Pinehurst 102 Years Ago

100 years before there was Bandon Dunes, Whistling Straits, Streamsong and Sand Valley… Pinehurst was the golfers’ getaway hub.

Pinehurst #2 was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1907. Ross constantly redesigned and perfected the course for 41 years - testing greens, bunkers (perhaps with the assistance of Walter Travis) and tested new grasses. In honor of this year’s US Open at Pinehurst #2 which marks its 5th professional major (not counting the US Senior Open) the Society of Golf Historians is happy to share this 102 year old map of the property.

If you take a really good look at the images you can see that all the greens are tan. Why? Because the greens at Pinehurst were sand greens and would remain so for another decade after this map.

In 1922, Pinehurst #2 measured 6126 yards. 102 years later, it will likely play 1500 yards longer for this year’s U.S. Open.

Fun Fact: Pinehurst resort and it’s courses used to include a Polo Field.

Donald Ross: The Golfer

Donald Ross’ golf game often gets lost in the history telling, and perhaps rightfully so considering he is one of the greatest golf course architects of all-time. That being said, his accomplishments on the course were extremely admirable.

During his professional career (which wasn’t long), Donald Ross played in 10 Major Championships; 8 US Opens and 2 Open Championships. In those ten majors he finished in the Top 10 five times.

During his playing career he also won 5 professional golf tournaments, most notably the North South Open, which he won on three occasions (1903, 1905 & 1906). While the North South Open was never quite the status of a professional major in today’s terms it would have been the equivalent to winning the Players Championship, or perhaps a World Golf Championship event. It also should be noted that the North South Open and where it sat on the golf calendar likely paved the way for the Masters Tourmament & its popularity.

The 2024 Golf Heritage Society National Convention

October. 16-19, 2024

Planning is underway! The GHS is visiting Pinehurst in 2024 where the new World Golf Hall of Fame is opening, in association with the USGA Experience, a facility designed to bring golf history to life. There’s already a buzz about this one, so pencil it on the calendar.

Click the link below to learn more about the Golf Heritage Society:

Thank you for reading this newsletter and sharing it with your friends.

Until next time…

Yours in Golf History,

Connor T. Lewis