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Driving in and around the Village
of Pinehurst for the first time is an awe-inspiring experience for any serious golfer. With narrow, winding roads guarded
by towering long leaf pines and blazing azaleas and flanked by the undulating fairways of Donald Ross’s fabled masterpiece,
known simply as Pinehurst No. 2; this is an appropriate setting for the historic community that justifiably bills itself as
the “home of American golf.” Today, with a golfing
heritage that can be traced back to the late 1890ís when James Tufts first purchased the land and hired Frederick Olmstead,
who had designed New York City’s Central Park, to lay out the streets of Pinehurst and then imported Ross to oversee
the operation of his golf club; the region has grown into one of the pre-eminent golfing destinations in the world…an
enclave where history and tradition have come together with a unique landscape to create an interesting collection of quaint
southern villages with quiet, country lanes and world class resorts . Anchored by the venerable Pinehurst Resort and bolstered
by the addition of almost fifty other courses, Pinehurst and the Sandhills, which includes neighboring Southern Pines and
Aberdeen, offer an array of golfing venues that many consider to be the best in the world. For many, it is not golf that has attracted them to the Sandhills, but rather the area’s reputation
as an equestrian center. Many large horse farms are located in Southern Pines, where several outlying roads have been left
unpaved to accommodate riders. Several equestrian events are annual affairs, and the Pinehurst Harness Track serves as a major
training facility for a number of harness horses each year. An
increasing influx of new residents has been moving into the area for several years, but the pace of growth is no where near
as fast and furious as some Carolina coastal areas, such as Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head. In fact, the slower, laid-back
lifestyle enjoyed by the residents of Pinehurst and surrounding environs is in stark contrast to that prevalent in many other
popular golfing destinations. Here, it can truly be said, is a place where the experience of golf can still be enjoyed and
savored the way it was meant to be…at a relaxed and tranquil pace. While there are many expensive and luxurious homes
lining the fairways, homesites can still be purchased in some locations at very affordable prices. Specialty
shops in both Pinehurst and Southern Pines offer a variety of unique and interesting merchandise, and any lack of variety
can be remedied by the larger shops found in the nearby metropolitan areas of Raleigh and Charlotte, which are within a one
and two-hour drive respectively. The quality and availability of medical care is first class, with the facilities of Moore Regional Medical Center having been constantly improved
and upgraded. Population: Pinehurst (9700) Southern Pines
(10,900) Median Home Value: $185,000 Climate: January average low (30') July average high (90')
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