THE GOG BLOG SPEAKS OUT-RESTORING HISTORY

  MISTWOOD’S ANDY MICKELSON the 2021 Illinois PGA Section Champion (L) stripes the new Callaway Rogue Driver in the Mistwood Golf Dome. BLACKBERRY OAKS GM and Head Golf Professional Chad Johansen is now a Callaway Golf Ambassador and Blackberry Oaks Golf Club is now selling Callaway golf products. So if your thinking new clubs, #GetFit-play what your local IPGA professionals play. Callawaygolf.com.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn or Facebook. In the Mistwood Golf Dome with the new Callaway Rogue Driver (Photo by Bonny Brown).

AS GOLFERS ON GOLF goes to post this story, the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass is still trying to find it’s way to a conclusion.

The cut was made. So half the field can head home or drive the 3 1/2 hours over to Innisbrook, to play in the Valspar Championship.

Podcast partner Len Ziehm will be covering the tournament from Innisbrook, and will check in from the media center for this weeks podcast.

So stay tuned or clicked in here.

The lobby in the historic Carolina Hotel is now under a multi-year renovation.

During the second phase of my winter golf trip that started after the PGA Show in Orlando ended, I was able to visit a few destination properties.

When it comes to destination golf in America there are plenty of good ones. But in my books there is no place better than Pinehurst.

Pinehurst that sits in the sandhills of North Carolina, is the home or cradle of American golf for a reason. The flagship golf course Pinehurst #2, is arguably the best work by the famed architect Donald Ross. No. 2 has hosted plenty of championships, including several U.S. Open’s, and there are a several more coming over the next few decades. In fact Pinehurst is so good for golf, the United States Golf Association (USGA) is moving part of it’s golf operation there.

The second floor work zone.

TO REMAIN AT the top of their “A” game. Pinehurst under the outstanding leadership of president Tom Pashley and the Dedman family. Continues to uphold it’s tradition and history while keeping Pinehurst moving forward in todays world of needs for destination properties.

In recent years the resort has undertaken plenty of capital improvement projects, both on and off the golf course. Now it’s the Carolina Hotel’s (that opened in 1901) turn for renovation.

The front entrance to the hotel.

IT’S NEVER easy to improve older places, especially ones over a 120 years old.

But Pinehurst will find a way to do this right, and make the queen look really good- when the doors fully reopen and the crown is back on her head.

Because there is still a need to have the Carolina open for business, the renovation is being done in phases. But the work will be complete before the worlds top professionals and amateur players arrive for the 2024 U.S. Open.

  THE NEW CAROLINA ROOM STYLE (L) and the new lobby reimagination when the work gets completed (R).

So what is the improvement list for this project. Painting that adds brighter colors, new furniture, bigger rooms, larger bathrooms. The lobby and Coffey shop will be redone.  New walls for better sound proofing, lobby floors and ceilings will have a new fresh look.

DURING MY RECENT STAY at times you could hear the work going on. But it was nothing that ruined a good nights sleep. Or a meal in the famed Carolina Hotel dining room (home to the best breakfast in golf).

So while the Carolina might be a few rooms short, there are still plenty to reserve for your next play and stay. It’s always a beautiful day in Pinehurst. So now is the best time of the year to go. So pardon a little dust, the Carolina is still a great place to stay. Visit Pinehurst.com for more information on the Carolina Hotel-The Queen of the South.

The Gog Blog returns all week. RS

This entry was posted in News by Rory Spears. Bookmark the permalink.

About Rory Spears

Rory spent over 8 years growing up working at Rob Roy Golf Club in Prospect Hts.IL, then two years at Chevy Chase in Wheeling. He has covered golf in Chicago since 1986. Rory was one of the initial members of WSCR all-sports radio Chicago and covered golf there for 5 seasons, before moving on to work for ESPN/Sportsticker and ESPN Radio. In addition to hosting Golfers on Golf Radio on WCPT AM820 Chicago, he writes for both the Chicago District (CDGA) Magazine, and formerly Chicagoland Golf. Rory has played over 525 courses in 39 states, and rates golf courses. He does golf course management and communications consulting, within the golf industry.