When the first phase of the USGA’s Golf House Pinehurst opens this December, visitors will be greeted by the wishes of a thousand loyal fans with a chance to make golf history.
Members of the USGA’s Presidents’ Circle — those who donate $1,000 or more to the USGA’s mission to champion and advance the game — are being given a once-in-a-century opportunity this year to have a brick engraved and placed on the memorial walkway in front of Golf House Pinehurst. The pathway will connect its two signature buildings — the Equipment Testing/Administration Center and the USGA Experience/World Golf Hall of Fame — right in the heart of the six-acre campus.
Stu Francis, past president of the USGA, was one of the first donors to dedicate a brick and start the national donor campaign.
“This was an easy choice for my family. The game of golf and the USGA have given so much to me, my family and the game,” said Francis. “To know I can visit Pinehurst 20 years from now and see the lasting impact is special to all of us.”
To date, 500 of the 1,000 available pathway bricks have been dedicated, with the goal of filling the remainder by the end of 2023. Individual donors have three 20-character lines to fill with family names, dates or wishes. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be invested back into golf, dedicated to programs that grow the game, preserve golf history, ensure the legacy of amateur competitions, drive sustainability and ensure accessibility.
“The dedications are inspiring and remind us of why we love this game,” said Charlie Pagnam, chief philanthropy officer and head of the USGA Foundation. “Parents are leaving a legacy for their children, golfers are paying homage to their first golf coach, individuals lost but never to be forgotten are all a part of this walkway. It is our intention that it serves as a point of inspiration and reflection, of hope and the amazing power of golf to connect us all in one big community. Through it, we’re both giving back and paying it forward in a unique and powerful way.”
The USGA announced in 2020 that it would build Golf House Pinehurst, a satellite six-acre campus dedicated to golf innovation, research, celebration and program development on the grounds of historic Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. The resort, which has hosted 10 USGA national championships, leased the property to the USGA for a 150-year term, signaling the long-standing friendship between the two organizations. The USGA broke ground in 2022, and construction phases remain on schedule.
Located at 3 Carolina Vista Drive, Golf House Pinehurst will be the permanent home of the USGA Experience/World Golf Hall of Fame museum, the USGA’s golf equipment testing center, as well as the USGA’s Green Section, the world’s foremost experts in turf grass research, golf course sustainability and course consulting.
The campus will also include a restoration of the historic pine grove (The Grove), a living learning lab and pollinator garden (The Glade) and offices for the Open Championships, player development, handicapping and other USGA core departments, which will all open this December.
For more information on Golf House Pinehurst or the Presidents’ Circle, see usga.org/pcbrick. Donations to the USGA are tax deductible and can be combined with any USGA membership level.
Feature photo: The future Golf House Pinehurst. Photo by Sandhills Sentinel photographer Melissa Schaub.
Contributed.
