Pinehurst No. 2 is probably the most well-known course designed by the legendary Donald Ross.

In "The Golden Age of Pinehurst: The Story of the Rebirth of No. 2," author Lee Pace tells the story of its recent restoration.

The Country Bookshop will host a meet-and-greet cocktail party Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., during which Pace will sign copies of his new book.

The course as laid out by Ross was challenging and was a favorite of both professionals and amateurs. In the late 1900s, modernization took away some of the character, although the greens remained much the same.

Pace's book, which is illustrated with both color and black and white photographs, relates the changes made to return the course more toward its roots. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed the course, taking into account Ross' work, golf history and their own personal experiences on the course dating from the 1960s.

"The Golden Age of Pinehurst" is distributed by the University of North Carolina Press in association with the Tufts Archives.

Lee Pace has written about golf and Pinehurst for more than 25 years. His portfolio includes the coffee table books "Pinehurst Stories" (1991 and 1999) and "The Spirit of Pinehurst" (2004). He has contributed to every major golf publication and to a number of travel and lifestyle publications as well as being a frequent contributor to PineStraw.

He also reports from the sidelines for the Tar Heel Sports Network, which he has done since 2004.

Pace, a 1979 graduate of the University of North Carolina, lives with his wife, Sue, in Chapel Hill.

For information about the event, call (910) 692-3211.