LAKE MARY, FL – Pinehurst Resort is one of the most popular and important golf resorts in the world. But it is also a resort that doesn’t rest on its laurels.
Pinehurst Resort, host to the 20th Anniversary ING Spring Conference May 9-13, is continually updating, renovating and refurbishing all the accommodation facilities and amenities as well as the golf courses. Most recently, work was completed on Pinehurst No. 5, bringing it to the same pristine condition of the other seven courses. The Ellis Maples-design received a six-month renovation of the greens that saw Bent grass seeded on all the greens to improve putting conditions.
No. 5 will host the Durland Cup team scramble on Wednesday, May 12, at the ING Spring Conference. The non-profit International Network of Golf conducts this annual gathering of golf media and business leaders to exchange information, display products and develop and nurture business relationships.
Anyone in the golf industry and media is invited to attend (www.inggolf.com).
Pinehurst announced this week that it has signed an agreement with the renowned firm of Coore and Crenshaw Inc., to return both natural and strategic character to its championship No. 2 course. Work will be conducted gradually in 2010 without any closure to the course or to individual holes until mid-November.
The project’s philosophy is to restore the course’s natural aesthetic characteristics and to bring back strategic play originally crafted by Donald Ross, but that have been lost over time. The changes include returning sandy waste areas, native wiregrass and natural bunker edges; widening the fairways to play as they did in the era from 1935 to 1960; and reducing the amount of manicured rough.
Pinehurst Resort will become the first ever to host the U.S. Open and the Women’s U.S. Open back to back in 2014. It has already hosted two U.S. Opens and dozens of other major golf events.
The ING Spring Conference reaches a major milestone this year with its 20th anniversary event. Former Golf Channel commentator Adam Barr will guide the conference attendees through the various elements as the master of ceremonies.
The ING Conference schedule is jammed with educational, networking and product display opportunities. The highlights:
1) The ever-popular One-On-One Appointment Show, a series of private meetings between exhibitors and media to open lines of communication, create unique promotional programs, gather story materials and build relationships.
2) The State Of The Industry Breakfast. Workers from different segments of the golf industry will lead discussions on the current state of the golf business, with the hope of creating solutions to lead individuals and companies back into a positive direction.
3) The Demo Lab will feature companies large and small displaying their latest equipment and training gear on the practice range and green.
4) Education and self-improvement programs galore, including a session touching on the utilization of Social Media and marketing programs.
5) Motivational session with one of the best in the world, Chip Eichelberger, formerly of the Tony Robbins company.
6) Lots of golf events, including the International Pairs World Qualifier, a two-player team event from which the winners will advance to compete in the world championship in Scotland in October. Course No. 4 will host that major competition.
Those interested in attending may do so by visiting www.inggolf.com and clicking on Spring Conference. An electronic registration process is available. Deadline for the current pricing is March 30.
For more information on ING, call 407-328-0500, ext. 4.
Contact:
Mike Jamison
407-28-0500, ext. 1
mike@jamisongolf.com
