Pinehurst Tournament Office

Inside this issue

Meet the Team………..…………2

Volunteer Highlight…………...2

Rule of the Month……………...3

Reviewing Ross’ Designs...….4

Ross’ Most Memorable............5

Donald Ross History…………..6

November 2021 Volume 1, Issue 6

The Tournament

Times

Your monthly source for everything

tournament operations at Pinehurst!

Home of the North & South Amateur Championships

Newest Edition!

This month’s edition features three exclusive pages on

Donald Ross’ designs, career, and legacy!

The 2021 Tournament Office

2

Volunteer Highlight

From left: Stephen Faucher, Griffin Grubb, Matt Nunez,

Gabby Steiner, Nolan Miller, Beth Hildebrant

Gabby Steiner, PCC Head Professional

Stephen Faucher, PCC Assistant Professional

Nolan Miller, Tournament Office Intern

Matt Nunez, Tournament Director

Griffin Grubb, Championships Coordinator

Beth Hildebrant, Tournament Office Intern

Bob Eater and General Chair, Ron

Crow, pose on the first morning of

the Men’s North & South

Championship

Scoring is an absolute necessity when it comes to large

scale tournaments like the North & South Championships.

Bob Eater is the man that answers that large demand,

managing the team that oversees all things scoring. The

Scoring Committee is responsible for documenting all

hole-by-hole scores during stroke play and managing

match status during match play.

Bob’s team is our largest group of volunteers with some

of the most complex scheduling. He does not let that

phase him as he goes about his duties with grace. Bob is

in constant communication with the tournament staff and

other volunteer chairs, ensuring that his team is being

properly utilized.

3

Rule of the Month

This month we will highlight everything that has to do with

obstructions on the golf course! There are quite a few types of

obstructions and quite a few different situations where you

might encounter them. The important thing to remember is

that you don’t always get the same type of relief!

At Pinehurst we also have the

“2+2” Local Rule. This states that if

a sprinkler head is within two club

lengths of your ball and within two

club lengths of the green, you are

entitled to free relief.

Pro Tip

When in doubt, do not

remove a loose impedi-

ment if you believe your

ball might also move.

Usually, loose impedi-

ments do not greatly

affect a golfer’s shot.

Movable Obstruction: these are any artifi-

cial object that can be moved without

causing damage to the course or obstruc-

tion itself. Players are allowed to, without

penalty, move these regardless of their

position on the course. If your ball moves

while removing a movable obstruction,

you must replace it to the original spot

with no penalty (note: this is different

than moving a loose impediment).

Loose Impediments: these are any

natural object that are not attached/

growing (i.e. pinestraw). These may be

moved on any part of the course,

without penalty. However, it is

important to remember that if you

cause your ball to move while removing

a loose impediment, you must replace it

and take one penalty stroke.

Immovable Obstructions:

these are fixed and artifi-

cial objects that cannot

be moved. A player is

granted relief from an im-

movable obstruction if,

and only if, it interferes

with their swing or stance.

You are not granted relief

if an immovable obstruc-

tion is in your line-of-sight

or projected shot path.

Temporary Immovable Obstructions: these are

also artificial objects, but they are not perma-

nently fixed (I.e. grandstand). However, they

are not easily movable, so they are treated

similarly to a regular immovable obstruction.

The main difference is that a player is granted

relief from a TIO if it is in their line-of-sight or

desired path, as it is not typically part of the

golf course (note: TIO’s are most often

encountered on professional tours).

4

Ross’ Moore County Masterpieces

Moore County is home to over 80 golf

courses, with quite a few of them being Donald Ross

designs. On this page, we will review and rate

the gems that he created in the county that is

“Home to U.S. Open Golf Championships”.

Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club

Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club

Pine Needles has hosted several fantastic tournaments,

including the U.S. Women’s Open. It demands a golfer’s

full attention as there are several deceiving tee shots

across the property. Designed in 1927, it encompasses a

few of Ross’ signature design features like false green

fronts and large waste areas. Pine Needles was built in

harmony with the land’s contours and that is reflected

across the property. Players will also enjoy a spacious

practice facility and teaching academy. Mid Pines is owned by Pine Needles, which provides

flexibility to players when booking a tee time. This is a

classic Ross layout that was built in 1921. As pictured

above, lots of natural areas are incorporated into the

design. Similar to No. 2, Mid Pines has several long par

3’s that require players to hit pristine iron shots. The

course is not defined by it’s length, but by the

accuracy required off the tee, as most holes are

surrounded by tree lined fairways.

Out of all of his Moore County designs, No. 2 is regarded

as his best. It has hosted a myriad of championships and

is now an anchor site for the U.S. Open. Anyone visiting

the area dreams of making Payne Stewart’s historic putt

and roaming the grounds where legends have walked. If

you can, having an afternoon tee time can provide the

most memorable experience. Walking towards the 18th

green as the sun sets is truly an unforgettable moment

that most players can only imagine.

Pinehurst No. 2

Southern Pines Country Club

Recently purchased by Mid Pines & Pine Needles,

Southern Pines CC has made drastic improvements to

the course. Several greens and bunkers have been re-

shaped with the hopes of accommodating more play-

ers. Although parts of the course are under renova-

tion, it still provides an adequate test of accuracy off

the tee and excellence around the green.

5

Donald Ross’ Standout Designs

With over 450 golf courses around the world that Donald Ross helped construct, it’s difficult to

pick out the “best”. However, we in the Tournament Office decided to pick out our personal

favorites. This was both a tough and fun challenge, as we got to compare and contrast the

designs that appealed most to us.

“I was fortunate enough to grow up playing golf here with my grandparents. It is a fantastic layout that encompasses the

unique Colorado landscape while still feeling like an authentic Donald Ross layout. His redesign truly elevated Lakewood’s

status to what it is today. It has hosted several renowned events, including the Colorado Amateur and the

U.S. Women’s Amateur”

Nolan: Lakewood Country Club (CO)

“The atmosphere surrounding the property is so special - amongst the mountains the course beautifully stands out

as a haven for golfers of all types. Amongst all of the artistry, there are many different challenges a golfer will

face on this course .Every putt breaks away from the mountains, so being able to read the greens is a true ad-

vantage. The time I spent on this course helped me solidify my decision to become a PGA Golf Professional.” Griffin: Broadmoor West (CO)

“My favorite Donald Ross design is Wachussett Country Club in West Boylston, Massachusetts. The course is a 10

minute drive from where I grew up and they had great twilight deals for junior golfers. It was also my home course for high school matches. My family has been playing golf there for decades and anytime I go back

home, I try to get out and play there.”

Stephen: Wachussett Country Club (MA)

“Essex, located in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, was the first Donald Ross design I’d ever played. The rolling hills combined with the twists and turns of the course lead to a

very unique experience. With a range of yardages and playa-bility, the course requires you to hit a wide variety of golf shots and be confident in them. Some argue that this was

Donald’s best design and sets up for an unconventional yet rewarding golfing experience.” Beth: Essex County Club (MA)

Honorable mention: East Lake Golf Club, Oak Hill Country Club,

Salem Country Club, The Country Club & Congressional Country Club

6

A Deep Dive into Donald Ross (Part 2)

Many golf historians debate about how many courses Don-

ald Ross designed in his tenure. Although an exact number

doesn’t exist, the most accurate figure is 399 courses and

457 total projects. With this large amount, Ross was never

able to visit all of the courses that bared his name. His brand

grew, eventually employing several other architects that he

entrusted to carry his name around the globe. Over the

course of his career, Ross’ design style can be broken into

three phases: the “formative phase”, which encompassed his

early years, the “mature phase”, which was when the major-

ity of his work was completed, and the “functionalist phase”,

which appealed more to the average player.

The Formative Phase

Donald Ross’ experimentation is most profound in

this part of his career. This was where he often decid-

ed to fight natural contours, creating his own unique

playing surface. Courses like Pinehurst’s No. 2 were

brainstormed during this period, which explains its’

unparalleled layout.

The Mature Phase

Following World War I, Ross gained serious recognition

as one of the world’s most prominent architects. He

was able to become much more creative with his lay-

outs as course budgets began to expand. Ross began

working with natural formations instead of trying to

reshape the land. This is shown in his “smoother” fair-

way to green transitions at courses like The Country

Club (MA) and Oak Hill CC (MA).

The Functionalist Phase

Towards the latter part of his career, Ross was contracted

to work on various municipal projects. Golf was becoming

much more popular for the “average American” and wasn’t

just seen as an elitist activity. At this time, it was important

that there were playable golf courses that were accessible

to the public. Ross once again shifted his design philosophy

to meet this growing demand. He began focusing on overall

course playability as opposed to unique strategy.

The Country Club (MA)

Asheboro Municipal GC (NC)

Ross’ “Original Pinehurst”

Essex County Club (MA)