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Outside and Inside Is Designed For A Great Pinehurst Experience |
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It’s really all about golf. Nothing more. Pure golf.
Over 750,000 golfers visit the Pinehurst area every year. There’s no ocean. They don’t come for the seals baying on the rocks like Pebble Beach. No mountains. There aren’t major diversions like Nevada gambling. You have to look real hard for some bargain shopping. What Pinehurst offers is pure golf. |
Me at the Legacy in Pinehurst. These guys cleaned my clock. |
Golf Digest’s list of North Carolina’s Top 25 Golf Courses has six courses listed from the Pinehurst area. Pinehurst #2 is one of the world’s most famous courses. Enough said about that. Pinehurst hosted the 1999, 2005 US Open, and are comming back in 2014. The US Women’s Open has been there in 1996, 2001, and 2007.
Nestled in the Sandhills of North Caroålina, the Pinehurst area has come to epitomize golf’s grandest era. I guess you could say Pinehurst is the alpha and the omega of American golf. There are over 30 courses in the area to test your skills. Some of golf’s finest architects have their name inscribed. Ross. Maples. Jones. Nicklaus. Palmer. Player. Fazio. |
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Nowhere in my domestic travels have I found golf to be more pleasant, more connected to the community and the past than Pinehurst. There is something about hitting through the fragrant scent of towering pine trees. There is something special about sitting in a rocker on the porch sipping sweet tea. It’s a classic golf destination! |
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Well, I didn’t play golf before then. |
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I got tired of staying in hotels when I visited Pinehurst. I stay in a lot of them of my professional travels and I wanted something of my own in Pinehurst.
I have always enjoyed playing many different courses in the Pinehurst area and wanted to be centrally located to them all. I have studied street maps and driven extensively throughout the area over the last three decades. The site I chose for The Abbey is located on Morganton Road. It might as well be called Location Central…
Within ten minutes you can be at the bag drop of at least 32 golf courses. You could nail another ten bag drops in 20 minutes. I won’t count the restaurants so close. The mall is only two minutes. Downtown Pinehurst and downtown Southern Pines are equally seven minutes apart.
Yet, you won’t find a house to either side of The Abbey – for hundreds of yards. Sitting on the porch in the rocking chair feeling the breeze of the porch fan you’ll have to strain a little to see the house on the other side of the road. That’s cool!
When you look at the map of the Pinehurst area you will see that The Abbey is right square dab in the middle of anything you want to do that the Pinehurst area has. Now, let’s start our written tour of The Abbey with that porch…
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Personally, I enjoy playing golf from sun up to sun down. I usually stop after 36 holes and grab a steak, orange roughy, or prime rib, and a beer. I really enjoy sitting on the porch about sun down looking back on my rounds. Or talking to my cohorts about theirs. I love the rhythm of rocking and reflecting about tomorrow’s rounds. The porch is a great location to read the paper, call home, watch the cars go by (not a lot of them), or just sit there. And yes, I have made some pretty big decisions about my life in Ohio from the front porch. |
Imagine yourself here. |
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Does The Abbey have a front porch? You betcha! Does The Abbey have rocking chairs and outside ceiling fans to sway the breeze? Darn tootin! And are you allowed to rock on The Abbey’s porch and make any decisions about your golf game, dinner, or life while you’re there? As many as you like! |
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Trust me on this. You can’t sit on the porch all the time. Once you have replayed every missed putt and thin hit, talked about how bad your partner let you down, you need to eventually go inside. When you do, you shouldn’t have just a hotel bed and small TV to entertain you. I’ve played enough rounds in Pinehurst to know exactly what I want after my day on the links.
I want as much variety as possible. If I choose to be with my friends and family The Abbey should afford me the opportunity for interaction. If you want to just watch TV (36-inch) I should be able to do that – comfortably without lying on the bed I’m sleeping in. If I choose to cook dinner I want to have all the essentials there. Play cards? Yes. Chess? Yes. Darts? Yes, even darts. DVD? VCR? Stereo? Of course. |
Entertainment galore at the Abbey.
36 inch tv, dvd, vcr, stereo |
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Don't spill beer on my leather sectional.
I'll clean your clock. |
All of those activities are in the downstairs Abbey. I have designed The Abbey to be as architecturally open as possible. The furniture is a matched collection, no mismatched odds and ends from Ohio. It is tasteful. It’s classy. And it’s designed for you to move around and not worry about knocking over something that might be valuable.
Remember, you're there to enjoy yourself, not stay in a museum. |
Upon your initial arrival I guarantee you will spend the first five to ten minutes looking at the pictures and mementos that I have hung throughout the downstairs. These are personal memories I have collected over the years. There’s autographed pictures of Ken Venturi, Ben Wright, Billy Casper, Helen Alfredson, and more.
I’ve even hung a few of my memorable groups (it is my place you know). |
Me with Ken Venturi... |
I have devoted one corner to darts. I beg of you to not throw darts into your fellow foursome. Do not keep score on the hardwood floor with your cleats. Do not use the darts like a toothpick. It spoils my perception of you having a good time.
The chess set is pretty valuable. Hand carved marble. Those who play chess should do so with some class, don’t you think? The decks of cards for the poker players should be made of paper. Same composite philosophy as chess.
Fully stocked. Add food & drink. |
The kitchen is fully furnished. Forks. Spoons. Knives. Plates. Cups. Range. Refrigerator. Microwave. Coffee maker. Yada. Yada. Yada. Yet, I’m not Emil and don’t have my own TV cooking show. So don’t look for exotic spices, just the basics.
However, believe me, what is there is what you need and if you need something else you are about 43 seconds from a store that if it doesn’t have it, you really don’t need it anyway. What you will need to buy is only your food and drink. I might have left some beer in there from my last trip. You’re welcome to it. |
Ok, for you TYPE A personalities there is a computer work station. I refuse to install a computer as I believe you should be doing something else other than work. However, I know that doesn’t work in today’s society and many of us blend work with pleasure. The work area is away from the others if that is what you need. Phone line. Office supplies. You need only supply your personal computer and some organization to get your work done as quickly as possible. The porch is calling you know. |
If you gotta work... |
Well, there are books for reading. Mostly golf. Mostly instructional so you can find a band-aid for tomorrow’s game. My “Towel” collection is in the downstairs hallway. I just always want to buy a golf towel from all the neat courses I play. I don’t hang them all.
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There is a one-half bath downstairs. You’ll see a sign on the door. It will simply say “The Rock.” It’s my tribute to the North Carolina Speedway which is only 17 miles down the road and former home of two NASCAR races. |
Once you enter “The Rock” you’ll see the ratio between golf and NASCAR in my life. I like racing and about 2% of The Abbey is devoted to it. Sorry. However, be prepared for a real NASCAR look when you take a leak and wash your hands downstairs. Plus, you’ll have to cross “The Finish Line” through “The Rock” to get to the washer and dryer. I did mention there is a washer and dryer there didn’t I?
So much for downstairs. Let’s go upstairs… |
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After reading about the downstairs do you really think I would just let you walk up a flight of stairs without some visual golf excitement? The Abbey stairway has walls on the side. Imagine that. I won’t tell you what is hanging on the walls other than to say you would have to be blind not to notice the neat accessories.
And once you get to the upstairs hallway, do you not think there would be some great “stuff” on those walls. Enough said. |
Don't drop pizza in my chair.
I'll clean your clock. Ok, go ahead! |
But first, let’s discuss the strategy of a great Pinehurst experience. Now, stay with me on this. It’s important. There are times when its time to separate yourself from your friends or family. Privacy becomes critical. You’re tired of being nice. You’re frustrated about your game. You’re upset that they didn’t give you that putt on 18. Whatever. Its just time for separation.
I’ve designed The Abbey for great separation. All of the three bedrooms are upstairs. All beds are queen size…no twins. The largest bedroom has two queens. Each of the other two bedrooms has one queen. Each bedroom has its own full bath. Each bedroom has a reading chair. Each bedroom has a 25-inch TV, alarm clocks so you won’t miss your tee time next morning, lights, a phone, pillows, blankets, sheets, etc. etc. Great separation from one day’s Pinehurst experience and preparation for the next day’s adventure require that your sleeping arrangements be something special. And these three bedrooms are something special… |
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The first bedroom at the top of the stairs to your left is “The Pinehurst Bedroom.” It is dedicated and decorated to honor the area in which you have chosen to develop some special memories with some special friends. Again, you will spend time looking at all the Pinehurst memorabilia on the walls. Tastefully decorated in reds, tans, and greens, this bedroom will just flat out knock your socks off! The most valuable item in The Abbey adorns The Pinehurst Bedroom wall. It’s a signed picture of Payne Stewart holding his 1999 US Open Championship trophy. There are two queen beds and enough atmosphere to possibly keep you awake thinking about tomorrow. |
You won't believe
"The Pinehurst Bedroom." |
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Donald Ross was from Scotland. So was the origin of golf. Why not spend your nights in “The Old Country?” The bedroom on the right is simply “The Scotland Bedroom.” It has all the amenities. Queen size bed. Full bath. 25-inch TV. Chair. Light. etc. etc. But oh, what an atmosphere!
From the wall and carpet colors to the bathroom wallpaper to the window treatments to the pictures and other accessories…well, if you don’t think you have spent a night near the Old Course at St. Andrew…well, I’ll kiss your tartan ring on the Pinehurst village square!
Don’t be surprised if you don’t see (or hear) some bagpipes and there may even be a Balmoral on the bedpost.
By the way, do you have a favorite Scottish Clan? |
You won't find this guy in "The Scotland Bedroom" |
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Well, for one I’m from Ohio (Kentucky originally). Let’s see. There are three bedrooms. One is dedicated to Pinehurst, the American home of golf. Another bedroom is dedicated to Scotland, whence the American home of golf cometh from. So, isn’t it logical that the third bedroom (number one in my heart) is devoted to my home state of Ohio? Yeah, why not?
You’ll find my roots in the second bedroom on the left, “The Ohio Bedroom.” It’s my tribute to my past and present. You’ll certainly guess which college team I follow (Go Bucks!). I love the Browns and Indians. You might find a picture of the Reds and Bengals but they will be small. Jack’s Memorial Tournament is held in Ohio. |
You'll know I'm from Ohio, when you sleep in "The Ohio Bedroom." |
And did you know that Cedar Point Ohio has the tallest roller coaster in the world at 420 feet and traveling 120 miles an hour. Eight presidents came from Ohio and Ohio born Thomas Edison is responsible for the light by which you review your eight double bogeys for the day. They might be somewhere in that room. You never know.
“The Ohio Bedroom” has a queen bed, 25-inch TV, bingo, bango, bongo. The furnishings are pure Midwest and unless you are a Michigan Wolverine, you’ll love this room. |
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Well, that’s my written tour. It pales in comparison to actually staying there, but what the heck, this is a website.
What you really need to understand is that The Abbey At Pinehurst is designed for good friends to create and share great times. The Abbey is located in the middle of the Pinehurst area, minutes from everywhere. It is divided into activity sections, whether it is relaxing on the porch, entertaining and mingling with friends, or seeking private sanctuary in one of the themed upstairs bedrooms. This is the way I enjoy Pinehurst and I’m sure you will also. Let me give you some details… |
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Inspired Design Group, Ltd.