By Brad King

Even if you’ve made a recent visit to the Sandhills region of North Carolina — the “Home of American Golf,” Pinehurst, along with the bourgeoning Southern Pines and Aberdeen areas — you will quickly discover that Pinehurst ‘24 is a decidedly different destination.

As Pinehurst takes center stage in 2024, the year ahead will unveil numerous creations and attractions to enjoy on and away from the golf course.

Most notably, the United States Open championship returns to Pinehurst Resort following a 10-year absence. About a quarter of a million people are expected to descend upon the area for this men’s major championship, which will be held at venerable Pinehurst No. 2 for the fourth time, June 10-16.

By the time the world’s best are teeing it up at No. 2, the USGA’s Golf House Pinehurst will be open and with it the return of the World Golf Hall of Fame to its original and rightful place inside the Home of American Golf — the perfect way to welcome the world to this destination as it once again makes its mark on the global stage.

For true golf aficionados, the spotlight shines on Pinehurst again later in June, when the men’s and women’s North & South Amateurs will be contested the same week.

In 2014, for the first time in golf history, the men’s and women’s U.S. Opens were played in consecutive weeks on Pinehurst No. 2. Ten years later, the North & South Amateur is taking that idea a step further. Less than 10 days after the U.S. Open wraps up on No. 2, the men’s and women’s North & South Amateurs will be contested during the same week, June 25-29.

“The North & South Amateur has been one of the elite amateur championships for over 120 years, and both the men’s and women’s championships continue to resonate today with many of the best amateurs the game has to offer,” said Matt Nunez, Pinehurst Resort’s Tournament Director. “Being able to combine the two championships into one week will offer us all the opportunity to see so much of the game’s future at one time and at one of the world’s greatest settings in golf.”

The other dominant golf headline around the Sandhills in 2024 is the arrival of Pinehurst No. 10, which is set for a spring debut.

No. 10 is Pinehurst’s first new course in nearly three decades. The landscape underlying Tom Doak’s new design features native wiregrass, sweeping landscape and rolling hills formed by geology. Midway through the course, Doak also takes advantage of rugged dunes carved out by mining operations around the turn of the 20th century. The course is in its final stages of creation and is scheduled to open for play on April 3, 2024, just in time for spring golf season.

Also on the Sandhills links, Woodlake Country Club is Vass has reopened. In 2023, GolfPass recently named The Maples Course renovation by Kris Spence among the “25 notable golf course renovations set to be unveiled.” In their quest to honor the soul of the Sandhills and Pinehurst, the course owners embarked on a journey to bring the original Ellis Maples course back to its former glory. This endeavor involved removing overgrowth and trees that had, through over the years, encroached upon the natural beauty of the golf course, obscuring the breathtaking vistas and challenging gameplay that have made Woodlake CC legendary.

Tot Hill Farm Golf Club also reopened with new greens, upgraded cart paths and a new clubhouse, fittingly in a restored old farmhouse. In September, the Mike Strantz-designed, Asheboro course celebrated a soft reopening after several restoration projects, highlighted by new Prizm Zoysia putting surfaces.

And at recently restored Southern Pines Golf Club, the 18-hole, 22,000-square-foot Overhills putting course is now open for members, golfers and resort guests. Amenities include solar lighting to allow play into the evening, music and a portable, custom trailer for special events. The course is also available for private events.

The name Overhills pays tribute to one of course designer Donald Ross’ greatest, yet most mysterious works. The 1913 design quietly remained part of a Rockefeller family-owned estate for the bulk of the 20th century. Today, it lies dormant and overgrown on the property that is now Fort Liberty, 18 miles from Southern Pines Golf Club. “Overhills honors a timeless tradition of the game first developed by the forefathers of golf with Old Tom Morris at St. Andrews and Donald Ross at Pinehurst,” said Kelly Miller, President of Southern Pines Golf Club.

Away from the golf course around the Pinehurst area in 2024, a brand-new destination distillery debuts with the opening of BHAWK in Southern Pines. Owners Brad and Jessica Halling have a vision for the distillery which will express gratitude for extraordinary service through premium spirits. BHAWK’s 12” wide 34’ tall copper column whiskey still was lowered into the distillery by crane thru a roof hatch. From this still, this winter, they’ll start producing their first barrels of Sergeant’s Valor Estate Bourbon.

Meanwhile, Southern Pines Brewing Company continues to expand. In early 2024, owner Micah Neibauer plans to open a new downtown Carthage location that will transform the old Tyson & Jones Buggy Company factory into a two-story restaurant and bar. The facility will also showcase an outdoor stage on one side and a biergarten on the other side. Downstairs will be a speakeasy featuring more than 50 taps, an on-staff mixologist, outdoor stage and a beer garden. The varied menu that will offer, among other things, flights of pizza.

As Pinehurst basks in its 2024 glow, now is a good time to plan your return visit. Whether to play golf or watch the world’s best, eat, drink or just be merry, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more enticing destination than the legendary Sandhills of North Carolina.

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