About Us » History


Pinehurst's storied history starts in 1895 with Bostonian philanthropist James Walker Tufts, who had a vision of creating a mid-winter, middle-class retreat in the mid-South. What began as a health retreat in the Pine Barrens of North Carolina now stands as a preeminent golf, meetings and leisure travel destination. Here's a timeline of what's transpired since then:

  • 1895: Boston soda fountain magnate James Walker Tufts purchases 5,500 acres of timberland in North Carolina for approximately $1.00 per acre, intending to build a resort. For its first six months, Pinehurst is known as Tuftstown. Pinehurst offers tennis, croquet, lawn bowling, bicycling, and hiking, but not golf. By now, Tufts has directed completion of a general store, dairy, boarding house, and also 20 cottages to rent.
  • 1897-1898: Dr. LeRoy Culver, an amateur designer, lays out Pinehurst's first golf course, a nine-hole course. Tufts became aware of his guests' interest in the game when an angry farmer complained that guests were hitting little, white balls in the pasture and scaring the cows. The first clubhouse also opens.
  • 1900: Famed British Amateur Harry Vardon visits Pinehurst. He proclaims the 18-hole No. 1 course and Pinehurst will offer some of the finest golf in the country.
  • 1900: Scottish-born golf course designer Donald Ross comes to Pinehurst for what will be a 48-year stay, during which he redesigns Pinehurst No. 1 and creates Pinehurst Nos. 2, 3 and 4.
  • 1901: The Carolina Hotel opens New Year's Day, eclipsing the Holly Inn as Pinehurst's centerpiece accommodation. Pinehurst begins its championship golf tradition with the 1st annual United North and South Amateur Championship.
  • 1907: Pinehurst No. 2 is completed by Donald Ross and is opened for play. He proclaims it the fairest test of golf, designed as a championship course.
  • 1910-1912: Pinehurst No. 3 is completed by Ross and opened for play.
  • 1912: Lucy Richards sculpts the "Sundial Boy," statue from Bronze. It is later placed on the putting green and called "The Putter Boy," Pinehurst's icon to this day.
  • 1916: Annie Oakley, star of the "Buffalo Bill Wild West Show," and her husband, Frank Butler, come to Pinehurst. Annie gives shooting exhibitions and lessons while Frank manages the Gun Club.
  • 1916 or 1917: The Lilliputian Golf Course, the first miniature golf course in the United States, is built in Pinehurst at the cottage of resident James Barber.
  • 1919: Pinehurst No. 4 completed by Donald Ross.
  • 1923: The Manor Inn is built in the Village of Pinehurst, first known as the Lexington. The Pinehurst Theatre is also opened. It will later host the Metropolitan Opera.
  • 1930: Management of Pinehurst turns to Richard Tufts, grandson to its founder. Tufts, who has a passion for golf, writes the Creed to the Amateur, and later becomes president of the United States Golf Association, and captain of the Walker Cup.
  • 1936: Pinehurst is the site of the PGA Championship. The sand greens of Pinehurst No. 2 are converted to grass in time for the event. Denny Shute claims victory.
  • 1940: Ben Hogan wins the North and South Open Championship at Pinehurst for his first professional win.
  • World War II: Pinehurst's close proximity to Fort Bragg proves beneficial as military units provide air demonstrations and musical entertainment to the resort's guests. John Phillip Sousa is among them, and Pinehurst is also the headquarters of the Glen Miller Orchestra.
  • 1948: The Donald Ross Memorial Junior Tournament is inaugurated following the passing of its namesake.
  • 1949: A lawn bowling green is built at the Pinehurst Resort Club.
  • 1950: A small, man-made lake is added. It will eventually become an attraction in itself with its 200 acres of fresh water, ideal for fishing, boating and other recreation.
  • 1951: Pinehurst hosts the world's best golfers for the Ryder Cup Matches.
  • 1959: Jack Nicklaus wins the North and South Amateur at Pinehurst.
  • 1961: Pinehurst No. 5 opens, designed by Ellis Maples
  • 1962: Pinehurst is the site of the U.S. Men's Amateur; Labron Harris is victor. President Eisenhower attends to watch the championship.
  • 1979: Pinehurst opens No. 6 golf course; George and Tom Fazio, designers.
  • 1984: Pinehurst is acquired by Club Corporation of America, Inc., of Dallas, Texas. ClubCorp is the largest owner and operator of private city, athletic and country clubs in the world.
  • 1986: Pinehurst opens No. 7 golf course, designed by Rees Jones.
  • 1989: U.S. Women's Amateur played on No. 2, won by Vicki Goetze.
  • 1990: Pinehurst opens its Conference Center and Exhibit Hall addition, which is built onto the Carolina Hotel. It adds 50,000 square feet including meeting and exhibit space, public areas, kitchen, and service hall.
  • 1991-1992: Pinehurst is site of the TOUR Championships. Craig Stadler wins in 1991; Paul Azinger in 1992.
  • 1994: The full-service tennis pro shop opened, helping elevate the Pinehurst tennis experience to one of the finest in the country.
  • 1994, 1995, 1996: The Pinehurst Tennis Club hosts the U.S. Clay Court Championships. Tennis Professionals Todd Martin and MaliVai Washington were just a couple of notables to play.
  • 1994: U.S. Senior Open Championship played at Pinehurst: Simon Hobday is victor.
  • 1995: Pinehurst celebrates it centennial with a year of commemorative events and festivities. The Centennial Course - Pinehurst no. 8 is created to honor the occasion and resides on land formerly occupied by the Gun Club.
  • 1996: Pinehurst is named a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The basis for the designation is Pinehurst's prominence in the development of golf on the United States and as an excellent representation of a turn-of the-century golf resort.
  • 1999: The 99th Men's U.S. Open Championship is played on Pinehurst No. 2. Payne Stewart wins in an exciting finish on the 18th green.
  • 2002: The 33,000 sq. ft. Spa at Pinehurst opens for business. It includes 28 treatment rooms and over 40 services.
  • 2003: Pinehurst resort hosts the U.S. Lawnbowls Championship.
  • 2005: U.S. Open Championship will return to Pinehurst.
  • 2008: Pinehurst will serve as the site of the U.S. Men's Amateur Championship.