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The Sandhills of North Carolina
For more than a century, a golf and equestrian mecca
The region of central North Carolina, occupied today by numerous towns and villages such as Pinehurst and Southern Pines, was discovered by New Englander James Tufts in the late 1890s. He and his family were attracted to the Sandhills’ natural beauty while making a stop during their annual winter journey by rail from Boston to the warmth of Florida. The Tufts were equally attracted by the much shorter distance from their Massachusetts home.
Tufts’ vision of a retreat for Northeastern sportsman took shape quickly. By the early 1900s he had enlisted Scottish golf course architect Donald Ross, who gained fame overnight with the unveiling of the fabled Pinehurst No. 2 course that remains an international gem to this day. The sandy soil – more typically found in coastal regions – proved ideal for growing and maintaining pristine grasses for area golfers.
Pinehurst later became a destination for thoroughbred and standard bred horse racing. Eventually, nearby Southern Pines emerged as an equestrian capital, attracting some of the top horse shows and their show horses. Horses still are trained and stabled in the area during fall and winter months. The Pinehurst track kitchen restaurant near the training track is open to the public and is one of the area’s most popular breakfast and lunch spots.
Today, the Village of Pinehurst is world famous as the home of the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club and the resort’s historic Carolina Hotel and Spa. But the area has evolved as a golf lifestyle destination, with dozens of private and semi-private courses adjoining beautiful gated communities.
Pinehurst and Southern Pines both present visitors with charming downtowns, where strolling, shopping, and dining are favorite pastimes. Pinehurst’s visitors are increasingly an international crowd, which led to the recent opening of a trendy sushi restaurant. For traditionalists looking for authentic southern fare, Dickey's Barbecue Pit is a great casual choice, along with the more classic dining room inside the Carolina Hotel, or its sister property, the renovated Holly Inn’s 1895 Grille. Pik N Pig in nearby Carthage is not only a world-class BBQ destination, but offers a most unusual setting -- adjacent to a privately operated landing strip, where recreational fliers touch down, park and have a great meal before flying off again.
The Donald Ross legacy is alive and well at the classic Pine Crest Inn, a quaint property he acquired in 1921 and owned until his death in 1948. The inn has been slow to change in accordance with the wishes of its returning customers. In the dining room, authentic dishes such as a 22-ounce pork chop, pan-roasted venison, and butter drenched baked potatoes are served with a smile. The lobby piano spawns lively sing-alongs nightly, helped by its close proximity to the inn’s well-worn Mr. B’s Lounge. A rocking chair on the Pine Crest’s front porch on a spring evening is one of life’s simple and memorable pleasures.
In addition to the requisite carriage tour (910.235.8456) of Pinehurst’s Old Town village (the owner of the carriage knows all of the local lore and gossip), we strongly recommend visits to the following:
Golf
Anderson Creek Golf Club (910.814.2115)
Dormie Club (910.215.4587; toll free 855.955.1999)
Foxfire Resort & Country Club (910.295.5555)
Legacy Golf Links (910.944.8825)
Little River Golf Resort (910.949.4600)
Mid South Club, a Talamore Resort (910.692.5884)
Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club (910.692.2114)
National Golf Club (910.295.4300)
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club (910.692.7111)
Pinewild Country Club of Pinehurst (910.295.5145)
Talamore Golf Club (910.692.5884)
The Carolina (910.949.2811)
The Pit Golf Links (910.944.1600)
Tobacco Road Golf Club (877.284.3762)
Upscale Dining
1895 Grille (910.235.8434)
Basil’s (910.235.3737)
Carolina Dining Room (910.235.8434)
Chef Warren’s (910.692.5240)
Elliott’s On Linden (910.215.0775)
Ironwood Café (910.255.0000)
Rue 32: Urban Flavors of the World (910.725.1910)
Ten-Ya Japanese Cuisine and Sushi (910.255.1085)
Casual Dining
Darling House Pub & Grill (910.295.3193
Dickey's Barbecue Pit (910.246.1511)
Dugan’s Pub (910.295.3400)
The Pik N Pig, Carthage, NC (910.947.7591)
Pine Crest Inn (910.295.6121)
Pinehurst Track Restaurant (910.295.2597)
Ryder Cup Lounge (910.295.6811)
The Sly Fox Pub (Opening Summer 2010)
Shopping
Cook’s Choice upscale housewares (910.692.5119)
Gentlemen’s Corner men’s clothing (910.295.2011)
Kitchen Essence fine cheese, meats, wine, cooking school (910.255.0665)
Monkee’s apparel and shoes (910.693.7463)
Old Sport & Gallery golf memorabilia (910.295.9775)
The Little Toy Shop (910.692.2522)
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