Restoring Pinehurst’s
‘Great Mystery Area’
MIKE PURKEY
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA | Messing
with a masterpiece takes a healthy mea-
sure of the courage of your convictions.
Not only are reputations on the line, but
the alteration of history is threatened in the
bargain.
Coore and Crenshaw pored over old
photographs – aerial and ground level – of
Pinehurst No. 2 that have been cared for
lovingly over the years at the Tufts Archives
in Pinehurst. Both say that the extensive
riches of history at the Archives enabled
them to do exactly the right thing.
“We imagine that Mr. Ross looked at this
land and thought this was pretty good for
golf,” Coore said. “He thought if he could
establish some turf from which to play, this
would make the perfect rough. It’s not so
penal but it affords variety and opportunity
for recovery.
“It’s our belief that perhaps it was a bit
better, a bit more interesting in its original
form.”
This idea didn’t germinate from Coore
and Crenshaw. It came from Pinehurst offi-
cials. “Over a period of time the course had
gotten away from its character, from its
heart and soul that Ross intended it to be,”
said Don Padgett II, president of Pinehurst
Resort.
“The heavy Bermuda rough is not some-
thing I think he envisioned. We’re trying to
bring that back to its original design that is
in keeping with the history and tradition of
the property.”
Therein lies the debate: Will the playing
integrity for elite players be maintained
as the result of this restoration? Will U.S.
Open players find it easier to play from the
sandy areas than they would from four-inch
Bermuda rough?
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