[Tom Fagerli]

The 12th is probably my favorite Par 4 at Mid Pines.  The adjective I used the most during my visit was "graceful" as so many holes just "felt" perfect.

I never saw Mid Pines before the restoration work, but I really like what's being done.  One thing I noticed was that the waste areas were much softer than those at #2.  Is that just a function of time?  Will they settle and firm up like the similar areas across town?

Similarly, I'm not sure how many trees were removed, but I really liked views opened up on the first 4-5 holes as compared to Southern Pines.  I love the layout at Southern Pines, but would love some thinning to let me see more of the other holes throughout the round (especially in the 4-8 stretch).

The 12th is an awesome hole. Now with that extra bunker it will make the drive even better. You have to be left off the tee to have any shot at hitting the green (which I am not so sure is what you want to do!). Now you have to avoid the second trap too (or those that can hit it out of their shadow do.) Such great work at MP. If you haven't played it make plans to do so.

[Alex Miller]

Wow! That first hole looks all-world fantastic!

I guess I'm sort of glad I couldn't play here when I was in Pinehurst last year. Now there is a clear excuse to go back sooner rather than later! It really looks amazing.

[Andy Stamm]

Chris,

Thanks! The bunker behind 8 looks so much better, but it probably doesn't see much action. What about the short left bunker?

12 is such a great hole. I thought that might be a great opportunity to open up/expand the left side of the fairway, remove some trees and entice the player to go as far left as possible with the native area as the penalty. I love that green, but the shot is so defensive from anywhere but the left and nearly impossible to keep on the green.

[Tom Fagerli]

Chris,

Thanks! The bunker behind 8 looks so much better, but it probably doesn't see much action. What about the short left bunker?

12 is such a great hole. I thought that might be a great opportunity to open up/expand the left side of the fairway, remove some trees and entice the player to go as far left as possible with the native area as the penalty. I love that green, but the shot is so defensive from anywhere but the left and nearly impossible to keep on the green.

One day a yr or so ago two of us got it up and down for par from right of the 12th green having to come over the bunker. We should have gone in to celebrate! Great hole.

[Norbert P]

 Here's the revitalized par 3, 13th . . .

[Norbert P]

 A new back bunker on 14.

[Norbert P]

My favorite short par 4 in the world is #4 at Mid-Pines.

4th (Not a very good camera shot. Please use the slide bar under the picture for full span.)

[RJ_Daley]

It looks like ya done good, boys.

BTW, Does Mid-Pines still have an all world great brunch on Sundays? 

[Tom Fagerli]

It looks like ya done good, boys.

BTW, Does Mid-Pines still have an all world great brunch on Sundays? 

Yes and it is even better! The food at both facilities has taken a quantum leap forward in the last year IMO.

[Tom ORourke]

This looks great. I have played here a few times and always shot pretty low and did not think it was in the same class as Pine Needles, or as good as Southern Pines. My opinion will change. Looking forward to getting back there.

[Chris Buie]

Here are a few photos from yesterdays round.

Greenside bunker on 4.


Another of the greenside bunker on 5.


The 6th hole.


They are putting in several back tees. It's going to be over 6,700 when finished.

[Scott Weersing]

Do they overseed in the winter at Mid Pines because the course looks very green for bermuda grass?

[Bill_McBride]

 Here's the revitalized par 3, 13th . . .

Slagster, I don't recall that much tilt on that green.  Was slope added?

Great looking work. 

[Jaeger Kovich]

Do they overseed in the winter at Mid Pines because the course looks very green for bermuda grass?

yes

[Jaeger Kovich]

Do they overseed in the winter at Mid Pines because the course looks very green for bermuda grass?

yes

 Here's the revitalized par 3, 13th . . .

Slagster, I don't recall that much tilt on that green.  Was slope added?

Great looking work. 

NO... the green will be expanded over the summer though

[Chris Buie]

A few more photos from yesterday. It was a 2 club wind at times.







Here's some old Mid Pines stuff you might find interesting.

From the "Youngstown Vindicator" on opening week - 1921:


From 1952


From 1948


From an early Pinehurst Outlook Magazine.


Here's the view from the 16th tee (two photos stitched together). It's scrollable.

[Joe_Tucholski]

Here's some old Mid Pines stuff you might find interesting.

From the "Youngstown Vindicator" on opening week - 1921:

I thought it was interesting the article referred to #3 as the dreaded (I interpret difficult) championship course at Pinehurst.

[Chris Buie]

At the time both No. 3 and Mid Pines were both considered to be rather beastly.
Mid Pines was built originally as a high flying national club - a place for certain people to have a private environment away from the very busy Pinehurst courses. Ross built MP to challenge the best - but he also accommodated the members who were not necessarily the sharpest players. How did he do this? He built "a course within a course".
That two tiered approach to design is examined to a degree in some of the early articles. The level of his thinking was really quite something.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Fantatstic work gents, that looks marvelous, what an improvement.

[Norbert P]

 Chris, thanks for the fine picts (esp. the cool pano of 15 and 16) and history.  I get a kick out of the last sentiment . . .


 
. . .  "It costs $2,500 to become a member of the club.  The membership is to be strictly

limited and it is hoped that everybody won't speak at once."

[hhuffines]

I got a chance to play Mid Pines last week and really enjoyed it.  Was the bunker behind 14 green drawn by Ross?  Will they be planting grasses on the sides of tee boxes that are now bare sand?  Was there any thought to changing #9 significantly, like making it driveable?

Thanks again to those involved, it's going to be special!

[Norbert P]

. . .  1. Was the bunker behind 14 green drawn by Ross?  
       2. Will they be planting grasses on the sides of tee boxes that are now bare sand?
       3. Was there any thought to changing #9 significantly, like making it driveable?
...

  1.  No, but, on a dark and stormy night, during a full moon, and swamp dogs howling, we held a seance and summoned up the spirit of Donald Ross to get advice on the restoration, but his only reply, on that night,  was . . . "Laddies, where do you keep your Scotch?".   I have a suspicion that the resurrected Ross may have possessed the mind of Kyle Franz to update his beloved Mid Pines to today's game. Or perhaps it was the ghost of Captain Ahab.
  2.  Probably.
  3.  If a big hitter can clear the trees, they can. I believe the club pro, Graham, when possessed by the spirit of Julius Boros, can reach it on occasion. BTW, that 9th green complex and its bunkers will be restored this summer.

[Jaeger Kovich]

. . .  1. Was the bunker behind 14 green drawn by Ross?  
       2. Will they be planting grasses on the sides of tee boxes that are now bare sand?
       3. Was there any thought to changing #9 significantly, like making it driveable?
...

  1.  No, but, on a dark and stormy night, during a full moon, and swamp dogs howling, we held a seance and summoned up the spirit of Donald Ross to get advice on the restoration, but his only reply, on that night,  was . . . "Laddies, where do you keep your Scotch?".   I have a suspicion that the resurrected Ross may have possessed the mind of Kyle Franz to update his beloved Mid Pines to today's game. Or perhaps it was the ghost of Captain Ahab.
  2.  Probably.
  3.  If a big hitter can clear the trees, they can. I believe the club pro, Graham, when possessed by the spirit of Julius Boros, can reach it on occasion. BTW, that 9th green complex and its bunkers will be restored this summer.

HAHA awesome.. gotta love a good 'ole swamp dog reference!

[Norbert P]

 
  Approach from left on 15th.

[Norbert P]

 Right bunker at 15th green.

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