Pinewild in the Village of Pinehurst has appointed Janell Paris as Director of Fun, a newly created role focused on bringing members together and making everyday life at the Club more enjoyable.
Paris joins Pinewild from Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in Colorado Springs, where she led membership programming and signature events ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale experiences for hundreds of members and guests.
Her appointment reflects a broader idea guiding Pinewild’s evolution: when the basics are taken care of, members have more time for the things they actually want to do. That might mean golf, fitness, dinner with friends, time with family, or simply spending more time at the club.
“Having a Director of Fun gets to the heart of what we’re building at Pinewild,” said Chris Card, CEO of Pinewild. “Amenities matter, but the member experience matters more. Our job is to take care of the details so members can spend more time enjoying themselves and each other. Once you start thinking that way, a role like Director of Fun makes a lot of sense.”
The hire comes as Pinewild continues a major period of investment. Construction is underway on an approximately $20 million clubhouse renovation and new Athletic Center, Azalea Place continues to grow as the club’s new luxury residential neighborhood, and Director of Agronomy Curtis Proctor, formerly of Pinehurst Resort, is entering his second year leading Pinewild’s golf course operations.
Paris will focus on creating moments that bring members together, both planned and spontaneous, while working across the club to help make the member experience consistent, welcoming, and easy.
Known for her hands-on approach, Paris has built a reputation for showing up in memorable ways, often with costumes in the back of her golf cart and an idea for how to make an ordinary day a little more fun.
“Fun is about more than a single event. It’s the feeling you get every time you’re here,” said Paris. “If it’s easy, if it feels genuine, if you actually want to come back the next day, that’s what we’re trying to create. I’m excited to join an already exceptional team and build on what they deliver to members every day here in the Home of American Golf.”
Paris’s background in member programming and events made her a natural fit for Pinewild as the club continues to put greater emphasis on the day-to-day member experience.
“Pinewild is entering a new phase with the clubhouse renovation, a reinvigorated golf experience, and new families joining the Club through Azalea Place,” said Card. “But at the end of the day, those investments are about how people live here. We want Pinewild to be a place where it is easy to spend time with friends, try something new, stay active, and enjoy where you live. Janell will help us build more of that into everyday life at the club.”
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Contributed article. Photo by Sandhills Sentinel photographer Melissa Schaub.
