Pinehurst Resort is an historic upmarket golf resort at Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA. It has hosted a number of prestigious golf tournaments.

History
Pinehurst was founded by Boston soda fountain magnate James Walker Tufts. He purchased 5,500 acres (22 km²) at around a dollar an acre in 1895 and opened the Holly Inn that New Year’s Eve. The first golf course was laid out in 1897/98, and the first championship held at Pinehurst was United North and South Amateur Championship of 1901. Pinehurst’s best known course, Pinehurst No.2 was completed in 1907 to designs by Donald Ross, who was associated with Pinehurst for nearly half a century.

From 1902 to 1951 Pinehurst was the home of the North and South Open, which was one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the United States at that time. Pinehurst is still home to the annual North and South Amateur Golf Championships, a series of tournaments which includes a Men’s Championship inaugurated in 1901 and the Women’s Championship that began two years later.

The first PGA Tour major staged at Pinehurst was the 1936 PGA Championship which was won by Denny Shute. In 1951 the resort hosted the Ryder Cup and in 1991 and 1992 it was the venue for The Tour Championship. In 1999 Pinehurst staged its second major, the U.S. Open, which was won by Payne Stewart at the #2 course. It also hosted the 2005 U.S. Open, which was won by New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, and is scheduled to host the tournament again in 2014.

The resort now has eight golf courses, three hotels, a spa and extensive sports and leisure facilities. In 1996 Pinehurst was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It was ranked as the world’s largest golf resort by the Guinness World Records before it was surpassed by Mission Hills Golf Club in China.

Golf courses
Pinehurst Resort operates eight golf courses. Course No. 2 is the best known, having hosted several major tournaments.

Championship Croquet
Pinehurst is also the home of three championship croquet courts and a lawn bowling court. Players from around the country are attracted to this resort to play six wicket championship croquet. Mack Penwell is a US national champion, member of the USCA croquet hall of fame and, now retired, croquet professional at Pinehurst resort. Ron Lloyd took over as the croquet professional in 2004.

Controversy
In June 1999, National Public Radio reported that the Pinehurst Resort was using threats of trademark infringement lawsuits to prevent any businesses located in the area of Pinehurst village from using the term “Pinehurst” in their business names.