Pinehurst History and Area Information

Scottish immigrants began farming the area now known as Southern Pines, Pinehurst and Aberdeen in the early 1800's. As a result of the abundant pine forests, the area flourished as a resource for the tar, turpentine and timber industries much needed by the rapidly developing Northern cities. As the timber-related businesses flourished, a lucrative railroad station was developed in Aberdeen in the 1850's.

In 1885 James Walker Tufts, a wealthy Boston philanthropist, came to the Sandhills area to develop a resort that would be ideal for his ailing health. Shortly after arriving in Southern Pines, Tufts purchased a 5,800 acres tract of land that today encompasses much of the area currently known as Pinehurst. Tuft planned to develop the area as a year round retreat for North Easterners to relax and get away from the hurried atmosphere and cold climate found in the northern cities. Although first named Tuftstown, the town was later changed to Pinehurst, a name submitted for a contest to name a real estate development in Tuft's summer retreat on Martha's Vineyard.

Tufts hired Frederick Olmstead, architect of New York City's Central Park and the grounds for the U.S. Capitol Building, to design a New England type atmosphere in the Village of Pinehurst. The village, which today still has many of the original homes, was designed with curving streets shaded by thousands of imported semi-tropical trees. Although tennis, croquet and archery were the original Pinehurst sports of choice, the temperate climate and sandy soil quickly made it a getaway as golf resort.

To assist in developing Pinehurst as golf retret, Tufts hired Donald Ross, a Scottish golf course architect, to design golf courses and run the golf operations. Ross designed several local courses in the Pinehurst area including the world ranked Pinehurst #2 course, host of the 1999 and 2005 US Opens and Pine Needles, host of several past ladies US Opens. In addition to designing Pinehurst 1-5, Ross designed over 400 golf courses worldwide. The Ross home, located off the 3rd hole of Pinehurst #2, and the Pinecrest Inn that was owned and operated by Donald Ross, are both Pinehurst landmarks. Today Pinehurst is nationally rated as a premier golf resort offering public access to several of the top rated courses in the Carolinas.

In addition to Pinehurst #1-8 resort courses, the area boasts over 50 additional golf courses, making it one of the highest-density golf areas in the world. Pinehurst is often referred to as the "Golf Capital of the World" and is listed in golf magazines as the best golf related area to live or visit in the U.S. In 1996 the Village of Pinehurst was designated National Landmark status for its historical significance in U.S. golf history. This is the only golf-related designation of its kind in the United States.

The year-round mild climate also opens the door to many other activities including equestrian events (the Pinehurst area is the home of five past Olympic equestrian champions), tennis (several amateur tennis tournaments are held on the Pinehurst courts), croquet and lawn bowling (several national champions are members of the Pinehurst clubs), biking (the Aberdeen Area is used to train and qualify Olympic bicycle teams), water sports, fishing, hiking and much more. The wide variety of area shops, restaurants and ideal meeting facilities all create the perfect setting for business or pleasure.

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