The most eloquent description of the contrast between Pinehurst and Southern Pines was written by novelist James Boyd. Although he wrote it in 1925 it still rings true - even though the letter is comedic. He penned it after a writer for The News & Observer newspaper in Raleigh mistakenly characterized Boyd as a resident of Pinehurst.
Dear Sir,
At a single stroke your powerful newspaper has destroyed my happiness and ruined my reputation. Although for nearly thirty years I have been a citizen of Southern Pines, you describe me as coming from Pinehurst. The difference is immense.
Pinehurst is a resort visited by golfers; Southern Pines is a town inhabited by foxhunters. In the summer, Pinehurst ceases to exist. It is merely a village haunted by the ghost of departed golfers. But all the year round, Southern Pines may be seen vigorously flourishing, its noble civic life distinguished by sectarian disputes, town dogs, corner loafers, Kiwanians, caucuses, tax-dodgers, bootleggers, deadbeats, rummage sales, lawsuits, chiropractors, literary gents, beauty shoppes and all the other attributes of organized metropolitan society.
You can, therefore, conceive my grief at your misapprehension. Especially when I tell you I am a foxhunter, and that all foxhunters are ex-officio Nature’s noblemen whose luster no amount of lying, liquor and vaingloriousness can dim. If it could, that luster would have dimmed long ago.
Golf, on the other hand, is merely the most expensive and depressing form of pedestrianism. It renders its victims on the one hand gloomy and self-pitying, and, on the other, tediously and interminably loquacious. I know of no other practice, except the purchase and consumption of bad liquor, wherein good money can be spent for so pitiable a result.
From all this, you can see the wrong you have done me, and when I add that I never visit Raleigh without making your newspaper office into my social club where I try to persuade your City Editor, your Special Writers, your Staff Correspondents and reporters, and the sons of your distinguished owner to desert their labors of getting out the paper and listen to my tales of foxhunting, you will feel, as I do, that you have made me a mighty sorry return.
I am, Truly Yours,
James Boyd
Like I said, the letter still sort of rings true. Even now SP is more equestrian than golf oriented. Still most people would tell you it is preferable to Pinehurst as a place to live.
Oh, by the way, Boyd had his own private 9 hole course in Southern Pines.