For more than 125 years, Pinehurst Resort has been hailed affectionately as the Cradle of American Golf. It’s a reputation that comes as a longtime steward of the game. For decades in the early 20th century, golfers visited Pinehurst and were charmed at what they found here, returning to their homes and founding clubs in their hopes of expanding the game.
“Pinehurst absolutely was the pioneer in American golf,” proclaimed famed golf course architect Donald Ross, who made Pinehurst his home after arriving in 1901. “While golf had been played in a few places before Pinehurst was established, it was right here in these sandhills that the first great national movement in golf was started. Men came here, took a few golf lessons, bought a few clubs and went away determined to organize clubs.”
It helped that Ross designed what many consider to be his masterwork, Pinehurst No. 2, where, over time, more golf championships have been contested than any other site in America.
But, like many of the on-site improvements Pinehurst has made across the Resort since the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open were played on consecutive weeks 10 years ago in 2014, there may never be a better time at Pinehurst than the next 25 years to witness the pinnacles of golf, both in the professional and amateur game. It starts with this week’s playing of the 124th U.S. Open, and it will most certainly continue.
In September of 2020, the United States Golf Association announced Pinehurst as the U.S. Open’s first Anchor Site, rewarding the Resort that had hosted three previous U.S. Opens and the U.S. Women’s Open with five total U.S. Open dates. While the 2024 playing had already been announced, four additional U.S. Open Championships on Pinehurst No. 2 were put into place – 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. A later announcement revealed that No. 2 would also host the 2029 U.S. Women’s Open, the first time the two major championships would be contested back-to-back since 2014.
“The USGA and Pinehurst Resort have a deep and storied history of partnering to foster the game of golf and crown its greatest champions,” said Bob Dedman, Jr, CEO of Pinehurst Resort. “We are honored to be selected as the U.S. Open’s first Anchor Site, an unprecedented distinction and testament to Pinehurst No. 2’s legacy and future as a championship test for the world’s greatest golfers.”
That was just the beginning. Even for a place that has hosted the North & South men’s and women’s Amateurs since 1901 and 1903, respectively, as well as the 1936 PGA Championship, the 1951 Ryder Cup and myriad PGA Tour events.
In October 2023, the USGA announced that Pinehurst will serve as the host for six more prestigious USGA championships in the coming years. These events include the 2027 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 2032 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior, 2038 U.S. Amateur, 2044 U.S. Women’s Amateur and a future U.S. Adaptive Open. The 2027 and 2044 U.S. Women’s Amateurs and 2038 U.S. Amateur will be held on Pinehurst No. 2, with the remaining championship’s courses to be determined at a later date.
Listing the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open dates with these championships, it becomes clear just how much of a home for signature golf championships Pinehurst remains to be. There is no more than a 3-year gap between notable championships:
Future USGA Championships at Pinehurst:
2024 U.S. Open
2027 U.S. Women’s Amateur
2029 U.S. Women’s Open
2029 U.S. Open
2032 U.S. Girls’ Junior
2032 U.S. Junior Amateur
2035 U.S. Open
2038 U.S. Amateur
2041 U.S. Open
2044 U.S. Women’s Amateur
2047 U.S. Open
TBD U.S. Adaptive Open
Between 2014-2024, Pinehurst was the site of other USGA championships, including the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship, the first two playings of the U.S. Adaptive Open in 2022 and 2023.
“Bringing more championships to a venue like Pinehurst is a testament to the USGA’s commitment to our long-term partnership with the Resort and our promise of expanding the presence of our organization in the area,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “Pinehurst’s rich golfing heritage and commitment to excellence make it the perfect setting for all of the USGA’s world-class events. Their commitment to our Open championships is incredible, and now we are able to shine a light on the amateur game here as well.”
“We are honored and thrilled to welcome these USGA championships to our historic venue in the years to come and this continues to help us achieve our goal of hosting a variety of premier championships,” Dedman said. “This continued partnership with the USGA reflects our shared dedication to the game of golf and the bright future we envision together.”