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Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Bob Farren has been named a recipient of the USGA’s Green section Award for excellence in sustainable golf course maintenance practices. Photo courtesy of Pinehurst Resort.
THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION (USGA) will honor Pinehurst Resort’s Director of Grounds Bob Farren, with an award during it’s annual meetings next month.
Farren a national leader in golf course management, has been with the Pinehurst Resort for over 40 years. But Farren’s career long tenure in the industry runs nearly 45 years.
“When I first joined Pinehurst, the resort had six golf courses,” said Farren. “But number four was on the drawing board, and getting ready for renovation, under architect Rees Jones. Shortly there-after Jones ended up design the new Course #7 for us.”
When Farren was first settling in at Pinehurst, all he had to do was keep the courses in good shape and ready for play. But over the years, that roll expanded. Because as Farren also be came Director of Grounds, he had to look-in on the all construction work that was going on around the resort. Some of which included renovation work to the resorts hotels, including national landmarks like The Carolina Hotel and then The Holly Inn.
THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB at 401 North Roselle Road, has worked through facility improvements in the clubhouse, and reopened the three simulators. Chandlers Chophouse is open, and the pro shop is restocking for the summer season ahead. But better news is you can play the Schaumburg Golf Club indoors on the simulators. So get a lesson or club fitting done at the SGC, and book a bay at (847)-885-9000 and visit SchaumburgGolf.com.
BUT NOW with the opening (Apr. 3) of the new Tom Doak designed Course #10. Farren will have 10 18 hole courses, and the Nine-Hole Cradle Course to oversee.
So there is more than a new courses open at Pinehurst this year.
Because if you haven’t heard the 2024 U.S. Open arrives in June.
As a result, there are still restoration projects going on around the resort.
Recently workers were all over the Carolina Hotel, finishing up room renovations and the Decor along the walls of the hotel.
So when Farren is not out looking at the golf courses, he has plenty to do visiting the work projects. Both in the hotel’s and now the main clubhouse.
The Mistwood fitting team. L-R Eric Russell, Scott Hogan and Matt Carter. The Mistwood Golf dome is on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook, see Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600.
But in recent years, Farren has reduced the amount of irrigated turf by over 40 acres.
Those area’s have been replaced by native sand grasses.
But Farren has also served as a principal founding partner of the Greenskeeper Apprenticeship Program. So that the USGA and the Sandhills Community College can provide education and mentorship for golf course maintenance workers.
During Farren’s tenure at Pinehurst, the resort has become a testing ground for new maintenance practices and equipment. Pinehurst has served as an on-courses learning location for superintendents, agronomists and others.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR the full interview with Pinehurst Director of Grounds Bob Farren.
Farren says one of his teams best accomplishments was hosting back-to-back U.S. Opens on Pinehurst No.2 in 2014. Which will happen again in 2029. Farren will be honored with other national USGA award winners on March 2nd, at the UGSA national meeting in Nashville Tennessee.
But for more information on award winners including Bob Farren or the USGA national meetings, please visit USGA.org or Pinehurst.com.