Rotarians from 22 countries met on the courses of the Home of American Golf during the week of Aug. 21, to peacefully settle the issue of who were the better golfers.

Pinehurst Resort was the focus of the 48th World Championship of the International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians, who had chosen the courses of the Pinehurst Country Club as their annual gathering place for the third time in the almost 50-year life of their organization.

Many of the participants played the recently retro-fitted Donald Ross-designed Course No. 2, site of the 2014 U.S. Open Championships for both men and women. The IGFR tournament was played on Courses No. 1, 3, 5 and 8.

Approximately 175 men and women enjoyed a week of splendid weather, fine food and generous portions of friendship and fellowship with new and old friends, as well as a warm and genuine welcome by the Sandhills community.

The opening ceremony began immediately after the players' meeting, with a color guard of the flags of the U.S. and France and a bagpiper in full costume. They were followed by a double file of IGFR directors and members of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee, who were then introduced to the audience. Don Sweeting, executive vice president of Pinehurst Resorts, then presented President Jean-Luc Dischamp a replica of the famous Pinehurst Putter Boy statue as a token of the hotel's gratitude for choosing them as the 2011 venue.

Following the dinner, the audience was held spellbound by a squad of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at nearby Fort Bragg.

Tuesday night was the usual Rotary dinner, which featured best-selling author Jim Dodson, who entertained the group with golf stories of the great and near-great golfers of the past.

One special feature of the week was the opportunity to attend the Wednesday morning meeting of the Sandhills Rotary Club, where attendees heard the president of the resort, Don Padgett, explain some of the details of the upcoming U.S. Opens and of the just completed renovation of the No. 2 course.

Home hospitality was shared with a multitude of families in the area where guests learned about local customs, Southern outdoor cooking and shared ideas about the amazing world of Rotary.

Pinehurst is near the epicenter of the hand-crafted ancient art of making clay pottery. Tours made it possible for non-players to see for themselves the art and science of modern pottery. In fact, the trophies for the winners of the many skill and age divisions of the IGFR Championship were made locally. These treasures now reside as far from Pinehurst as the continent of Australia, and no two are exactly alike.

The Wednesday open day afforded the opportunity to see and try the latest in golf equipment as manufacturers from golf balls to clubs and sunglasses set up their wares in tents at the Don Padgett Learning Center.

One contingent of Rotarians was treated to the unique experience of having lunch at what is believed to be the world's smallest international airport on the outskirts of the not-so-ancient city of Carthage. There at the Pik N Pig restaurant, they were introduced to Carolina smoked barbecued pork. Not only were they introduced to this Southern delicacy, but they also visited the project of the Southern Pines Rotary Club that provides health care for the underserved population of the area with a mobile health unit that visits the area on a regular basis.

The Wednesday opportunities concluded with two choices: a sunset cruise on Lake Pinehurst with one of the members of the Sandhills club, or a theater production in the Grand Ballroom that told the story of the history of the Sandhills and of the role played by tapping the long-leaf pine trees that were native to the area to produce tar and turpentine. The cast for this production had just returned from a tour in Ireland. The show featured back-lit photos of the past and present state of the forest along with an interpretation of the whole process, which was done with modern dance, a forceful gospel chorus and narrative poetry.

There were almost 30 awards distributed Friday night by President Jean-Luc Discamp and Secretary Oscar Kneubuhler, assisted by Patrick Eakes. Next year's tournament will be held in Switzerland.

All Rotarian golfers are invited to attend the USGFR annual Championships event next Aug. 1-4, in nearby Greensboro. Members of IGFR are eligible to play without joining USGFR. Information about USGFR is available at the website www.usgfr.com.

"On behalf of the Pinehurst Organizing Committee and the scores of volunteers who helped with the operation and entertainment, and home hospitality, we thank those who participated to make this week a memorable occasion for all," says Ray Taylor. "As a life member of both the IGFR and USGFR, I believe common interests and fellowship are major factors in keeping people in Rotary. We hope you share this view and will help us to increase our membership and opportunities to tell the world what Rotarians do to build a better world."