Pinehurst No. 2 has consistently been ranked as one of the top courses in North Carolina and among the best in the United States. It has hosted a number of prestigious golf tournaments including four U.S. Open Championships, one U.S. Women’s Open, three U.S. Amateurs, one PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup. Pinehurst Golf Resort consists of ten 18-hole golf courses, each named simply by a number, an 18 hole putting course, and a 9-hole short course. 

GHS 2024 National Convention at Pinehurst

The Golf Heritage Society chose Pinehurst, NC for our National Convention this year, and was I ever glad.

I had not been back to the “American Cradle of Golf” for several years. Most of us golf geeks would know that Pinehurst was established in 1895 when a Boston businessman, James Walker Tufts, purchased 5,500 acres and opened the Holly Inn. It was not a golf destination then, as the first golf course was laid out in 1897-98. The most famous course was designed by Donald Ross and it opened in 1907, at the dawn of the Golden Age of Golf, which lasted until around 1937.

Playing golf and sightseeing at Pinehurst

The Village of Pinehurst is quite small but very charming, largely because Tufts hired Frederick Law Olmstead Sr.’s firm to design the little town. Olmstead Sr is revered for having designed Central Park in NYC and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., among other famous architectural wonders that includes the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

We were blessed with perfect weather for a stroll around the quaint Village but the wind kicked up when I played the Thistle Dhu putting course with Spike Abernethy and our esteemed editor of The Golf journal, Jim Davis.

I know Jim is an accomplished hickory player, so I didn’t think I’d ever get to play a round with him. When I suggested that we play the little putting course, Jim rowed right in.

The name harkens back to 1919 when James Barber, owner of the Barber Steamship Lines of New York, came to Pinehurst, built his home and America’s first miniature golf course amid the towering pine trees. (Hence, the pine straw created by the shedding needles.)

Supposedly, when he saw his completed home and course he said, “This’ll do.” The surname Barber can be traced back to Northumberland, which bordered Scotland. With the thistle having become the Scottish national emblem, the name morphed into Thistle Dhu and it stuck.

The course itself pays homage to the famous Himalayas next to the Old Course in St Andrews. It is home to the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club, dating to 1867. I wrote about my hilarious experience there in my book Golfers, Scotland is Calling.

Back to Jim — he told me later that when he reported he played 18 holes that day to many Society members they were amused because they couldn’t figure out how he did it! Oh that Jim, he is so clever!

The National Convention Itinerary

Credit goes to Bill Robertson and everyone on the GHS future venue committee, for envisioning a compelling itinerary, with the USGA Experience anchoring our group. Starting with a very well-attended VIP tour/reception in the museum and World Golf Hall of Fame on the evening of October 16th, to the days when we attended several educational sessions, we were welcomed very warmly and it was a perfect setting for all of our speakers.

The first session on October 17th began with Jan Ludwig, a longtime Pinehurst resident historian and member of the Donald Ross Society, who discussed The Tin Whistle Society. It claims to be the oldest continuous men’s golfing society in the U.S.

On Friday, October 18th, our agenda started with our General Membership Meeting, which included having GHS Vice President, George Petro, reveal our new soon-to-be-live GHS website. It is extraordinary and I can’t wait for it to be visible to the whole world.

The educational sessions that followed started with Jerry Austry, Past President of the Ben Hogan Company. The astonishing stories he told us are captured in his book: My Time with Mr. Hogan.

Next was an enlightening presentation by Richard Mandell, Golf Architect and Pinehurst resident, who is a specialist in restoring Donald Ross courses. You can find so much fascinating detail in his book: Life and Times of Donald Ross.

Our final session was about Art and Golf by Bob Hansen, a GHS member and collector. Bob brought just a few items from his classy shop in the Village — he collects and sells only the best of the best.

Staging the Trade Show in the Fair Barn, a few miles from our hotel, created some challenges for longtime collectors who often drive to the event and indulge in room trading in the hotel. One must remember the organization started as The Golf Collectors Society 53 years ago! It meant a lot of extra work for everyone involved, but there was a great buzz in the Barn which did draw a big crowd.

Reception of the NEW Terroir of Golf at the Convention

I was delighted to participate in the member-author book signing at the Trade Show. Firstly, my table was right next to Ann Liguori, who was signing her new book: Life on the Green, and secondly, I was signing my new First U.S. Edition of Terroir of Golf and I sold out!!

It is really fun and gratifying to greet people who march right up to the table and declare “I want to buy your book,” and then others are attracted by the spectacular cover which is so colorful and magnetic.

Some people bought one book, some bought four or five (they strode right out to their cars with their stack) and some announced they planned to buy more to give as gifts and have them shipped.

I truly felt so honored to have the opportunity to be face-to-face with lovers of golf, books, travel and the big audience of wine aficionados who share all these passions.

The Golf Heritage Society is growing and embracing people of all stripes who love playing the great game of golf, who love learning, and who love sharing stories. We are a robust mixture of older members, newer members and everything in between, all bound to each other by fellowship and camaraderie.