers of her age at the North & South Women’s Amateur Championship in 1949. Bell successfully managed to beat 64 other players, including Estelle Page and Grace Lenczyk—two of the world’s most talented golfers at that time. She went on to have a distinguished career in the world of professional golf, playing a leading role in founding the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Bell was even elected to World Golf Hall of Fame shortly following her death in 2016. Her wonderful legacy can be felt to this very day through Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour. The largest tournament in the nation for young girls, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour continues Bell’s mission to grant women the opportunity to both learn and excel at the sport of golf.