REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

First woman
inducted into
Teaching Hall of Fame

Compiled by Brandon Tucker, Staff Writer

Peggy Kirk Bell, the popular owner of Pine Needles and Mid Pines resorts in Southern Pines, has become the first woman inducted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame, according to an announcement by Golf Magazine, sponsors of the organization founded in 1998. She becomes the teaching group's 11th member. She was a founder of the LPGA and a teaching pioneer.

Mrs. Bell, 82, is off the links for awhile nursing a torn muscle in her left arm. She injured it trying to prevent a fall during the holiday season.

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Skiing expertise comes to River Landing

Want to learn to play golf or how to ski? It doesn't matter to Larry George, the new head golf professional at River Landing in Wallace. Both George and his wife, Patricia, taught skiing at the Breckenridge resort in Colorado before coming to North Carolina.

Nicklaus wows crowd at Longview

Jack Nicklaus put on an eye-opening clinic at the recent grand opening of the Club at Longview in Charlotte, a private course he designed. During the clinic he pulled out an old persimmon driver he had used in his heyday and whacked a few solid, impressive drives. Then he hit his metal wood and flew it by his wood shots by 60 yards. "Now you see why everyone plays with metal woods these days," he said with a convincing grin.

Changes coming to Pine Needles

Michael Hebron, who will head the School for Learning Golf at Pine Needles, is an innovator who will amaze students with his unique methods. At a recent press conference, Hebron, who is one of the nation's top-rated instructors, demonstrated some of his effective techniques to the media and then told the group that he will guarantee that students at Pine Needles sessions will improve. His classes will begin this spring.

The Pine Needles course (but not the learning center) will close May 1 for extensive renovation and remodeling prior to the 2007 U. S. Women's Open Golf Championship. The course will reopen in October. Meanwhile, guests will play at Mid Pines.

Pat McGowan, the Director of Instruction at Pine Needles, turns 50 at the end of 2004 and will try to qualify for the senior tour. He plans to play in a number of Nationwide Tour events this year before entering qualifying school in the fall. McGowan played on the PGA tour for 14 years and had three second-place finishes, but no victories, during his career.

Pinehurst facilities gear up for Open

The pro shop at Pinehurst is closed until March 1 for a complete remodeling and refurbishing. "The shop will be a showplace when it reopens," offered Stephen Cryan, the resort's Director of Retail Sales, "and will get us ready for the upcoming U. S. Open championship in 2005." The nearly 6,000-square foot facility is one of the nation's most successful with annual sales of more than $6 million.

Speaking of renovations, the 67-room Mid Pines resort is updating and enhancing 20 rooms at a time in the next few months and expects a resort-wide completion by the end of the year.

Roach honored

Stan Roach of Ballantyne Resort in Charlotte was named Regional Clubfitter of the Year by Ping. Roach was one of 63 clubfitters from around the nation who were honored by the club manufacturer. The equipment professionals were flown to Phoenix for golf, plant tours and a banquet in their honor. Roach, who supervises clubfitting and club repairs, has been at Ballantyne six years.

Foreign tongue at Sea Trail

Phillipe Bureau, Golf Director at Sea Trail Plantation in Sunset Beach, was born in Paris and speaks French fluently. He has a twin brother who is also a golf professional. Bureau oversees a staff of 42 at the three Sea Trail courses and is expecting more than 140,000 players this year. The popular Maple course, the first built at the coastal resort, was reopened recently after extensive remodeling.

Mid South up for sale

The Mid South Club in Pinehurst is being purchased by an investment group that is headed by the legendary Arnold Palmer. The closing should occur soon. The course, designed by Palmer, probably will go the semi-private route.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.