Pinehurst Resort
Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina
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By Roger Cox, Editor |
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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 tennis director Matt Downing 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.
Tennis Features
Pro Shop: 910-235-8558
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The golf notwithstanding, tennis has an ever-strengthening foothold on guests' time. "We see our resort tennis business growing," Downing told me. A North Carolina native himself, he has been a part of Pinehurst for over 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 400 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 are also three swimming pools on the property, croquet courts adjacent to the main golf clubhouse, an equestrian center, and even a lake with a beach and marina. And the amenities continue with seven restaurants, a spa, and a fitness center.
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.
Other Recreation
Golf Courses. Pinehurst has 8, including the legendary No. 2, which is considered Donald Ross's masterpiece.
Calendar
Aug. 16-18, 2013: Pinehurst Adult Tennis Camp Weekend
Phone: 855-235-8507
This weekend camp bundles seven hours of instruction, drills, video analysis, and strategy with two nights of accommodations, breakfast and dinner daily, and a welcome reception. See the Pinehurst Adult Tennis Camps for details.
Oct. 25-27, 2013: Pinehurst Adult Tennis Camp Weekend
Phone: 855-235-8507
This weekend camp bundles seven hours of instruction, drills, video analysis, and strategy with two nights of accommodations, breakfast and dinner daily, and a welcome reception. See the Pinehurst Adult Tennis Camps for details.
Nov. 28, 2013: Friends & Family Thanksgiving Social
A free, drop-in round robin, from 9 am to 11:30 am, complemented by with festive refreshments of hot cider and pastries.
See Also
If you like the sound of Pinehurst, also check out:
- Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort/Cliff Drysdale Tennis, 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
Rates and Reservations
Lodging at Pinehurst consists of the main old hotel, two inns (Manor and Holly) and condos.
Carolina Vista
P.O. Box 4000
Village of Pinehurst, NC 28374