History & News | Pine Needles, Southern Pines, NC

The Sandhills area of North Carolina, in the 1920's, was a bustling resort enclave with golfers from the Atlantic Seaboard and points beyond visiting to enjoy its Donald Ross-designed courses and soothing way of life. Ross, a native of Dornoch, Scotland, came to America in 1899 to forge a career in golf – a game in its infancy in a new land. Throughout his career, Ross would design nearly 400 golf courses and become one of the preeminent course architects in the history of the game.

Two of his finest pieces of work were erected just four miles from Pinehurst, down Midland Road in Southern Pines. Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club opened in 1921, and Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club followed in 1928.

Today, couples and families, corporations and championships are drawn to both Pine Needles and Mid Pines' gracious hospitality, personal touch, professionalism and the challenge of two Donald Ross masterpieces – gems that have been maintained to the original challenge Ross envisioned.

The Sandhills area has been a haven for competitive golf since the days when luminaries like Ben Hogan, Walter Hagen and Byron Nelson were winning the North and South Open at Pinehurst No. 2. Pine Needles has helped carry that mantle into modern times with three U.S. Womens' Opens in 1996, 2001 and 2007, won by Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, and Cristie Kerr, respectively.

The Bell Legacy

Probably no premier golf resort is closely associated with a family and an individual as is Pine Needles with the Bell family and matriarch Peggy Kirk Bell, a charter member of the LPGA. Mrs. Bell is also the winner of several tournament championships and has received honors including LPGA Teacher of the Year, LPGA Master Teacher, Golf Digest's one of the six Best Women Teachers in the World, member of North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, and a member of the Carolina's Golf Hall of Fame. In 2004 she was the first woman inducted into Golf Magazine's World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame.

Peggy Kirk Bell and her husband, "Bullet", began running Pine Needles in 1953. Gradually they bought the golf course and land around it and began building the resort as it stands today. In the mid 1990's, the Bells acquired Mid Pines and both properties remain a family affair with Mrs. Bell's children and son-in-laws actively involved in day-to-day operations.

Mrs. Bell's presence is felt throughout the property - her generous spirit, her devotion to the game, and to our golfer's comfort - but perhaps nowhere more alive than in the resort's approach to instruction. She still makes teaching appearances at her famous golf schools she named "Golfaris".

GOLF.com Features Pine Needles and Mid Pines

GOLF.com's feature "Ask Travelin' Joe Passov" highlighted the Pinehurst area on his November 29 video as he answers a viewer's question about which courses to play on their visit to the Sandhills.

While he discusses the renovations of Pinehurst No. 2, he also recommends our two Donald Ross classics, Pine Needles and Mid Pines.

Check out the video posted on GOLF.com!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 9, 2011

From: Graham Gilmore
            Director of Golf
            Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club
            Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club
            1010 Midland Road
            Southern Pines, North Carolina 28387
            910-692-7111

2011 Mid Pines Hickory Open Championship

Southern Pines – A field of 88 competitors from 18 states as well at Toronto, Ontario, France and Sweden, teed off Saturday, November 5th in the 8th Annual Mid Pines Hickory Open Championship at Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina. This has become one of the most popular events using clubs primarily from the 1920’s and where players dress in plus fours and ties. The event is played over the first weekend in November on the Donald Ross Designed layout, a course that is valued among one of the best in North Carolina.

Fred Muller from Frankfort, MI won the gold medal in the Donald Ross Division (Gross Division) with a score of 77-80-157. Kelly Miller of Southern Pines, NC finished second and won the silver medal with a score of 85-73-158 and Roger Andrews from Jenks, OK finished in third place winning the bronze with a score of 79-79, 158.

Richard Schmidt from Southern Pines, NC won the gold medal in the Julius Boros Division (Net Division) with a score of 136. Jonathan Broga of South Riding, VA finished second and won the silver medal with a score of 147 and Richard Grula of Winter Park, FL finished in third place winning the bronze medal with a score of 149.

Rusty Wells from Pinehurst, NC won the gold medal in the Skip Alexander Division (Gross Senior Division) with a score of 161. Ken Holtz of Sun City, AZ finished second and won the silver medal with a score of 167. Bill Turville from Thornhill, Ontario won the bronze medal with a score of 170.

William Tanner from Scotland won the gold medal in the Old Tom Morris Division (Senior Net Division) with a score of 135. During the prize presentation Will was not recognized as the winner of this division and congratulate him on his fine playing during the event. Jim Hollon of Evansville, IN finished second and won the silver medal with a score of 137 in a scorecard playoff over Jim Davis of Grand Rapids, MI. Jim finished third and won the bronze medal.

Bill Engelson & Jonathan Broga won the gold medal in the Bobby Jones Gross Division. The Bobby Jones Division is a Father/Son Team Better Ball Competition played on the final round

Barbara Kopec from Niceville, FL won the gold medal in the Peggy Kirk Bell Ladies Division with a score of 192. Tien Panigel won the gold medal in the Peggy Kirk Bell (Net Division).

Pine Needles hosted a Foursomes Competition on Friday, November 4, 2011 for the Mid Pines Hickory Open Weekend. We had 20 teams compete using a true Alternate Stroke format.

Dennis Joy and Chuck McMullin finished first in the Gross Division of the Foursomes Competition and David Ellis Rick Woeckner came in second place. John Duffy Charles Mitchell Jr. finished first in the Net Division and Richard Grula and Brian Schuman finished in second place.

The 9th Annual Mid Pines Hickory Open will be played on November 2-4, 2012.

September 20, 2011

Interview with Peggy Kirk Bell
featured in the September/October 2011 edition of the Virginia Golfer

In this month's issue of the Virginia Golfer, Rhonda Glenn (Manager of Communications for the USGA), sits down with golf legend Peggy Kirk Bell to reflect on her past accomplishments and her feelings of turning 90 in just over one month.

Click here to read the full interview.

August 29, 2011

CAROLINAS GOLF ASSOCIATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:
Jack Nance, CGA Executive Director
Phone: 910-673-1000
E-mail: info@carolinasgolf.org

CGA Address:
Carolinas Golf Association
PO Box 319
West End, NC 27376

Web Site: www.carolinasgolf.org
E-mail: info@carolinasgolf.org
Fax: 910-673-1001

CAROLINAS GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BUILD CAROLINAS GOLF HOUSE AT PINE NEEDLES

WEST END, NC -- The Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) has announced plans to build a new center, Carolinas Golf House, in Southern Pines, N.C.
The CGA has acquired land on the Pine Needles Resort property. Carolinas Golf House will be headquarters of the CGA and also will house the Carolinas golf heritage museum and the Carolinas Golf Foundation. The museum/headquarters building will be 13,000 square feet.
Founded in 1909, the CGA is charged to promote and protect golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support and benefits to golfers. The CGA is the second largest amateur association in the country. With its 102-year-old legacy, championship traditions and commitment to the future of golf, the CGA has been a steward of the game in the Carolinas for over one hundred years.
The CGA offers membership services to more than 168,000 golfers at CGA clubs. These include: an extensive tournament program for golfers of all ages and abilities, an agronomy program, a quarterly magazine mailed directly to members, USGA handicapping service, USGA course ratings, Rules of Golf and handicap system education, handicap licensing and certification along with USGA outreach programs. The CGA also serves as a vital link for the USGA to golfers in the Carolinas.
The CGA’s sister organization, the Carolinas Golf Foundation, was created in 1977 and raises and donates money to Carolinas golf-related causes focusing on junior golf, turfgrass research and scholarships.
Carolinas Golf House will be built on a tract of land adjacent to the conference center at Pine Needles. In addition to providing a building site to the CGA, the partnership with Pine Needles allows the CGA to have access to meeting and banquet facilities at the resort.
Carolinas Golf House will provide office space for staff, conference rooms, and a museum display area showcasing the history of golf in the Carolinas. The Carolinas Golf House design allows easy access to the Pine Needles reception center and will be complemented with a new courtyard.
The CGA, founded in Charleston, S.C., has been headquartered in Seven Lakes, NC, near West End, NC since 1991, moving at that time from rented space in Clemmons, NC. “After moving here 20 years ago, Seven Lakes and Moore County have embraced us,” notes CGA Executive Director Jack Nance. “Simply, we have run out of space in our current office building.
“Carolinas Golf House, however, is more than a new office building for our staff. It will be a focal point for the game.” he said.
“We have talked for years about building this,” noted CGA President Walter Todd of Laurens, S.C. “We have wanted a way to display the history of the game in the Carolinas. Now we will be able to portray accurately the ideals and traditions of golf.”
“This is the first time in 102 years that we have taken on such a project, and it is overdue,” Nance added.
“We are excited about the CGA keeping its home and headquarters in this area and more thrilled that the Association selected Pine Needles/Mid Pines for its future home,” Pine Needles President Kelly Miller said. “This is the first property the Bell family has sold since acquiring Pine Needles in 1953. While we waited 58 years to do so, we think we have the right partner in the CGA.”
The Carolinas Golf Foundation, which will also be housed at Golf House, has donated more than $1.5 million in 34 years to over 50 golf-related programs including the First Tee and disabled golfer programs.
For further information, please visit www.carolinasgolf.org and www.settingthecourse.org to get updates on Carolinas Golf House progress.