Pinehurst No. 2
The United States Golf Association announced that it will establish “Golf House Pinehurst” in Pinehurst, N.C , considered by many as the Cradle of American golf, as the association’s second home.
Formal design plans are not complete, but the new buildings will be no more than two stories tall and reflect the aesthetics of the nearby village and the Pinehurst Resort. Construction is expected to begin in Spring, 2021 and be completed by 2023.
The campus, located on the historic Pinehurst Resort property, will feature the USGA’s Equipment Standards Test Center, a laboratory dedicated to testing golf balls and clubs for conformance to the Rules of Golf, replacing the current facility on the USGA’s Liberty Corner campus.
In addition, the campus will include a museum, showcasing the association’s premier collection of educational exhibits and memorabilia from the USGA Golf Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, which will continue to serve as the primary repository of golf history and learning in the world..
Pinehurst will also serve as the association’s base to advance the game of golf through innovation, research and science, working in collaboration with some of the state’s leading universities.
The USGA had already selected Pinehurst No. 2 course, designed by Donald Ross in 1907 and restored by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2010, to be the host for the 2024 U.S. Open. Now the USGA has added four additional championship in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047, accelerating its strategy of holding its premier championship at America’s most iconic course with greater frequency, a similar strategy of the Royal & Ancient for its “The Open.”
Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA until the end of 2021 when he retires, said there is no better place for the USGA to plant new roots than the Home of American Golf. “Thanks to the vision of North Carolina, Moore County and Pinehurst leaders, we are taking a bold step forward and forging a long-term commitment that will elevate our championships, foster greater innovation in golf, and ultimately help grow the game,” he added.
Conceived over the last several years, the plan became a reality through a comprehensive economic development effort that involved representatives from the North Carolina General Assembly, Moore County, the Village of Pinehurst and economic development experts.
Speaking on behalf of the Dedman family which owns Pinehurst, Bob Dedman Jr. noted that the USGA and Pinehurst Resort have had a deep and storied history of partnering to foster the game of golf and crown its greatest champions. “We are honored to be selected as the U.S. Open’s first anchor site, an unprecedented distinction and testament to Pinehurst No. 2’s legacy and future as a championship test for the world’s greatest golfers,” he said.
“While so much of the game’s history is rooted in timeless traditions, both the USGA and Pinehurst have embraced innovation in golf course architecture, agronomy, equipment design, player development and the rules of the game,” added Dedman. “We’re excited to work with the USGA as they create leading-edge equipment and training facilities to advance the game, as well as a new visitor center to link the past to the present and future.”
“The USGA’s North Carolina history in golf is legendary, from Arnold Palmer to Webb Simpson, and we welcome this new chapter in golf history with the USGA’s new hub in Pinehurst,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “We welcome the USGA’s selection of our state for this significant new component of its operations and new jobs, and look forward to growing with the game across North Carolina.”.
