Women’s Senior Open for 2019 Adds to Pine Needles’ Heritage
By Lee Pace
Pine Needles is adding to its rich heritage with the February 2016 announcement that it will be the venue for the second ever U.S. Women’s Senior Open, to be held in May of 2019.
Virginia Team Wins Second Consecutive Open Division Title in Mid Pines Invitational Tournament
Southern Pines, NC – February 14, 2017 – A field of 118 amateur golfers from 10 states teed off this past weekend in the 18th Annual Mid Pines Invitational Golf Tournament at Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.
The tournament features two divisions (Open & Senior) competing on a signature Donald Ross–designed golf course and annually attracts a strong field of amateur golfers in one of the most prestigious team events to kick off the tournament season.
Mid Pines Come and Gone, Franz Tackles Pine Needles
By Lee Pace
Kyle Franz grew up playing golf in Oregon, and when it came time to pick a college, he knew what he wanted: Oregon State’s turf management program.
Back To Bermuda
By Lee Pace
What goes around, comes around.
All of the early golf courses in the Sandhills featured greens made of a sand-and-clay base until architect and green keeper Donald Ross developed a strain of bermuda grass in the 1930s that could survive the heavy play the area received during its prime fall-through-spring season.
Ross Legacy Enhanced Once Again
The 1928 Pine Needles golf course reopened in early September with freshly planted bermuda greens, some new bunkers and a few subtle tweaks to its overall appearance. The project improves the playability and ambiance of a classic Donald Ross course that, paired with the Mid Pines layout across Midland Road, gives Pine Needles and Mid Pines resorts as fine a set of vintage Ross courses as exist in the world.
Golf Digest: Pine Needles one of ‘Three Golf Resorts To Visit In 2017’
Golf Digest names Pine Needles one of ‘Three Golf Resorts To Visit In 2017’ and highlights the Golfari program for revolutionizing golf instruction and ‘keeping the focus on golf as an enjoyable, relaxed game.’
Golf Channel Top 25 Public Courses Includes Mid Pines, Pine Needles
Golf Channel’s resident travel insider, Matt Ginella, recently provided golfers with his Top 50 favorite public courses nationwide, among his Top 25 public courses were Mid Pines and Pine Needles. Mid Pines at #18 and Pine Needles at #22.
Traditions Magazine Features Pine Needles Executive Chef in “Best Chef’s Choice”
Shrimp and Grits with onion, peppers, mushrooms and bacon. A twist on a classic Southern cuisine.
Lobster ravioli served with a lobster bisque sauce reduction. A seafood lover’s delight.
Traditions Magazine discusses these dishes and more in an interview with Pine Needles Executive Chef Steven Cory Mattson in the Fall/Winter issue.
Remembering Peggy Kirk Bell, the ‘First Lady of Golf’
Remembering Peggy Kirk Bell, golf writers offer tribute to the First Lady of Golf.
Since the passing of golf pioneer Peggy Kirk Bell on November 23, 2016, golf writers, icons and media outlets have paid tribute, honoring her legacy and sharing stories of her many achievements and contributions to golf, golf instruction and to Pine Needles-Mid Pines Resort.
Below please find a small sample of their tributes.
The Pilot: In Golf and Life, Peggy Kirk Bell’s Timing Was Impeccable
By Laura Douglass, The Pilot
Bing Crosby serenaded her in the Pine Needles bar. Perry Como played her course. Jimmy Carter stayed at the lodge during the National Governors’ Convention. Rudy Vallee was a guest and she played with Jackie Gleason, Michael Jordan, and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
