I hadn't intended to write another piece so soon after the latest journey into literary mediocrity but never-the-less found myself typing away at obscure, long forgotten material yet again. I have no idea why. Originally I meant to write about Pine Needles as well as Mid Pines - because they are two of a pair - but it's getting pretty long just going through the minutiae of the latter so we'll just stick to Mid Pines for now. I'm posting the first part if you care to look through it. I'm not exactly sure which direction the rest will go. I just let them wander around for a while until they more or less seem done - so we'll see. Anyway, this is what I have so far.
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The Gem of the SandhillsIn those days travel was a essentially a railroad matter and it was at the Aberdeen depot that the founder of Pinehurst made his first fateful steps into a new world. The original depot is still there. It's still in use, actually. The surrounding landscape looks rather different than it did in his day though.
Another railroad depot just down the line figures into the area story as well. With Pinehurst not having a proper depot Southern Pines became the disembarkation point for tourists taking the overnight from the the severe northern winters. From there they would take a trolley which crawled along the edge of town then followed Midland Road to the Carolina Hotel.
A scandal in the civic life of the area occurred when the Pinehurst establishment placed a large sign on the Southern Pines depot which welcomed the visitors to "Pinehurst Junction". The proud citizens of Southern Pines took great offense and a something of a crisis ensued. The matter was resolved but not until after a spirited dust up occurred between the leaders of the villages. In short order the sign came down and harmony once again reigned under the omnipresent longleaf pines.
It was James Tufts uncommonly dynamic vision which brought a whole new, exotic world to life - in one of the more unlikely places to have such occur. However, having passed away in 1902 the all important golfing aspect of the village was almost entirely realized by the good offices of his son Leonard. The younger Tufts had originally intended to be a mechanical engineer and studied the subject at the nation's premier technical university: M.I.T. Although destiny placed him in an entirely different realm of endeavor it still fully engaged his uncommonly agile intellect. It is unlikely Pinehurst would have attained legendary status without the force of his superior ability to conceive and project on a grand scale.
With a clarity that only hindsight provides, it was a most fortunate collection of elements which combined - with impeccable timing - to create the unique and legendary golfing world. Although such remarkable turns of fate are taken for granted today, the inner mechanics of destiny at work remain mysteries worthy of some consideration. For had the depots not been placed where they were...had James and Leonard Tufts not been as brilliant and industrious as they were...had not a Scotsman of astounding talents not made his epic ocean voyage (with all of $7 in his pocket)...the entire area would have remained the desolate rural backwater it was. Such a rare interwoven combination of factors have been called any number of things through the ages. In the parlance of the time they called it "providence".
And so, the primary individuals responsible for the creation of America's penultimate golfing destination were Leonard Tufts and Donald Ross. Mr. Ross has received due and proper credit for his labors. Those who've penned the histories have included Leonard's name. However, there is no doubt that this man should be featured more prominently among those pages. For it was under his aegis that master courses 2, 3 and 4 were created and developed. He was also highly involved in bringing No. 1 Course to the very well regarded status it ultimately reached.
Leonard's tenure lasted from his father's passing until just before the Depression in 1929. He was involved in virtually every decision. However, Ross and his collaborator Frank Maples would occasionally allow their flaming passions for the craft to override directions which had been handed down by the owner. Thus, rather like mischievous school children there were times here and there where they would simply ignore their instructions and go ahead with modest projects (such as grassing in tee boxes) that Leonard had told them to delay.
Never the less, Tufts, Ross and Maples literally worked hand in hand for decades with every facet of the emerging golfing world. It is the golfing world's eternal good fortune that each was extravagantly talented. With all being gentlemen through and through there were no petty quarrels - although lively debates were known to take place from time to time.
The brilliance of their collective works took little time to be noticed. In fact, the once sleepy village had become quite busy with the frozen hoards making their annual pilgrimages and filling the place to a perpetual capacity. A bustling atmosphere was not exactly what they had envisioned. They had intended all along to present a serene ambiance of subdued elegance. After all, part of the reason people made the trek was for a respite from the incessant cacophony of city life. It was almost unbelievable that even an unprecedented four golfing options for the visitors were not enough. Yet, such was the case. And so, the eyes of Tufts and Ross wandered around the lands adjacent to the resort. As usual Leonard was not hesitant to be decisive and bold. He bought the land. All of it. The 6,000 acre tract went all the way down Midland Road to Pinehurst Junction, or rather Southern Pines.
Tufts wisely let Ross have the run of the lot and let him personally choose the most ideal area for a course. Not just any course, mind you, but one intended as an exquisite national club for some of the more high flying people of finance and American enterprise. The land Ross chose was in a general area known, then as now, as Knollwood. This area straddled both sides of Midland Road roughly equidistant between the towns which emulated the style of the classic New England village.
Midland Road prior to development.
The course of the prominent capitalists became known as Mid Pines. It opened at the dawn of the Jazz Age - 1921 - to raves, profits and a growing membership. There had been no discussion regarding who would design this new addition - nor should their have been. At this point it was entirely clear that Mr. Ross was a supreme master of the craft. With such a stellar clientele and with such a fabulous landscape no one was surprised that the Scottish genius turned out yet another jewel. Even to this day only a handful of addled souls find the course to be anything less than fantastically well done - and of uncommon charm rather than pointedly challenging.
The 223 yard 13th at Mid Pines
As business continued to progress at a phenomenal level the establishment was allowed the liberty of filling out the membership in a highly considered manner. The criteria for admittance to this shining new chapter of the golfing dream world was quite stringent. There was no advertising. In those years Pinehurst requested a note from one's doctor and one's minister prior to granting admission. Fortunately for today's tourists those quaint requirements did not make it to modern times. The selection process for this new club went a good deal beyond even what the main resort insisted upon. It was a very personal selection process which determined who would receive the coveted summons to membership. This process involved Leonard, James Barber (of the Barber Steamship Line, Inc.) and Ross himself. Ross was remarkably interested in the quality of individuals who received access to his area courses - this new one especially. Each potential member was discussed in detail by the powers that be - largely in notes which passed back and forth with some frequency. One invitation was rescinded due to a perceived "nervous disposition" which might cause disquiet among the other members. Another invitation was dismissed because Leonard thought the individual in question exuded a superior air which he found unsuitable for the gentlemanly camaraderie they intended to establish.
Due to his conspicuous association with alcohol, the Canadian founder of Seagrams was almost excluded, as well. Although the teetotaling Ross's aversion to all things alcohol might have made some question his ancestry there was no disputing the fact that his character forged with a rare combination of the practical with the visionary. And thus an exception was made for Mr. Seagrams. However, the records are indeterminate as to whether or not he actually did end up as a member.
Among those who did attain early membership were Thomas E. Wilson (Wilson Sporting Goods), Frank duPont (of Wilmington, DE), L.M. Boomer (who owned New York's Waldorf Astoria), George Dunlap (of Grosset & Dunlap Publishing House) and members of the Reynolds tobacco dynasty.
Such selection processes would draw shrill approbation if carried on today. Actually, such activities are carried on even to this day. However, it is far more sublime with "velvet code words" replacing the overt missives of yesteryear. Certainly, the trends of social customs warrant some measure of consideration lest the larger plot be lost. However, presumptuousness would most likely better be replaced with a fuller understanding of this scenario when it comes to those who loudly pronounce the moral setbacks of their fellow citizens. Almost as a rule those who aggressively point out the supposed character flaws of others are themselves of questionable moral fabric. Never-the-less should such selectivity be permitted at an American club? That controversial subject would be a matter best taken up by someone else in some other narrative. It is presented here just to provide a view of what actually occurred at the time. The significance of the custom is left to the reader.
to be continued
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