What am I doing at Pinehurst, the largest of all the country's golf resorts? I'm the guy, after all, who when asked whether he ever takes a set of clubs and heads for the fairways replies, "Excuse me? Golf is a four-letter word." The last place I ought to be spending a weekend is in a North Carolina village synonymous with g--f.

Pinehurst does, of course, have good tennis credentials. From 1994-96 this was the site of the U.S. Clay Court Championships, an era that drew Patrick Rafter, David Wheaton, Todd Martin, Mats Wilander and the Woodies, among others. Club Corporation of America, which owns it, built a new tennis clubhouse, in the same white clapboard as the historic hotel, and has encouraged Wolf in his desire to expand the tennis membership—which now numbers over 400—and to bring in other tennis events, including the National Men's 70 and 85 Championships. And the weekend I was there, so were several hundred USTA league players competing in the North Carolina championships.

Overview

The golf notwithstanding, tennis has an ever-strengthening foothold on guests' time. "We see our resort tennis business growing," tennis director Matt Downing told me. A North Carolina native himself, he has been a part of Pinehurst for a decade, having started out as head pro. Since taking over the directorship he has doubled the number of daily clinics—there's one at 9 a.m. for beginners and a second at 10 a.m. geared to 3.5 players who want faster-paced drills and doubles strategy. He's also been even more focused on game matching: "We try to contact people in advance to set up matches if we know they're coming down," he says. "We try to go the extra mile." He has about 350 active members to draw on. The Friday and Saturday round robins provide an additional opportunity to meet other players.

Meanwhile, the resort has added a spa, a large children's playground next to the hotel, and new children's programs. The 6 hard and 18 conscientiously maintained clay courts are a five-minute walk from the historic hotel and so is the historic village of Pinehurst and its shops and restaurants. There's also a swimming pool at the hotel, croquet courts adjacent to the main golf clubhouse, an equestrian center, and even a lake with a beach and marina.

In a peculiar way there are actually advantages to being at a resort most of whose guests are golfers. Court time is much easier to come by—and free on tennis packages. Granted, the infatuation with golf is inescapable, from the paintings of professional golfers, past and current, lining the walls to a rich wood-paneled bar called the Ryder Cup Lounge. But rather that sit inside and eavesdrop as golfers lament their performances on the fabled Donald Ross-designed No. 2, one of the top-ranked courses in the nation, I took my beer out onto the broad covered porch and relaxed in one of the many rocking chairs. You can spend a weekend here and never have to utter that four-letter word once.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Pinehurst Resort & Country Club.

• ""—C.S., Adv. Int., June 2008

• ""—J.R., Adv. Int., June 2008

• "It was a great camp. Learned a lot and the instructors were super. You get your $'s worth!"—W.R., Adv. Int., June 2008

• "Three great days of tennis despite the soaring temperatures! Kevin and Matt were excellent tennis professionals. The courts were well maintained and the Pro Shop staff welcoming and friendly. The facilities, staff and environment at Pinehurst are always exceptional."—L.W., Int., June 2008

• "My friend Sue and myself attended a weekend tennis camp that was held June 2008. In spite of the 100+ temperatures, we had a great weekend. The tennis facility is top-notch and Matt and Kevin kept us busy but hydrated due to the extreme temperatures.
  We enjoyed all parts of the resort, our room at the Holly was delightful, the meals exquisite. We were even able to use the beach cruiser bikes to get to breakfast in the morning at the Carolina Dining Room. I don't think there was anything missing on the buffet!!! They even have a great pianist during breakfast and dinners!!! We arrived early on Friday and enjoyed the beach club at the lake. Nice sandy beach, and refreshing water!!!
  We will be back and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great weekend and sharpening their tennis skills."—L.T., Int., June 2008

• ""—K.B., Adv. Int., June 2008

• "Our weekend tennis camp was a great experience. Matt & Kevin, the Tennis Professionals, were exceptional. I was pleasantly surprised by the individual attention we received. The video critique & match play was an added bonus. I highly recommend this program!!"—D.D., Int., June 2008

• ""—J.H., Int., May 2008

• "My wife and I, along with our 4 children ages 7 to 15, stayed at the Carolina Hotel. Upon arriving I parked under the portico and asked the doorman if it was OK to park there. His response, "you are on vacation so you can do anything you want", immediately made me realize we had made the right choice.
  Our suite was spacious but we could have used another bathroom. For the price you would think they would provide free internet access. That costs another $10 a day!
  The staff at the Carolina were extremely accomadating and helpful. They went out of their way to find a putter for our 7 year old to use on the putting green. You would think they would have some available for guests to use. They had to look high and low to find one. If you need something all you have to do is ask.
  The food was excellent and waitstaff made us laugh. When our daughter asked for a particular appetizer she was told that it would take to long to prepare so she ordered something else. The waiter then proceeded to bring her both appetizers at no extra cost. The buffet breakfast was outstanding and there was much to choose from. I would have liked to see more variety on the dinner menu.
  The tennis pros and staff were great; friendly and accomadating. They made us feel very welcomed. Tennis balls and ball hoppers were supplied at no extra charge. When I broke a string on my racket they provided a demo at no charge. Instruction was thorough and fast paced. Not a lot of standing around even with a group of 5 or 6 people.
  The tennis courts were in excellent condition and the surroundings maticulously groomed. The club house and over all setting was first class. With over 20 courts we never had a problem getting two courts together.
  This was an excellant vacation spot and we all had a great time. Our kids are already asking if we can go back next year."—S.H., Adv., April 2008

• "As a family of six, it is often difficult to find a vacation that makes everyone happy. Our kids ages are 7-15, and Pinehurst catered to each one! The tennis instructors were great with the beginners, and taught my daughter, who plays on her high school tennis team, game winning strategies (hopefully!!)
  The women who run the tennis shop were incredibly helpful scheduling all of our lessons and clinics and trying to make sure everyone was placed in the right place.
  The accomodations were fabulous (if staying with kids, I highly recommend the Carolina) and the food was unbelievable. We had three dinners at the Carolina and one dinner at the 1895 Grill. If traveling with kids, I would not recommend the 1895 Grill. The Carolina wait staff is much better with the kids. They had them laughing throughout most of the meal, even though they were wearing sport coats!
  From the momment we arrived, until we checked out, the kids were made to feel welcomed, and we had a stress free vacation!"—L.H., Int., April 2008

• "True southern hospitality at it's finest. You are pampered and catered to from morning to night. The food was excellent, and, as mentioned elsewhere, the package includes a buffet breakfast and 4-course dinner.
  The tennis facility is also excellent, with your choice of either clay courts or hard courts. The pros, Matt & Kevin, were friendly, accomodating and knowlegeable, and willing to help with any part of your game. The first day, we had six women at the workout, but the second day, it was only the two of us--NICE. The golf was not too bad either."—R.B., Adv. Int., April 2008

• "We loved the resort - the grounds were great, the tennis fun, the courts were in good shape. We attended two clinics, had a few private lessons and took advantage of the match set ups offered by the pros. We have no complaints and would recommend it to anyone looking for a tennis get-a-way."—E.F., Int., April 2008

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. Pinehurst has 8, including the legendary No. 2, which is considered Donald Ross's masterpiece.

See Also

If you like the sound of Pinehurst, also check out:

• Amelia Island Plantation, Florida
• The Greenbrier, West Virginia
• Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
• Lodge at Pebble Beach, California, though this is much more expensive
• Sea Island, Georgia

Travel Essentials

Pinehurst Resort & Country Club
Carolina Vista
P.O. Box 4000
Village of Pinehurst, NC 28374
910-295-6811
Toll-free: 800-487-4653
Fax: 910-295-8508
Web Link: Pinehurst Resort & Country Club

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