Acquired: Four Additional North Carolina Golf Courses by the Owners of Pine Needles and Mid Pines
In a significant move for the golfing community, Rolling Pines LLC, a management company under Mid Pines Development Group, has recently acquired four 18-hole golf courses in the Sandhills region of North Carolina. The newly acquired facilities include the Country Club of Whispering Pines and Foxfire Country Club, each with two 18-hole courses.
This move marks a commitment by Rolling Pines LLC to long-term stewardship, aiming to make quality golf available to the public while retaining the historic character of these prestigious courses. The acquisition is led by Kelly Miller, the managing partner and son-in-law of the late Peggy Kirk Bell, who owned Pine Needles beginning in 1953.
Foxfire Country Club, situated on a 2,000-acre site anchored by Lake MacKenzie, which serves as a water hazard at both the Red Fox and Gray Fox courses, has a rich history. The ACC men's golf championship was held at Foxfire in 1970, 1973, and 1975. Gene Hamm, the designer of Foxfire Country Club, opened the first course in 1968, and the facility became a 36-hole operation in 1981.
Whispering Pines, on the other hand, boasts courses designed by Ellis Maples, whose family has a history in Sandhills golf. The River and Pines courses at Whispering Pines were designed by Ellis Maples, who worked on the construction of Pine Needles and Mid Pines as a young man.
In the near term, guests at Pine Needles and Mid Pines will have access to the courses at Foxfire and Whispering Pines. As for the restoration plans, while specific details are yet to be disclosed, general considerations might include course renovation, infrastructure upgrades, environmental sustainability, tee and hole strategy, and landscaping and aesthetics. Rolling Pines LLC plans to enlist golf architect Kyle Franz to develop master plans for the newly acquired courses.
Dan Maples, another member of the Maples family, operates a golf design firm from Pinehurst. Haresh Tharani, a partner of the Miller and McGowan families since 2017, brings additional capital and a shared vision for preserving the historic golf offerings in the region. Tharani cites the appeal of the region's four seasons, low taxes, business climate, proximity to the mountains and coast, and the Sandhills' status as a great golf destination as motivation for the acquisition.
Miller has personal connections to Whispering Pines and Foxfire Country Club, having played there with his father-in-law and a group of others. Frank Maples, Ellis' father, was construction and course maintenance chief under Donald Ross, working extensively in the Pinehurst area.
Without specific information from Rolling Pines LLC about their plans, these are general considerations that might be part of their restoration strategy. It would be best to contact them directly for detailed information.
Sports enthusiasts interested in golf will appreciate the expansion of Rolling Pines LLC, as they have acquired four 18-hole golf courses, including the Country Club of Whispering Pines and Foxfire Country Club. To oversee the restoration plans for these prestigious courses, Rolling Pines has enlisted golf architect Kyle Franz, known for his restoration work on golf courses like Kelly Miller's Pinehurst Golf and Kyle Franz Golf Architect's projects.
