Stranded in Pinehurst

There are worse places to be stranded if you're a golfer. I didn't exactly have my clubs with me last week during my trip to Pinehurst for the USGA Annual Meeting, but just being in the place that is the St. Andrews of America is very special.

I arrived in Raleigh/Durham at 6:15 pm last Friday, Feb 5, six hours later than scheduled. The big snow storm in the mid Atlantic was wreaking havoc with connecting flights. I rented a car and made the hour or so drive to Pinehurst in poring rain. Fortunately, I also rented a Garmin or I might never have made it.

I had been to Pinehurst a couple of times before, once for a meeting and the other time just passing through after a meeting in Florida. I instantly fell in love with the old style, southern charm that combines beautifully with their rich golf traditions. Pinehurst was founded by James Walker Tufts at the turn of the last century. A Boston Philanthropist who had made his fortune from a thriving soda fountain company, Mr. Tufts wanted to built a New England style town that would be a retreat for people. He chose the sand hills of North Carolina because of its mild year round climate and it was only a two-day train ride from the northeast.

If you've ever visited Pinehurst you probably know a little about it's history. Golf wasn't even in the cards originally, but after a nine hole course that was laid out proved successful, Donald Ross was hired by Mr. Tufts to build another course. Ross had come over from Scotland and was the head pro at Oakley Country Club in Watertown. Donald Ross fell in love with Pinehurst and the face of American golf would change forever. I won't continue on with the history lesson, but suffice it to say if you haven't been to Pinehurst, you should make a plan to visit at some point.

The USGA Annual Meeting is basically just a one-day affair each February. It's all around the country and it's typical of a lot of annual meetings. Committee reports get read and a new slate of officers is voted in. The Annual Meeting is held at 4:30, but earlier in the day there was a seminar entitled 'The State of Golf Course Architecture: A Panel Discussion'. It was actually quite interesting - sitting on the panel were Golfweek writer, Brad Klein; USGA Agronomist, Jim Moore, golf course architect, Gil Hanse; golf writer, Jim Dodson; and USGA Executive Committee member and golf course architect, Steve Smyers.

Jim Moore probably made the most compelling remarks in stating that "Brown is the new green." In other words, we can't keep courses as lush and green as we've been used to because of the exploding green budgets. We need to cut back both for economic and environmental reasons. Jim Hyler was sworn in as the new President of the USGA later in the day and he made similar comments as part of his President's Speech. I t will certainly be a matter of education to attempt to sway the American golfer's mindset. Personally, I'm all for it, but when golfers watch The Masters each spring, it makes it a more challenging sell.

I was able to visit with many friends who work for golf associations around the country as well as other USGA committee members whom I know. The Joe Dey Award - the USGA's top award for a volunteer and won by our own Harry McCracken a few years ago - was given out at the meeting. The day culminated with a nice dinner in the ening at which the Bob Jones Award was given out, the USGA's top honor. Famed LPGA golfer and World Golf Hall of Fame Member, Mickey Wright, was this year's recipient. Unfortunately, she was not able to attend, so golf writer, Rhonda Glenn, accepted on her behalf. I was disappointed because I had never seen Mickey Wright in person. I knew her playing record, and I always remember reading where Bobby Jones considered her swing the best golf swing, man or woman.

I was scheduled to fly home the next morning, but found out just prior to dinner that my flights had been cancelled. I try to reschedule to no avail. I was stuck in Pinehurst for another day. It was pretty cold the nexct day and I didn't have my sticks anyway, so I decided to visit some of the courses I had heard about. I visited the pro shop and main clubhouse at Pinehurst #2. It is a golf museum unto itself with all the memorabilia on the wall. I drove a few miles down the road to Pine Needles and Mid Pines, two championship Donald Ross designs located across the street from one another. Long the home of famed golfer and instructor, Peggy Kirk Bell, each clubhouse has its walls lined with historic black and white photos and other memorabilia. There are also the photos of the three US Women's Open champions from recent years at Pine Needles - Annika, Kari Webb and Kristi Kerr.

I drove to yet another nice little public course called Southern Pines. There were a few brave souls out playing in temperatures that hovered in the low-40's. I tried to pay a visit to the Country Club of North Carolina, a very exclusive private course, but not knowing a member, I wasn't able to get past the front gate.

So I ended up wathcing the Saints beat the Colts in a little watering hole in Pinehurst called the Tater Barn. It was literally a cement barn where they stored potatoes many years ago. My friend, Jack Nance, executive director of the Carolinas Golf Association, had been telling me about it, so he met me there. It was small and dingy, but had its own charm. Plus you couldn't beat the two dollar Budweisers.

So I made the most of my extra, unplanned day in Pinehurst. If you haven't visited, you must put it on your to-do list. For purists and beginners alike, I don't think there's a better place in American golf.