PINEHURST, N.C. – While Pinehurst Resort’s charms have been cultivated for over 125 years, it never ceases to evolve and remain relevant to today’s guests. The next iteration of Pinehurst’s continued evolution begins in December with the phase one renovation of The Carolina Hotel’s guest rooms and lobby, as well as the creation of an expanded outdoor seating area with fire pits situated outside the Ryder Cup Lounge.
Much of the project will be completed over the winter months and first half of 2022, while the guest room renovations will take place in three careful stages to ensure only a limited impact on guests’ stays. The remainder of the room renovations will be finished ahead of the 2024 U.S. Open.
“Pinehurst has enjoyed a period of significant enhancements, updates and changes over the last decade,” says Bob Dedman Jr., Pinehurst Resort’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is another opportunity for us to continue to improve on the overall experience.”
Since 1901, The Carolina Hotel’s signature copper cupola has welcomed guests from throughout the U.S. and around the world to “The Cradle of American Golf.” That tradition continues as its guest rooms undergo an expansive transformation, blending modern luxuries travelers have come to expect with Pinehurst’s historic charm and comfort. The refreshed and reconfigured rooms will have brighter interiors, new fixtures, finishes and custom-built furniture, as well as expanded bathrooms, improved lighting and soundproofing.
The Carolina has always evoked exploration, and its lobby floors, walls, ceilings and lighting will be updated to further encourage guests to roam and discover, as will room corridors and the Carolina Coffee Shop. All work within the “Queen of the South” will pay homage to Pinehurst’s past, similar to the resort’s 2019 renovation of another of its historic hotels, The Manor.
“For more than a century, The Carolina has stood as a storied landmark in our area,” says Tom Pashley, President of Pinehurst Resort. “We will draw inspiration from its origins to incorporate into the design of the interior spaces of this grand hotel. It’s important to us that The Carolina serve the needs of today’s guest, but also that its original charm can be felt at every turn.”
The improvements will continue outside as well, none more evident than the Ryder Cup Terrace. For decades, Pinehurst’s guests have retreated to the sweeping verandas circling the Carolina Hotel, soaking in the sounds and pine-scented air that make the Sandhills of North Carolina so unique. Steps off the veranda and adjacent to the Ryder Cup Lounge, the Ryder Cup Terrace will feature cozy fire pits and soft seating, making it the perfect setting to begin an evening with a pre-dinner cocktail, or to wind down after a round.
As the return of the U.S. Open approaches and with the recent acquisition of The Magnolia Inn and Villaggio Ristorante & Bar, Pinehurst Resort continues to evolve.
“As we like to say, ‘It’s always Pinehurst, always better,’” Dedman says. “We’re committed to doing everything we can to give our guests the very best experience they can possibly have at Pinehurst.”
Established in 1895 in the Sandhills of North Carolina, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club is a 2,200-acre property featuring nine outstanding golf courses, The Cradle nine-hole par-3 short course, 75,000 square-foot putting course (Thistle Dhu), 16 clay tennis courts, an award-winning spa, other recreation and social activities for families, and elegant accommodations across one hotel, two inns, villas and condos.
Widely known as the Cradle of American Golf, Pinehurst hosted more single golf championships – including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and PGA TOUR Championship – than any other site in North America. Golfers enjoy layouts designed by the game’s greatest architects, including Donald Ross, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Gil Hanse, Jack Nicklaus, Rees Jones, Tom Fazio and Ellis Maples.
Pinehurst Resort, in concert with the United States Golf Association (USGA), was recently selected as the first U.S. Open Anchor Site and will host the championship in 2024, 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. The resort is slightly more than an hour from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, 90 minutes from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and only a half-day drive from many East Coast cities. To book tee times and golf packages: www.pinehurstresort.com, 855.235.8507.