fwm,
You can take a backhanded swipe at Pinehurst in terms of your comments about Pinehurst benefitting from amateur events being staged here. If you look behind the numbers, the number of discounted rooms and meal plans that the resort gains is meager and not terribly profitable. As to your swipe about the U.S. Open; if Pinehurst was really that greedy, they would host PGA Championships as opposed to Opens as PGA's provide a far more substantial cut to the clubs where the USGA pretty much takes all.
Good for you caddying at No. 8 and holding a 5-handicap BUT, when I see SCRATCH junior players struggling on No. 8 with 100 degree heat and concrete greens, please don't tell me that it can't hold up to a challenge by amateurs. Your love afair with No. 2 as being the be all end all at Pinehurst and the reason why amaeur would come to Pinehurst is uninformed. Amateurs are seeking events where thay can play other top ranked golfers regardless of what club it's played at. Frankly, the N&S would still be the N&S if all but the final two matches were played on No. 2. Call me crazy but, No.7 is a far more difficult course to navigate (under non US Open conditions) than No. 2 is. Even the setup for the US Am was easier than that of No.7 in the same week.
As far as your comment about exemtions, they occur in every major amateur event including the U.S. Amateur. Additionally, as fickle as match play is, the exempt ams into match play still face the issue of one round and go home. Most of the first round matches are highly contested. Your argument here doesn't hold water.
The N&S has very much sunk in stature as compared to its peers and a large part of it is format and the schlep down in Pinehurst. This year, the Western AM will host the TOP four rank amateurs in the WORLD including Patrick Cantlay, Tom Lewis, Jordan Speith and Russell Henley. The Western will be played at a very average but nice track (not No.2 by any means), North Shore CC. outside Chicago. The field will also include an international field of Amateurs. David Chung, runner up in last year's Western is competing again this year. I haven't heard that he's returning home this year to play in the N&S....probably not. Argue as you may BUT, the N&S has really fallen in stature and Pinehurst is trying to right the issue by coming into modern times.
You and the other romantics can keep on harping about the past and tradition until the N&S is just another amateur event or you can come to the realization that the format needs to change in order to compete with other high ranked amateur events. Pinehurst is making constructive changes to ensure its future as one of the top SEVERAL amateur events. I applaud them for it.
Being a former caddy and a writer for a small town rag entitles you to your opinion, but does not the facts.
The format change is not about economics for Pinehurst but rather strength of field. It's been difficult to draw top level college players if there is only one round of stroke play. It's make the cut or go home. With two guranteed rounds with a possible three rounds provides amateurs more of a reason to trek down to Pinehurst. The North and South has been struggling with strength of field for a number of years compared to the other amateur "majors" across the U.S. Examples of other prestigious amateurs:
Western Am - 36 stroke play, cut to 44, 36 holes stroke play, cut to 16 for match play;
Northeast Am - 4 rounds stroke play
Southern Am - 4 rounds stroke play
Rice Planters - 4 rounds stroke play
Met Amateur - 2 rounds stroke play, cut to 16 then match play (64 player field)
Eastern Am - 4 rounds stroke play
Dixie Am - 3 rounds stroke play
It is a problem for amateurs to schlep down to Pinehurst with a really good chance that they might only get one competitive round. This chamnge in format brings the N&S into the modern era of competitive golf. Most all the above tournaments, with the exception of Rice Planters, are played on different courses every year.
Don't discount the No. 8 as a great venue for amateurs, especially in summer. I've watched the N&S Junior played on the No. 8 course in hot and windy weather. The greens complexes, in my opinion, were more severe than No.2's during the same tournament. I've also seen the Pinehurst Intercollegiate played on No. 8. Even with softer conditions, many contestants looked foolish at one time or another. I watched a U.S. Publinx Champion shank a shot out of a fairway bunker on the back 9!
I understand Mr. Tufts original vision for the N&S but amateur golf has changed significantly over the past 20-years. Without these changes, the N&S risks becoming marginalized and a relic of the past.
I have been critical in the past about Pinehurst. Nonetheless, Pinehurst still remains one of the greatest supporters of amateur golf in this country with the N&S series of amateur events, the Donald Ross Junior, Pinehurst Winternational Junior Series,and the Pinehurst Intercollegiate. Additionally, Pinehurst has been the home of at least one division of the NCHSAA Golf Championships (held on quality courses such as #'s 4, 6 and 8). Finally, Pinehurst has been a HUGE sponsor of Pinecrest's golf team allowing them the use of facilities for practice and matches as well as providing uniforms footwear etc. to the team. Pinehurst also contributed one of its assistant professionals to coach Pinecrest.
To paint Pinehurst as being a "Scrooge" is unfair first of all and uninformed second.
A number of other activities activate that portion of the brain including playing music and performin kata in Japanese Karate. Additionanally, the writing portion of the SAT has been a matter of great contoversey as many academics believe that the writing portion of the exam can be "gamed". Many top universities have stopped using the writing portion of the SAT because of this issue. Sorry for getting off subject..... I would be careful to draw any sort of conclusions coming from that portion of the exam.
As a result of the above, I can't support your opinion on cursive writing.
Handy,
Thanks for the clarification. I don't see the rub between BSMC and SPBA as the above post submits. The only thing that matters in the end is that the street gets paved and not who gets credit.
Although I live in Pinehurst, I love the energy of Broad St.. Anything that can help the merchants along Broad Street should be welcome by any advocacy group.
THB,
I share your desire to see the village center flourish. Unfortunately, it's an economic disaster and is in need of redevelopment. I also understand that some people desire to keep Pinehurst quaint and historic (in its original form) BUT I also see a need for new businesses, shops and other commercial entities to bolster our tax base in the village (I know, I'm a heretic). I do not believe that maintaining a historic Pinehurst and allowing commercial redevelopment are mutually exclusive. Tight zoning/building requirements would allow Pinehurst to maintain its charm while at the same time, providing an incentive for businesses to migrate to the village center. We all want Pinehurst to move forward as opposed to being stuck in a singular past.
How does a relay team that placed second in regionals and seventh in states qualify for nationals? Just curious as it would mean that there should be 350 4x400 relay teams at the NB.
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
Martin, Crancer Lead Southern Jr. at CCNC
GO JOSH!!!!!!!!
GREAT GOLFER BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, GREAT KID!
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
What Are THEY Doing to the North & South?
fwm, You can take a backhanded swipe at Pinehurst in terms of your comments about Pinehurst benefitting from amateur events being staged here. If you look behind the numbers, the number of discounted rooms and meal plans that the resort gains is meager and not terribly profitable. As to your swipe about the U.S. Open; if Pinehurst was really that greedy, they would host PGA Championships as opposed to Opens as PGA's provide a far more substantial cut to the clubs where the USGA pretty much takes all.
Good for you caddying at No. 8 and holding a 5-handicap BUT, when I see SCRATCH junior players struggling on No. 8 with 100 degree heat and concrete greens, please don't tell me that it can't hold up to a challenge by amateurs. Your love afair with No. 2 as being the be all end all at Pinehurst and the reason why amaeur would come to Pinehurst is uninformed. Amateurs are seeking events where thay can play other top ranked golfers regardless of what club it's played at. Frankly, the N&S would still be the N&S if all but the final two matches were played on No. 2. Call me crazy but, No.7 is a far more difficult course to navigate (under non US Open conditions) than No. 2 is. Even the setup for the US Am was easier than that of No.7 in the same week.
As far as your comment about exemtions, they occur in every major amateur event including the U.S. Amateur. Additionally, as fickle as match play is, the exempt ams into match play still face the issue of one round and go home. Most of the first round matches are highly contested. Your argument here doesn't hold water.
The N&S has very much sunk in stature as compared to its peers and a large part of it is format and the schlep down in Pinehurst. This year, the Western AM will host the TOP four rank amateurs in the WORLD including Patrick Cantlay, Tom Lewis, Jordan Speith and Russell Henley. The Western will be played at a very average but nice track (not No.2 by any means), North Shore CC. outside Chicago. The field will also include an international field of Amateurs. David Chung, runner up in last year's Western is competing again this year. I haven't heard that he's returning home this year to play in the N&S....probably not. Argue as you may BUT, the N&S has really fallen in stature and Pinehurst is trying to right the issue by coming into modern times.
You and the other romantics can keep on harping about the past and tradition until the N&S is just another amateur event or you can come to the realization that the format needs to change in order to compete with other high ranked amateur events. Pinehurst is making constructive changes to ensure its future as one of the top SEVERAL amateur events. I applaud them for it.
Being a former caddy and a writer for a small town rag entitles you to your opinion, but does not the facts.
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
What Are THEY Doing to the North & South?
The format change is not about economics for Pinehurst but rather strength of field. It's been difficult to draw top level college players if there is only one round of stroke play. It's make the cut or go home. With two guranteed rounds with a possible three rounds provides amateurs more of a reason to trek down to Pinehurst. The North and South has been struggling with strength of field for a number of years compared to the other amateur "majors" across the U.S. Examples of other prestigious amateurs:
Western Am - 36 stroke play, cut to 44, 36 holes stroke play, cut to 16 for match play; Northeast Am - 4 rounds stroke play Southern Am - 4 rounds stroke play Rice Planters - 4 rounds stroke play Met Amateur - 2 rounds stroke play, cut to 16 then match play (64 player field) Eastern Am - 4 rounds stroke play Dixie Am - 3 rounds stroke play
It is a problem for amateurs to schlep down to Pinehurst with a really good chance that they might only get one competitive round. This chamnge in format brings the N&S into the modern era of competitive golf. Most all the above tournaments, with the exception of Rice Planters, are played on different courses every year.
Don't discount the No. 8 as a great venue for amateurs, especially in summer. I've watched the N&S Junior played on the No. 8 course in hot and windy weather. The greens complexes, in my opinion, were more severe than No.2's during the same tournament. I've also seen the Pinehurst Intercollegiate played on No. 8. Even with softer conditions, many contestants looked foolish at one time or another. I watched a U.S. Publinx Champion shank a shot out of a fairway bunker on the back 9!
I understand Mr. Tufts original vision for the N&S but amateur golf has changed significantly over the past 20-years. Without these changes, the N&S risks becoming marginalized and a relic of the past. I have been critical in the past about Pinehurst. Nonetheless, Pinehurst still remains one of the greatest supporters of amateur golf in this country with the N&S series of amateur events, the Donald Ross Junior, Pinehurst Winternational Junior Series,and the Pinehurst Intercollegiate. Additionally, Pinehurst has been the home of at least one division of the NCHSAA Golf Championships (held on quality courses such as #'s 4, 6 and 8). Finally, Pinehurst has been a HUGE sponsor of Pinecrest's golf team allowing them the use of facilities for practice and matches as well as providing uniforms footwear etc. to the team. Pinehurst also contributed one of its assistant professionals to coach Pinecrest.
To paint Pinehurst as being a "Scrooge" is unfair first of all and uninformed second.
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
How About Writing?
Honesty,
A number of other activities activate that portion of the brain including playing music and performin kata in Japanese Karate. Additionanally, the writing portion of the SAT has been a matter of great contoversey as many academics believe that the writing portion of the exam can be "gamed". Many top universities have stopped using the writing portion of the SAT because of this issue. Sorry for getting off subject..... I would be careful to draw any sort of conclusions coming from that portion of the exam.
As a result of the above, I can't support your opinion on cursive writing.
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
The Real Threat of Rising Sea Levels
Bill , All I can say is WOW!
I hear crickets in the background.
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
How About Writing?
I used cursive quite a bit in the 17th century and many considered my penmanship fairly good.
I don't use it much nowadays and prefer the keyboard.
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
How About Writing?
@herecomesthescience
I think it would be a smashing idea to write Jython/Python code in cursive on paper first then input..
Cursive writing = a subsection of the "Full Employment for Teachers Act.....for short...FETA
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
Downtown Southern Pines Repaving Set to Start July 9
Handy, Thanks for the clarification. I don't see the rub between BSMC and SPBA as the above post submits. The only thing that matters in the end is that the street gets paved and not who gets credit.
Although I live in Pinehurst, I love the energy of Broad St.. Anything that can help the merchants along Broad Street should be welcome by any advocacy group.
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
New Guide Offers Pinehurst Information
THB, I share your desire to see the village center flourish. Unfortunately, it's an economic disaster and is in need of redevelopment. I also understand that some people desire to keep Pinehurst quaint and historic (in its original form) BUT I also see a need for new businesses, shops and other commercial entities to bolster our tax base in the village (I know, I'm a heretic). I do not believe that maintaining a historic Pinehurst and allowing commercial redevelopment are mutually exclusive. Tight zoning/building requirements would allow Pinehurst to maintain its charm while at the same time, providing an incentive for businesses to migrate to the village center. We all want Pinehurst to move forward as opposed to being stuck in a singular past.
Newton 11 months, 2 weeks ago
PHS Relay Team Heads to Nationals
How does a relay team that placed second in regionals and seventh in states qualify for nationals? Just curious as it would mean that there should be 350 4x400 relay teams at the NB.