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.

Aerial of Royal Wimbledon Golf Club with the London cityscape in the distance

Kevin and I followed on this jam-packed golf trip with another to England with Jane and Roger Franklin, who traveled over from Australia. Roger is a very keen golfer, so Kevin arranged for them to play Swinley Forest, Sunningdale (both Old and New), and then St George’s Hill. They are all private member’s clubs but they do allow some visitors.

Myself and Jane booked tickets for the John Singer Sargent show at the Tate and we planned to take the train to London Waterloo station. On the day, Jane didn’t feel well so I went alone.

The Tate Modern

The former Bankside Power Station was selected as the new Tate Modern gallery site in 1994. The following year, Swiss architects Herzog & De Meuron were appointed to convert the building into a gallery. That their proposal retained much of the original character of the building was a key factor in this decision.

Ironically, I went to the Tate Modern instead of the Tate Britain and elected to see a remarkable Expressionist Show of the Blue Rider artists. Other than Kandinsky, I had no idea what I was in for. It was astonishing, to say the least.

Expressionists is a story of friendships told through art. It examines the highly individual creatives that made up The Blue Rider, from Franz Marc’s interest in color to Alexander Sacharoff’s freestyle performance. The women artists played a central role in the movement. Experimental photographs by Gabriele Münter are displayed alongside the dramatic paintings of Marianne Werefkin.

In the early 20th century a circle of friends and close collaborators known as The Blue Rider came together to form, in their own words, ‘a union of various countries to serve one purpose’ – to transform modern art. The artists rallied around Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter to experiment with color, sound and light, creating bold and vibrant art.

Royal Wimbledon Golf Club

RWGC is the third oldest golf Club in England dating back to 1865. It has a rich history embracing both the evolution of the Club and the game of golf. Harry Colt, a member of the Club, redesigned the course in 1924. It continues to evolve to keep pace with the game and today provides a tough test over tight fairways with gorse and heather thrown in for good measure.

The one round of golf I did play was at Royal Wimbledon, where Kevin and I hand-delivered a copy of Terroir, since RW is in the book! I was delighted when the the GM, Robert Brewer said they would like 4 more copies! We were blessed with gorgeous sunshine and Tim Dickson, founder and editor of Golf Quarterly, who graciously walked with us for the first seven holes, insuring we didn’t lose our way. This oasis in the heart of London is a private member’s club, so you won’t find a little sign saying “Next hole this way” and the next hole is not always obvious.

Royal St George’s Golf Club

Located on the Kent coastline, Royal St George’s has staged 15 Open Championships, more than any course outside of Scotland. The club was founded by the surgeon Laidlaw Purves in 1887 in a setting of wild duneland. Many holes feature blind or partially blind shots, although the unfairness element has been reduced somewhat, after several 20th century modifications. The course also possesses the deepest bunker in championship golf, located on its fourth hole.

The last leg of the journey took us to Kent in South East England so Kevin and Roger could play Royal St George’s (which is in the Open rota) and Rye. Jacket and ties for the men!

I think it’s safe to say, the guys were golfed out! However, a second round was scheduled at Sandwich, and since Roger bowed out, I got to play the storied course. Oh what a day! I had so much fun, thanks to our fabulous caddies, Vince and Tony. They both embraced my style of “Happy Golf” which completely eliminated the intimidation factor, especially playing the fourth hole which has the deepest bunker in championship golf. Luckily for me, I never even saw it.

We made our way back to Ireland on the ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare. Along with getting a look at the ground where Jason Straka and Dana Fry are building the new course called Curracloe Links, we then hand-delivered a copy of Terroir to Pat Ruddy The Elder. Pat not only wrote the Foreword, he is also profiled in the chapter called “Designers Talk Turf.”

All in all, an epic adventure across the pond.