When the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club decided to renovate and improve the grounds in time for the 1999 U.S. Open, all of the above concerns were taken into account and an award winning project developed that met the needs of today's resort guest and kept the historical importance of the property intact.

PINEHURST HISTORY

In early 1895, soda fountain magnate James Walker Tufts purchased 5,000 acres of land in central North Carolina for an average of $1.25 an acre. It was said by locals at the time that the land was not even worth that much, as it was mostly ravaged timberland.

Nearly 500,000 pavers, covering more than 100,000 square feet were installed, adding to the existing paving around the resort and golf course. Pine Hall pavers were placed on cart paths, sidewalks and entranceways as well as some streets and driveways around the village.

Tufts wanted Pinehurst to be a health resort because tuberculosis was affecting many people in the northeast and with no medicine developed to combat it, the best remedy was to be in fresh air during the winter. New Englanders came from October-March to breathe the pine air and enjoy the scenery of the area.

The first golf course at Pinehurst was designed in 1898 in response to complaints from Pinehurst dairymen that guests were scaring cows by hitting little white balls into the pasture. Today, Pinehurst has more golf courses from a single starting area than any other resort in the world. There are currently eight courses at Pinehurst with a ninth scheduled for completion in 2002.

The resort is a revered golf venue that has served as the site of the 1936 PGA Championship; 1951 Ryder Cup Matches; 1962 U.S. Amateur Championship; 1973 World Open; 1991 and 1992 Tour Championships; 1994 U.S. Men's Senior Open; and the 1999 U.S. Open Championship, when the late Payne Stewart sank a 20-foot putt on the 18th hole to win the tournament.

Robert Hayter, President of The Hayter Firm, based in the Village of Pinehurst was responsible for landscape improvements to the Holly Inn, the creation of the Ross-Tufts Memorial Garden on Course No. 2, the porte cochere and cupola improvements at the Carolina Hotel as well as vehicular and pedestrian circulation improvements.

One of the challenges he faced was balancing the current needs and future improvements with the historic importance of the property.

The Holly Inn is at the center of the old Village of Pinehurst. The property is 3.61 acres in a highly visible location in the Village. The goal of the renovation was to create a charming, intimate alternative lodging to the main Carolina Hotel. The design visually integrates the hotel with the Village of Pinehurst. The intention of the renovation was to capture a quintessential historic character verses a strict restoration to the original state.

Pinehurst, orginally called Tuftstown was designed as a place where New Englanders could come and enjoy the fresh pine air. The Village has sidewalks that are built in circles so guests could focus on their journey around the Village and not on their troubles.

The loop entry drive was debated within the Historic Review Commission as they were concerned about the historic purity and authenticity of the design.

"There was some concern with the driveway of the Holly Inn," said Ed Bartley, Chairman of the Village of Pinehurst Appearance Commission. "We thought it would require the removal of some holly trees in front of the Inn, which it didn't."

Hayter had to demonstrate numerous examples of a precedent for loop drives in the old village.

"The loop drive came about when automobiles started coming to the resort in the 1920s," he said. "We had to use enhanced materials because of the higher demand from automobiles. We used brick curbing, asphalt pavement and brick pavers.

"Bricks are early period pavers," Hayter added. "The addition of the loop driveway in front of the Holly Inn is typical of homes in the Village and provides greater convenience for guests."

The loop drive is too narrow to accommodate parking, thus preserving the historic character of the landscape. By placing the drive to save all existing trees in the right-of-way, Bartley said the Commission agreed to the safety, efficiency and ultimately the aesthetics of the drive.

The project features Pathway pavers in a red flash range and English Edge Pavers that feature a beveled edge and measure 2 1/4" x 4" x 8". The English Edge color on this project is Red Full Range.

"The Commission is more helpful than anything, and working with them is a pleasure in a way. They are very objective in keeping the charm of the Village."

Winston-Salem, NC-based Pine Hall Brick supplied the brick pavers that were used in the loop drive and around the resort. Nearly 500,000 bricks were used covering more than 100,000 square feet for the entire project.

Hayter tried to maintain a consistent use of materials to begin to establish an uninterrupted character between the two resorts.

"The walks in the core village are brick and have been for a long, long time," Hayter said. "So, we extended that material out into the resort village."

At the Carolina Hotel a sequence of plans was put into action which included a comprehensive signage plan, the Ross-Tufts Memorial Garden, porte cochere and cupola improvements at the Carolina Hotel, vehicular and pedestrian circulation improvements, parking improvements, a lighting plan and a planting plan.

The Ross-Tufts Memorial Garden was sited on the famous 18th green on Course No. 2, designed by Donald Ross. Life-sized, bronze sculptures of Donald Ross and Tufts's grandson Richard Tufts stand on the brick walk of the garden.

The new brick sidewalks give pedestrians a sense of connectivity with the resort experience, allowing resort guests and members to stroll along brick walks from the Carolina Hotel to the Country Club, from the tennis courts to the Clubhouse of Pinehurst and from their car to the Clubhouse.

"Tufts wanted the Resort to be a place of joy, and where people could walk," Hayter said. "He wanted guests to focus on their journey and not on their troubles, it is very therapeutic.

"That's why the Village has sidewalks built in circles, which can be confusing at first, but encourage people to wander as they find their way around."

The choice of brick reflects the historic character of the Village, with Pine Hall's Pathway paver used at the Holly Inn and in most pedestrian areas along with English Edge pavers used in most vehicular areas. The vehicular circulation design considers golf carts, bikes and motor vehicles. The entry road to the Country Club was narrowed through the Pine Grove. Brick pavers indicate the drop-off area, further establishing a character of arrival.

"Both of these projects were designed to maintain the historic flavor of the Village, while also meeting the needs of today's Resort guests and Village residents," Hayter said. "The addition of brick sidewalks between the Carolina Hotel and the Resort and Member Clubs, for example, have helped to tie both areas of the resort together, while encouraging people to walk."

There was some concern by Pinehurst's Historic Review Commission, part of Pinehurst's Appearance Commission about building a loop drive because they were afraid that some of the holly trees in front of the Holly Inn would have to be removed. Those concerns were put aside when no trees were removed and traffic flowed easily through the drive.

The project has won several awards including a Brick Industry Association 2000 Brick Paving Design Award along with a Merit Award from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects for creation of the Ross-Tufts Memorial Garden, porte cochere and cupola improvements at The Carolina Hotel, vehicular and pedestrian circulation and parking improvements and lighting and planting plans. The Society also presented an Award of Recognition for landscape improvements at the Holly Inn. LASN