Here's what you need to know about navigating Pinehurst during Open

The U.S. Open Championship will be held at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club from June 10 to June 16.

This information provided by the Village of Pinehurst’s website is intended to help visitors and residents alike find the information they need to make the week of June 10 through the 16 easy, pleasant, and one to remember.  

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has also prepared a 2024 U.S. Open Fan Information guide.

2024 U.S. Open Showcase

The Village of Pinehurst and the USGA announced plans for the U.S. Open Showcase which includes interactive programming and spectator entertainment during the upcoming U.S. Open Championship. Residents and visitors are invited to participate in the U.S. Open Showcase in the heart of the Village at Tufts Park. The U.S. Open Showcase will include six days of special events with free admission to the public including live musical performances, a family-friendly film, and interactive golf experiences. These events are intended to ensure both residents and visitors enjoy a memorable experience, Village businesses prosper, and guests leave wanting to return to the Village of Pinehurst.

Find out more information about the festival’s U.S. Open Showcase.

Village Merchants are “Open for the Open”

During the day, the Village Center is “Open for the Open.” Businesses are ready to serve you and out-of-town guests. The Village has made parking as easy as possible during the U.S. Open in the Village Center. Business District on-street public parking and the Village Green parking lot will be available for up to three hours. Overflow parking will be available at 55 Rattlesnake Trail until 5 p.m. with free shuttle service to the Village Green. After 5 p.m., visitors should park at Cannon Park, where again, complimentary shuttles will take guests to the Village Green. Roads in the Village Core will remain open during the day, and very limited road closures will only be made on Wednesday and Saturday evenings to facilitate the scheduled programming. 

For additional information on businesses visit the Villages’s Downtown Pinehurst Business Map.

Local business owners looking for the latest information on downtown activities and issues can check out the 2024 U.S. Open Downtown Business Information page.

George P. Lane Welcome Center Prepares for Visitors

The George P. Lane Welcome Center will have its doors open and friendly volunteers ready to greet visitors and residents during the U.S. Open Championship. The Welcome Center is located inside the Theatre Building, 90 Cherokee Road, Suite 1A. Operating hours will be expanded during the time period of June 10-16 and will be open from 10 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 16. The Welcome Center will also be hosting a Welcome Tent on the Village green to better greet visitors are provide information about local shops and restaurants, items of interest in the surrounding area, history of the Village, and details about the U.S. Open Showcase events in Tufts Park. The Welcome Tent will be open from 11 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Residents and guests are invited to visit the Welcome Center or Welcome Tent to learn more about the Village of Pinehurst and the exciting activities being held in our community. More information about the Welcome Center can be found here.

Residential Regulations

The week of the U.S. Open Championship is a time of excitement and fun. With all that fun, please make sure that you abide by regulations and Village ordinances. This includes excessive noise and the use and rental of private residential homes for lodging and hospitality. Learn more about residential regulations.

Village Services Will Continue During the U.S. Open Championship

Regular municipal services in Pinehurst will continue during the week of the U.S. Open Championship. This includes fire, police, solid waste collection, recycling, yard debris collection, and building inspections. The Village Hall will be open, and Village personnel will be on duty as usual. Village staff intends to carry on with business as usual for the citizens of Pinehurst.

Please remember to store your solid waste carts in the designated locations in a timely manner to keep the Village looking pristine, especially for the week when Pinehurst is on the world stage.

Parks and Recreation Facilities

The Village of Pinehurst Parks and Recreation facilities will have limited availability during the weeks of the U.S. Open Championship. Camelot Playground will be open in Cannon Park as will part of the parking lot closest to the playground. The Wicker Park hockey rink, playground, and tennis/pickleball courts will also be open but only for walk-in patrons. No parking will be available. The splash pad will be closed for the week of the U.S. Open. Summer camps will continue to be held at the Community Center, but parents/guardians must drop off attendees—they will not be allowed to park and come into the building. Staff will meet camp participants at the curb.

Transportation, Parking, Golf Carts, and Gates

Transportation and Parking: 

In conjunction with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Village of Pinehurst Police Department and other local and state agencies, the United States Golf Association has developed a parking and transportation plan for the historic U.S. Open Championship. The plan was designed to ensure the safe and efficient movement of traffic and pedestrians during the championship.

Moore County residents should utilize one of two satellite parking areas unless they can walk to the championship or reach one of three golf cart parking areas. Residents can also make use of the Taxi/Limo/Passenger drop-off at the former site of the World Golf Hall of Fame located off of NC- 2. Access to the Taxi/Limo/Passenger drop-off is limited to vehicles no larger than 15 passengers. Parking in the Village of Pinehurst will be closely monitored, and parking regulations will be strictly enforced. There will be no championship parking for general spectators within the Village of Pinehurst.

For the week of the U.S. Open, complimentary parking will be available in two general spectator parking lots.

*Spectators residing north of NC-211 and NC-2/ Midland Road are encouraged to utilize The RED Lot (North). The RED Lot will be accessible from US-15/501 via NC-73 West. From NC-73 West, follow signage to the parking lot.

*Spectators residing south of NC-2 and east of NC-5 should use the BLUE Lot (South). Traffic should follow US-1 South to Roseland Road and follow signage to the parking lot.

*Residents south of NC-211 and west of NC-5 should follow NC-5 South to US-15/501 and US-1 South to utilize the BLUE Lot (South).

A total of 130 buses will provide complimentary transportation from the RED Lot and BLUE Lot each day. Shuttles will operate from each parking lot from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the week. More than 100 NC State Highway Patrol officers, along with local law enforcement agencies, will be posted throughout the area to ensure a safe and efficient flow of traffic.

Ride share services, passenger, taxi or limousine drop-offs will only be allowed at the designated area located off Midland Road (NC-2) near the traffic circle, which is a short walk to Gate 6. There is no parking or staging for vehicles, so please coordinate pick-up times accordingly. Please follow directional signs and parking attendants to the appropriate pick-up and drop-off location. Due to traffic restrictions, access is limited to vehicles no larger than a 15-passenger van or limousine.

Ride share vehicles are NOT permitted to pick-up or drop-off at any other location around the Championship grounds. All other U.S. Open parking is by permit and parking pass only.

Due to U.S. Open traffic, delays can be expected during peak arrival and departure times (7-11 a.m. and 3:30-7:30 p.m.). Shuttle traffic is expected to be heavy along the primary routes in and around Pinehurst Resort and Country Club.

Golf Cart Parking:

Local residents living in close proximity to Pinehurst Resort and Country Club may use one of three golf cart-designated parking areas:

*For residents who live west of NC-5, parking will be located on Course No. 5 hole 18 fairway. Guests will park and walk to cross NC-5/Cradle Crossing and enter through Gate 10.

*For residents on Course No.7, golf cart parking is available via Brookhaven Road. Guests should park and walk towards the green of hole 9 of Course No. 2 and enter through Gate 5.

*For residents of Doral Woods and Monticello Road, golf cart parking will be provided on the 3rd hole of Course No. 1. Guests should park and enter through the main gate—Gate 1.

*For residents living north of the Pinehurst Traffic Circle (Village Acres of Pinehurst and Pinehurst No. 6) golf cart parking will be available at the former site of the World Golf Hall of Fame near the traffic circle. Guests should park and enter through Gate 6.

*Private golf carts will not be allowed on the championship grounds.

Admission Gates: There will be three public admission gates for ticket holders to access the course. Gate 1 will be the main admission gate located off Morganton Road near the Harness Track. All spectators utilizing the general spectator parking lots will enter through this gate. Gate 8 will be located on club property on Carolina Vista Drive. Gate 6 will be located at the Taxi/Limo/ Passenger Drop-Off at the former site of the World Golf Hall of Fame off of Midland Road (NC-2).

Temporary Ordinances for the 2024 U.S. Open Championship

The Pinehurst Village Council recently passed several temporary ordinances that will be in effect during the U.S. Open Championship.

Pinehurst Social District (Open Container Law)

During June 10-16, possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the Village’s temporary social district as identified on the adopted map. A map of the area where open containers will be allowed, and additional information can be found here.

 3-Hour Parking Restriction

A new 3-hour public parking time limit will be enforced in the Village Center from June 10-16 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Violators will be fined $50 for exceeding these time limits and will be strictly enforced. The Village Green parking lot will also be restricted to three hours. However, as mentioned earlier, overflow parking with shuttle service will be available at 55 Rattlesnake Trail. This overflow lot will not be time limited.

No Parking on Certain Roads and Roads Closing

The Village of Pinehurst has established an on-street parking prohibition on the listed roads during the timeframe of the U.S. Open Championship. This is to prevent cars from parking along the roads in the neighborhoods that are within close proximity of the event. Existing designated parking spaces along these streets will remain available for parking.

These roads are: Azalea Road, Campbell Road, Cherokee Road, Chinquapin Road, Community Road, Craig Road, Dalyrmple Road, Dundee Road, Everett Road, Fields Road, Kelly Road, Laurel Road, Magnolia Road, McIntyre Road (Woods Road to Short Road), Monticello Drive (Hwy #5 to Blake Blvd.), Palmetto Road, Shaw Road SE, Short Road (East and West of Page Road), and Woods Road. 

Also, certain roads throughout the Village located within close proximity of the U.S. Open Championship will be closed to thru-traffic as requested by the USGA. The intersection of Pine Tree Road and NC-5 will be closed beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 9. Access to and from Pine Tree Road will only be allowed from St Andrews Road. Residents of condominium complexes with driveway access off of Pine Tree Road will be issued a resident pass by their condo association to access their homes during this time.

Morganton Road will be closed from NC-5 to Doral Drive beginning at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 9. All residents living west of the Morganton Road/ Monticello Drive intersection will be issued a resident parking pass. Parking passes must be visible to law enforcement officers in order to proceed through the Morganton Road/Monticello Drive intersection. There will be no thru traffic or access to Morganton Road from NC-5 during the championships. Monticello Drive will serve as the detour route.

Health, Wellness and Safety

Pinehurst is a wonderful and safe place. However, large-scale events can be a target for criminals. Don’t make it easy for them. Please lock your valuables and take typical precautions. Law enforcement officers from countless agencies will be in the Village during the US Open. If you have an emergency, please call 911.

Summer temperatures in the Village of Pinehurst often exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit.  Please remember to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun.

Lastly, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital is located at 155 Memorial Drive, Pinehurst. Additionally, first aid stations are available both on the Course and in Tufts Park. Again, if there is an emergency, please call 911. 

To watch the Village Council discussion on this topic, please click here.

Feature photo by Sandhills Sentinel photographer Wendy Hodges.

Contributed.