| The Golf Capital of the World |
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The Village of Pinehurst, Southern Pines and their surrounding communities have over 648 holes of golf (with 54 holes on the drawing board) and 150 miles or 2,600 football fields of fairways for golfers to enjoy. The area's climate, which is milder and drier year-round than the surrounding areas, is a result of its unique combination of sandy soil, its elevation (600 feet above sea level at some points) and its protection by the Appalachian Mountains. The geographic designation describing this ecosystem is, "Sandhills." Cool green longleaf and loblolly pines are especially at home in this region, with round-the-calendar color provided by dogwood, azaleas, magnolias, camellias, hollies and other flora. Area residents are accustomed to spotting a variety of bird and wildlife near their homes, including quail, deer, rabbits, opossums and foxes. This "land of the pine," which includes two large nature preserves is also home to such fascinating species as the insectivorous pitcher plant and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (which has several natural protective habitats, many on golf courses). The Village of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area is used to train and qualify Olympic bicycle teams and is the home of five past Olympic equestrian champions. For years the area has been a significant center for the training of the country's finest standard bred harness horses, trotters and pacers, as well as hunting, racing and steeplechase thoroughbreds. The area's Carriage Driving Club, one of the largest in the U.S., sponsors frequent colorful exhibitions and competitions. The Pinehurst Resort and Country Club's eight golf courses makes it the world's largest golf resort and the only single resort in the world with that many courses. Pinehurst No. 2 was the site of both the 1999 and 2005 US Open Golf Championship. The North and South Amateur Championships, which began in Pinehurst in 1901, are the longest consecutively running golf championship in the country. The area's Sandhills Community College, North Carolina's first comprehensive community college, offers several unique programs. One is a landscape gardening program, whose graduates have found notable jobs as horticulturists including the White House. It also offers a continuing education class in golf packaging/servicing - the only one of its kind in the country. The area is conveniently located between Charlotte and Raleigh in south-central North Carolina, with easy access from Interstates 95, 85 and 40 and direct access from U.S. 1, U.S. 15-501, N.C. 211, NC. 2 and N.C. 5. Commercial air service is available by USAir through Charlotte and Raleigh, with 3-5 round-trip flights daily connecting Charlotte to the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen airport. Amtrak service is also available at the Southern Pines station, providing daily connections from the North (New York) and South (Miami or Tampa). Sandhills ClimateLocated 500 feet above sea level, and sheltered from the cold air of the Great Plains by the Appalachian Mountains, Pinehurst is blessed with a mild, dry climate that´s pleasant year-round. Thanks to an upper layer of sand, the earth warms and cools rapidly, so warm days, cool nights and low humidity are the norm. Consequently, there are few days when you won´t be comfortable playing golf or tennis, or just strolling one if the many wonderful areas of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and their neighboring communities.
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| Last Updated on Sunday, 21 February 2010 07:06 |
