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Bradley to Produce Golf Tips for Destination; CVB to Highlight Traditions Golf Academy
PINEHURST, NC (MAY 11, 2021) – The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) today announced a partnership with renowned golf instructor, Nick Bradley, to produce golf tips exclusively for the Home of American Golf. The CVB will assist Bradley in promotion and exposure for the Traditions Golf Academy at Forest Creek where Bradley was named the director of instruction last fall.
Originally from London, England, Bradley has lived in the United States since 2005 and brings an impressive resume of coaching, mentoring and developing male and female golfers, from the junior level to major professional champions. He has instructed winners on every major professional tour and has coached players to World No. 1, a pair of World No. 5 rankings, two players to European No. 1 and junior world champions.
“Nick’s resume speaks for itself and we are honored that he will lend his vast golfing knowledge and expertise with an ongoing series of golf tips for fans of the Home of American Golf brand to enjoy,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). “His vision for the Traditions Golf Academy is a first for the Pinehurst area and will create a boutique version of the famous IMG Academy in Florida. We have several solid golf schools in the Sandhills area, but Traditions will be the epicenter for serious aspiring golf stars we will see playing in the collegiate and professional ranks in the years to come.”
Bradley is a two-time bestselling author. His first book, The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing, has been a global bestseller since 2003 and published in five different languages. Bradley’s second book, Kinetic Golf, featured in Golf Digest and forwarded by Butch Harmon, was published in April 2013. His third book, Letters to an Evolving Golfer, was published in August 2018. Bradley has written for every major golf magazine publication in the world. In addition to authoring best-selling books, Bradley is a presenter, swing analyzer, and commentator for Sky Golf and NBC’s Golf Channel. He is also the technical consultant and an owner of SQAIRZ golf shoes.
Bradley consulted on the Nike Elite advisory panel for 15 years, has been elected by Golf Digest as the top male teacher in North Carolina, and has won The Independent Sports Book Award in 2004. During his 25-year career, Bradley has instructed more than 200 PGA and European Tour golf professionals.
“As the number one full-time junior academy in the United States, Traditions Golf Academy is truly excited to partner with the CVB,” said Nick Bradley, director of instruction, Traditions Golf Academy. “The entire Pinehurst area is a powerhouse of amazing golf. Partnering with the CVB allows us to market what we believe is the best full-time training experience for junior golfers globally,”
Traditions Golf Academy and The O’Neal School in Southern Pines offer an unmatched student-athlete experience. As a top private college preparatory school allied to proven tour caliber instruction, Traditions students attend The O’Neal School for their academics, then receive golf training at Forest Creek Golf Club. Traditions will provide everything elite junior golfers need to prepare for successful collegiate golf careers. Traditions began accepting applications in the fall of 2020 for an anticipated opening date of August 2021. Traditions’ approach is unique in the golf academy world in selecting a small number of junior golfers for a boutique academy experience, allowing Bradley to focus on every golfer. Bradley’s modern and ground-breaking approach will prepare Traditions’ golfers for elite colleges.
The CVB will showcase Bradley’s golf tips via several communications channels including the HomeofGolf.com website, social media platforms, You Tube Channel (Visit the Home of American Golf) and selected digital marketing campaigns.
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
Award-Winning BBQ Experts to Showcase Talents Labor Day Weekend
PINEHURST, NC (APRIL 30, 2021) – An all-star lineup of renowned and prestigious North Carolina pitmasters — with well over a century of combined grilling expertise — has been unveiled for the inaugural Pinehurst Barbecue Festival over Labor Day Weekend in the historic Village of Pinehurst.
The festival, celebrating “All Things Barbecue” and presented by US. Foods, Pinehurst Resort and Business North Carolina Magazine, will feature award-winning pitmasters Ed Mitchell, Christopher Prieto, Adam Hughes, Joe Lumbrazo and local favorite BBQ Hall of Famer Ashley Sheppard, event organizer Tarheel Festivals LLC announced.
Advanced tickets to the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival are available at www.pinehurstbarbecuefestival.com. This unique food festival Sept. 3-5 is expected to sell out as tickets are limited for each of the events associated with the three-day festival.
The “Ed Mitchell Pitmaster Invitational” on Sunday, Sept. 5, where patrons can sample five different BBQ meats and five Southern sides, will honor the 74-year-old Mitchell, known worldwide in barbecue circles as “The Pitmaster” for his experience cooking whole hog BBQ the traditional way since he was a teenager in Wilson.
“I’ve participated and cooked in countless food events and festivals during my career but helping launch the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival has to be one of the most exciting for me,” said the legendary pitmaster, who is opening new restaurant in Raleigh called The Preserve. “The quaint setting in the Village of Pinehurst, along with the elite group of pitmasters who have been assembled, will create a remarkable Tar Heel food experience and lasting impression for all who attend.”
Mitchell has been featured on the Food Network numerous times, as have most of the five pitmasters participating this fall. Mitchell has gone up against Iron Chef Bobby Flay in a rib throw down and won. He has been featured in The New Yorker and Gourmet magazines, as well as dozens of other publications and BBQ blogs. Mitchell, currently a judge on the Food Network’s Moonshiner Barbecue series, will feature whole hog BBQ at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival.
Prieto, who owns Prime Barbecue in Knightdale, is known as #BarbecueNerd. Prieto appeared on the Food Network’s Chopped Grill Masters in 2018 along with Hughes, The Cooking Channel’s Man Fire Food and is the author of Southern Living magazine’s The Ultimate Book of BBQ. Prieto will feature beef brisket at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival.
Hughes, the owner of Old Colony Smokehouse in Edenton, will compete in the prestigious 2021 World Food Championships this November. Three years ago, Hughes advanced to the grand finale of the “Chopped: Grill Masters” competition. Hughes has been a nationally ranked competitive barbecue pitmaster, winning several Grand Championships along with numerous other awards from Florida to Pennsylvania and everywhere in between, including a World Championship in ribs. Hughes will feature ribs at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival.
Lumbrazo is co-owner of Backyard Bistro in Raleigh, which was featured on an episode of Epic BBQ Pits on the Destination America Cable Network. Backyard Bistro’s grilling operation features a 38-foot “Big Rig,” which will be on hand for the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival. The massive “Big Rig” displays four 3-by-5 feet grills (large enough to cook a whole 125-pound pig each), two cast-iron burners, two 35-pound fryers, a homemade hush puppy maker and six 40-pound LP gas tanks. Lumbrazo will grill sausage at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival.
Sheppard, who is owner of Pik-N-Pig restaurant, was inducted into the North Carolina Barbecue Society Wall of Fame in 2019. What started as a venture on the side of the road in Carthage in a “log cabin” trailer, quickly grew into an airport barbecue location that attracts local military brass and many others. Since opening the Pik-N-Pig in 2007, Sheppard has been featured in Food Paradise on The Travel Channel, Fun Places to Fly and more. Sheppard will barbecue poultry at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival.
In addition the main headliner event – the Ed Mitchell Pitmaster Invitational on Sunday, Sept. 5 – the three-day Pinehurst Barbecue Festival will include a Celebration Concert on Friday night, Sept. 3, along with “Q” School Grilling Classes, Demos & Food Sampling, a Bourbon and Bites tasting event and VIP “Meet the “Masters” reception on Saturday, Sept. 4. Tickets can be purchased to each event separately, or a “Whole Hog” ticket package can be purchased to include all Pinehurst Barbecue Festival events, including the exclusive VIP “Meet The Masters” reception.
Prieto and Lumbrazo will be conducting the unique “Q” School Grilling Classes, Demos & Food Sampling event at the Pinehurst Brewing Co. on Sept. 4.
Additional Contact Information: Dave Droschak, Droschak Communications, 919-630-6656, ddroschak@earthlink.net
Peter Stilwell, Tarheel Communications Solutions, 910-528-7101, peterstilwell@tarheelcommunications.com
info@pinehurstbarbecuefestival.com
About Tarheel Festivals: Tarheel Festivals, LLC. is a full-service event management and production company headquartered in Pinehurst. With over 35 years of producing signature events, their team of professionals build event experiences from inspiration to integration.
The official event partner for the Pinehurst- Southern Pines-Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Tarheel Festivals, LLC will also stage the third annual Festival D’Avion (www.festivaldavion.com) – A Celebration of Freedom and Flight — at the Moore Country Airport on Oct. 29-30, 2021. Tickets to that event, which honors the men and women that serve our military, in addition to highlighting vintage aircraft and all things aviation, are also available on www.ticketmesandhills.com.
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
Dogwood Course at CCNC Achieves Highest Ranking Ever
PINEHURST, NC (APRIL 1, 2021) – Pinehurst No. 2 has once again secured the top spot as the best golf course in the state as determined by the prestigious North Carolina Golf Panel. The top 10 courses in the state remained consistent due to COVID restrictions which limited panel members from visiting clubs around the state as a group, but many were able to rate courses individually. Among the top 10, the Dogwood Course at The Country Club of North Carolina (pictured above) rose from fifth to third in the rankings. CCNC’s Dogwood and Cardinal courses will host the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur this summer. The Cardinal course moved up one spot to number 16.
The North Carolina Golf Panel was founded in 1995 and is recognized as the most authoritative statewide source of golf course rankings in a state that arguably has some of the nation’s best courses. The 135-member panel is composed of golf media, club professionals and general managers from many outstanding courses, accomplished amateur players and college golf coaches and others who play an active role in promoting golf in North Carolina.
“As a member of the (North Carolina) Golf Panel, 2020 was a very different year and obviously restrictive when it came to ranking our great golf courses around the state,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO for the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Fortunately, for our tourism economy in Moore County, golf remained open throughout the pandemic. We are so blessed with world-class golf in the Pinehurst area and with the USGA announcement last fall to move a second headquarters here and create an anchor site for future U.S. Open championships, it merely enhanced that this destination is arguably the finest in the country to visit and experience the game for all ages.”
The panel also ranked the Top 50 Courses You Can Play and the Pinehurst area once again dominated the list with 15 locations, or 30 percent of the clubs, including the top six and eight of the top 11. The top six include Pinehurst No. 2, Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, Pinehurst No. 4, Pinehurst No.8, Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club and Pinehurst No. 9. Mid South Club was ninth and Pinehurst No. 7 eleventh. Other golf clubs among the Top 50 include The New Course at Talamore (#25), Southern Pines Golf Club (#36), Pinehurst No. 6 (#38), Legacy Golf Links (#39), Tobacco Road (#40), Longleaf Golf and Family Club (#41) and Hyland Golf Club (#50).
“Every serious golfer has a trip to the Pinehurst Area on their bucket list,” said Kevin Brafford, executive director of the N.C. Golf Panel. “One of the many blessings of living in North Carolina is that you can so easily become a repeat visitor.”
The Panel also determined a pair of sub-categories for the ten best Fairest Courses to Play and Most Strategic Courses and the Pinehurst Area is well-represented on both of those lists. According to the N.C. Golf Panel, the Pinehurst Area has the top three Fairest Courses to Play in the state – Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club is first, followed by Pinehurst No. 2 and the Dogwood Course at The Country Club of North Carolina. Pinehurst No. 8 is included as eighth on that list. The Fairest Courses to Play list considers courses regardless of overall difficulty on the premise that it rewards good shots and penalizes poor ones in a manner that is reasonable.
For Most Strategic Courses, Pinehurst No. 2 and Tobacco Road Golf Club are tops in North Carolina as determined by the Panel. Pinehurst No. 4 and Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club rated sixth and eighth, respectively. This category’s top 10 was determined based on how each course requires thoughtful planning and precise execution of shots from tee to green.
Pinehurst area golf courses are no strangers to the national and global stage as well when it comes to major championships. In 2019, Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club hosted the U.S. Senior Women’s Open while Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4 hosted the U.S. Amateur. In 2021, The Country Club of North Carolina will host the U.S. Junior Amateur. In 2022, the U.S. Women’s Open returns to Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club. And the U.S. Open will be back at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024, marking the fourth such major championship to be played at the historic club over the course of 25 years (1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024), the most to be played over the course of a quarter century than any other location in the country. Last fall, the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced additional U.S. Open championships for Pinehurst No. 2 in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.
For more information about all golf courses in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area, visit HomeofGolf.com. For the complete list of the Top 100 Courses for 2021, Top 50 Courses You Can Play and other rankings, visit NCGolfPanel.com.
Top 100 Courses for 2021 (second number is previous year’s ranking)
1. 1. Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst
2. 2. Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville
3. 5. The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood)
4. 4. Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, Southern Pines
5. 3. Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club, Cashiers
6. 7. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
7. 6. Quail Hollow, Charlotte
8. 9. Pinehurst No. 4, Pinehurst
9. 8. Old North State, New London
10. 11. Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro
11. 14. Cape Fear Country Club, Wilmington
12. 13. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem
13. 10. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
14. 12. Pinehurst No. 8, Pinehurst
15. 12. Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers
16. 17. The Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal), Pinehurst
17. 16. Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington
18. 18. Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, Southern Pines
19. 19. Old Chatham Golf Club, Durham
20. 20. Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh
21. 23. River Landing (River), Wallace
22. 24. MacGregor Downs Country Club, Cary
23. 21. Rock Barn Country Club (Jones), Conover
24. 22. Biltmore Forest Country Club, Asheville
25. 35. Forsyth Country Club, Winston-Salem
26. 25. Governors Club, Chapel Hill
27. 26. Forest Creek Golf Club (South), Pinehurst
28. 27. Prestonwood Country Club (Highlands), Cary
29. 29. Country Club of Landfall (Dye), Wilmington
30. 32. Pinehurst No. 9, Pinehurst
31. 30. Treyburn Country Club, Durham
32. 31. Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus), Wilmington
33. 41. Dormie Club, West End
34. 33. Forest Creek Golf Club (North), Pinehurst
35. 27. Trump National Golf Club, Mooresville
36. 34. Linville Golf Club, Linville
37. 40. River Landing (Landing), Wallace
38. 38. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte
39. 36. High Point Country Club (Willow Creek), High Point
40. 44. Mid South Club, Southern Pines
41. 47. The Hasentree Club. Wake Forest
42. 39. Finley Golf Course, Chapel Hill
43. 42. Greensboro Country Club (Farm), Greensboro
44. 43. Bald Head Island Club, Bald Head Island
45. 52. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva
46. 50. Starmount Forest Country Club, Greensboro
47. 58. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst
48. 47. Country Club of Asheville, Asheville
49. 46. Gaston Country Club, Gastonia
50. 45. Duke University Golf Club, Durham
51. 48. Scotch Hall Preserve, Merry Hill
52. 51. The Cardinal by Pete Dye, Greensboro
53. 64. Bryan Park Golf & Conference Center (Champions), Browns Summit
54. 55. Grandover (East), Greensboro
55. 53. Hope Valley Country Club. Durham
56. 49. Leopard’s Chase, Sunset Beach
57. 56. The Currituck Club, Corolla
58. 59. Lonnie Poole Golf Course, Raleigh
59. 54. Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia), Pinehurst
60. 60. Prestonwood Country Club (Meadows), Cary
61. 66. Hound Ears Club, Blowing Rock
62. 63. Ballantyne Country Club, Charlotte
63. 61. Jefferson Landing, Jefferson
64. 57. Alamance Country Club, Burlington
65. 62. The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis
66. 65. Tiger’s Eye, Sunset Beach
67. 69. Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro
68. 67. River Run Country Club, Davidson
69. 68. Carmel Country Club, Charlotte
70. 77. Mimosa Hill Golf Club. Morganton
71. 70. Croasdaile Country Club, Durham
72. 72. Cedarwood Country Club, Charlotte
73. 73. The Peninsula Club, Cornelius
74. 74. Thistle Golf Club, Sunset Beach
75. 71. Porters Neck Country Club, Wilmington
76. 75. Lake Toxaway Country Club, Lake Toxaway
77. 78. Kilmarlic Golf Club, Powells Point
78. 94. Crow Creek Golf Club, Calabash
79. 79. Providence Country Club, Charlotte
80. 83. The New Course at Talamore, Southern Pines
81. 80. The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, Raleigh
82. 84. Grandover (West), Greensboro
83. 76. St. James Plantation (Reserve), Southport
84. 81. Linville Ridge. Linville
85. 82. Tanglewood Park (Championship, Clemmons
86. 89. Benvenue Country Club, Rocky Mount
87. 98. Blowing Rock Country Club, Blowing Rock
88. 86. Bermuda Run Country Club (East), Bermuda Run
89. 85. Wilson Country Club, Wilson
90. — Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro
91. 92. Mill Creek Golf Club, Mebane
92. 88. Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh
93. 90. Rocky River Golf Club, Concord
94. 91. Compass Point Golf Club, Leland
95. 93. North Ridge Country Club (Lakes), Raleigh
96. 95. Carolina Golf Club, Charlotte
97. 99. Stoney Creek Golf Club, Whitsett
98. — Deep Springs Country Club, Stoneville
99. 100. Nags Head Golf Links, Nags Head
100. 96. Brook Valley Country Club, Greenville
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
CARTHAGE, N.C. – (February 24, 2021) – The 2021 Festival D’Avion celebration of freedom and flight staged at the Moore County Airport has been moved from early April to late October 2021 because of continued COVID-19 restrictions, Tarheel Festivals LLC has announced. The new dates for the Festival D’Avion will be October 29-30, 2021.
The third annual Festival D’Avion was on track to be the largest and best to date in the spring of 2020, but the event joined a long list of community activities across the Sandhills, the state of North Carolina and the United States to be postponed due to health precautions. Continued concerns for mass gatherings and timing of a vaccine distribution caused the event date to be postponed until this October.
All Festival D’Avion components, including the Celebration Concert, hospitality functions, Runway 5K race, aircraft exhibits, fly-overs and entertainment will be rescheduled for the October 2021 dates. All event sponsorships will transfer to the new dates, and any Festival D’Avion tickets purchased for the festival in advance or donated to military families will be honored for the new dates. Sponsorship packages and event tickets will remain on sale over the coming months.
“We are very disappointed to have to move our dates for a third time for the Festival D’Avion, but are doing so with guidance from the local and state health officials and from the Pentagon that controls the approval and participation for the military services involved with our event,” said Peter Stilwell, co-founder for the Festival D’Avion. “We are optimistic that outdoor events and festivals will return again in the late summer allowing our event to continue. The continued safety for our Festival patrons, sponsors and volunteers continues to be a priority.”
The members of the Moore County Airport Authority have approved the new dates for late October.
“We basically will go from promoting a really great spring event to a really great one for the fall “ said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB. “We are in complete agreement with the Festival D’Avion staff that moving the event later this year is the best option to maintain a safe environment for the participants and guests. It will allow the opportunity for this unique event to be successful and develop a loyal following. October is a great time of year in the destination and we look forward to welcoming our military friends and aviation enthusiasts from near and far.”
The Festival D’Avion is a celebration of Freedom and Flight and honors the men and women that have served in the armed forces. The 1½ day event, hosted at the Moore County Airport, includes a celebration concert featuring the Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band, Runway 5K race/walk, special aircraft exhibits, scheduled aircraft fly-overs, Warbird displays, precision jump team exhibitions, programmed entertainment and a special scheduled fly-out of all participating aircraft. The five branches of the military have approved participation for the Festival D’Avion and will provide a variety of static aircraft and military equipment displays. Classic cars and trucks will also be displayed during the event. A variety of food and beverage options will be available from area and regional food trucks, craft beer breweries, North Carolina wineries and vendors.
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
Pinehurst No. 2 Ranked Third in America; Boasts Four from Resort Layouts
PINEHURST, NC (January 5, 2021) – Pinehurst No. 2, host of three U.S. Open Championships and future host of the 2024 event, is ranked third in the United States among Golfweek magazine’s 2021 Top 200 Best Resort Courses in the U.S. list. Among the publication’s other popular rankings, the famed Donald Ross design was also ranked third among Golfweek’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play list and 15th in the country among the Top 100 Classic Golf Courses which includes designs prior to 1960.
“These rankings simply reinforce that the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area is indeed the ‘Home of American Golf,’” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Aside from these world-class courses and resorts, this destination boasts almost 40 golf courses within 15 miles of each other for golfers to choose from and enjoy. The pandemic has produced a nationwide resurgence in the game of golf and we are fortunate to have one of the finest destinations in the world in which to enjoy it.”
The annual selection of the country’s 200 top resort layouts is determined by Golfweek’s elite team of more than 850 course evaluators. Each year, the raters survey over 3,600 facilities, grading each in accordance with Golfweek’s 10 strict standards of evaluation. For a complete look at Golfweek’s 2021 Top 200 Resort Courses in the U.S. list, click here.
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
Famed North Carolina BBQ Pitmasters to Highlight the 3-day Festival in the Village of Pinehurst
PINEHURST, NC (December 9, 2020) – Tarheel Festivals, LLC and Pinehurst Resort have announced plans for an exciting Barbecue Festival that will be held in the Village of Pinehurst on September 3-5, 2021. The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, presented by Pinehurst Resort and the Village of Pinehurst, will be a “Celebration of Taste and Tradition,” offering a unique collection of special events, vendor samplings and displays, food and beverage options and entertainment for the entire family to enjoy. The event will become the second owned and operated event by Tarheel Festivals, including the annual Festival D’Avion hosted at the Moore County Airport, which will be staged April 9-10, 2021.
“Barbecue is part of North Carolina’s DNA,” explained the Barbecue Festival’s co-founder, Peter Stilwell. “We are excited to introduce this new festival event in the Pinehurst community and showcase the best of North Carolina Barbecue and the legendary Pitmasters who prepare it.”
The schedule of events continues to evolve but will include a celebration concert on Friday, September 3rd; “Q” School Barbecue Grilling classes at the Pinehurst Brewing Company; a Wings & Whiskey/Cigar-B-Q; Village of Pinehurst Pub Crawl; a “Meet the Masters” VIP party on Saturday, September 4th; and the Grand Finale will feature the Ed Mitchell Pitmaster Invitational in the heart of the Village of Pinehurst, featuring renowned Pitmasters from across North Carolina, on Sunday September 5th.
Mitchell, from Wilson, NC, and known as “The Pitmaster” in world-wide barbeque circles and a master at cooking whole-hog barbecue, has owned and operated several restaurants throughout North Carolina. He was the founding Pitmaster for the annual Big Apple Block Party in New York City and has been featured in Food & Wine, Gourmet, and Bon Appetite magazines, and on the Food Network, beating world-renown Iron Chef Bobby Flay in a “Battle of the Barbecues.” He and his son Ryan will be opening a new restaurant in Raleigh, NC in 2021.
Mitchell will select the elite group of Pitmasters that will prepare barbecue samples and meals for the Festival in categories including whole hog, brisket, ribs, poultry and specialty meats. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to sample from all participating Pitmasters during the Invitational.
“I have been cooking North Carolina barbecue my entire life,” said Mitchell. “We are excited to be part of this new Festival in Pinehurst, and I look forward to joining my fellow Pitmasters next September. The Village of Pinehurst and Pinehurst Resort are perfect locations for this unique event.”
In addition to the best Eastern and Western North Carolina-style Barbecue, the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival will highlight several of the state’s finest craft breweries during the various scheduled weekend events, including Pinehurst’s own Pinehurst Brewing Company. Vendors during the festival will include barbecue grill companies and suppliers along with BBQ sauces, spices and rubs. Music and entertainment will be provided throughout the Festival.
A variety of ticket and sponsor packages for the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival will be available starting in early 2021. Tickets will be available for individual events, and there will be VIP hospitality ticket options as well. Sponsorships categories will include individual event sponsorships, preferred products and vendor tents. The event website www.pinehurstbarbecuefestival.com will launch in February, 2021.
Pinehurst Resort will be promoting stay and play packages for the Festival allowing their guests to enjoy the barbecue themed events along with the opportunity to play golf and to enjoy a true southern hospitality weekend.
“We are looking forward to hosting events again that the public can enjoy in 2021,” said Dave Droschak, co-founder of Tarheel Festivals, LLC. “We’re confident the inaugural Pinehurst Barbecue Festival will be a huge success over Labor Day Weekend as we celebrate taste and tradition at Pinehurst.”
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
About Tarheel Festivals: Tarheel Festivals, LLC is a full-service Event Management and Production Company headquartered in Pinehurst, North Carolina. With over thirty-five years of producing signature events, their team of professionals build event experiences from inspiration to integration, specializing in delivering seamless events with unparalleled attention to detail resulting in magic moments and fond memories.
They currently have two unique signature events in the Pinehurst area that draw attendees from throughout North Carolina and the region and will be launching new events in 2021. In addition, Tarheel Festival’s team supports several other events that are held in the area. They recently partnered with the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Convention and Visitors Bureau to assist in the development and operations for community events.
Hotel to Feature 103 Guest Rooms, Conference Center and Full-Service Restaurant/Bar
ABERDEEN, NC (December 1, 2020) – The newest hotel in the Sandhills area of North Carolina will officially open on December 14, 2020. The Hilton Garden Inn will feature 103 rooms and employ about 60 employees. The hotel is owned by McPeake Hotels, Inc. which also operates the Hampton Inn and Towne Place Suites, all located in Aberdeen. The company is owned by Bonnie McPeake, a long-time hotel industry executive. She is also a board member on the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Reported cost of the hotel is $15 million.
The hotel will offer a spacious lobby, a full-service restaurant and bar with seating for up to 60 people, outdoor firepits, pool, fitness center and guest laundry. The Shop is a small store which will sell a variety of products from grab and go food items to guest necessities. Guest rooms will offer a microwave, refrigerator and coffee. The hotel also houses a 1,584 square foot conference room which can be separated into two rooms. Room rates will start at $139.00.
“Opening this hotel during a pandemic has been a challenge, but it has all been well worth the time and hard work to get it done,” said Bonnie McPeake, chairperson, McPeake Hotels, Inc. “Fortunately, despite these times, we see plenty of demand from the business and leisure traveler and having the Hilton brand makes it very recognizable for the consumer. We now have a great trio of hotels with this one, the Hampton Inn and Towne Place Suites in one location.”
The executive team of the hotel consists of David Byers, general manager, who has been on board since construction of the Hilton Garden Inn started two years ago. Byers has previous hotel experience in the area with the Comfort Inn and Suites. Sonya Sasser will serve as assistant manager and has more than 20 years of experience in the hotel industry. Jor’l Campbell has been named food and beverage director. He possesses more than 25 years in the food and beverage industry. Chef Campbell most recently served at CharBar7 in Southern Pines and as the general manager at The Mill at Puppy Creek in Raeford, NC.
About Hilton Garden Inn The award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand provides business and leisure guests upscale, affordable accommodations and unexpected amenities for an experience that is ‘Simply on Another Level.’ The Hilton Garden Inn Promise affirms the brand’s goal to make each guest’s stay better and brighter. Guaranteed. Team Members at more than 870 hotels in 49 countries and territories around the world ensure today’s busy travelers have a bright and satisfying experience, starting with the first hello. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. For more information about Hilton Garden Inn, visit www.hgi.com or newsroom.hilton.com/hgi, and connect on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
Other Cottages Planned as Part of Numerous Enhancements at Dormie Network-Owned Club
PINEHURST, NC (November 20, 2020) – Dormie Club, located just minutes from North Carolina’s historic Village of Pinehurst, has unveiled three new cottages along the 18th hole of its Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw-designed golf course.
The cottages — two standard and one executive — include four bedrooms with private bathrooms, a kitchenette and seating area designed for cards or board games, and a separate TV lounge space, with gas fireplace, course views and an exterior patio. The executive cottage includes an outside fire pit, a full bar, and several of the bathrooms offer double sinks and steam shower function.
The club, built in 2010 and acquired by Dormie Network in 2017, was widely heralded upon its debut. A walking golf course, Dormie Club was crafted into more than 300 rolling acres of land, and features 100-foot elevation changes, two natural lakes, and hardwood and pine forests.
Two other cottages at Dormie Club are nearing completion, including an expansive, two-story owner’s cottage with an exterior deck overlooking the lake next to the 5th fairway. The cottage’s lower level showcases an entertainment area equipped with bar, TV lounge, golf simulator and on-grade patio.
Dormie Club’s ongoing enhancements both on and away from the golf course also include a 16,600-square-foot clubhouse and a stand-alone pro shop, scheduled to debut in July 2021, along with a total of 15 cottages of several sizes, all reflecting the rustic, secluded nature of the club’s golf course and its surrounding environment. A new club entrance gate, maintenance and housekeeping buildings and on-course comfort station are all expected to be completed by early- to mid-2021.
Also around the highly-regarded Coore-Crenshaw layout, the bunkers have been restored using the Better Billy Bunker system, cart paths have been enhanced, winding walking bridges have been constructed, several new tee boxes accessible by walking trails have been added, landscaping has been refreshed, hundreds of trees have been removed to improve views around the property — while a new practice putting green and parking area are also being constructed. An extended driving range will eventually measure about 310 yards, including two indoor hitting bays on the back end.
“Dormie Club is Dormie Network’s flagship property and it’s located in the Home of American Golf, so our members and their guests, who are primarily golf aficionados, expect the best when they are here and we are going to deliver,” said Dormie Club General Manager Tony Chapman.
Dormie Club is one of six private destination golf clubs owned and operated by Dormie Network, each of which has experienced significant renovations and/or expansions following their acquisition. The network does not pass on any assessments to members and holds no debt on any of its properties.
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
Event to Benefit Programs Associated with the Carolina Horse Park Foundation
PINEHURST, NC (October 27, 2020) – The Carolina Horse Park’s Painted Ponies Art Walk returns to Southern Pines in 2021 and will run from January 30 through March 30. In its second year as a fundraising event for the park, the Painted Ponies Art Walk has grown for next year to feature 12 sculptures (10 ponies and 2 smaller foals) painted by local artists. The sculptures will again line Broad Street in downtown Southern Pines for visitors and residents to enjoy. Designed to captivate locals and visitors as they shop, dine and stroll, the Painted Ponies Art Walk is anticipated to increase foot traffic in the downtown area throughout the event.
There are 18 local businesses sponsoring the Painted Ponies, including the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Other sponsors for the 2021 Art Walk and Auction include Artistic Kitchen & Baths, Audrey Wiggins Real Estate, BB&T now Truist, Better Homes and Gardens Lifestyle Property Partners, Cabin Branch Tack Shop, Chef Warren’s Market and Bistro, English Riding Supply, Everything Pines Real Estate, Opulence of Southern Pines, Mabus Farm and General Contracting, River Jack Outdoor Trading Co., Southern Pines Equine Associates, Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic of the Sandhills, Southern Whey, The Pilot, Twin Gates Farm and WhitLauter by Leann Parker Estate Jewelry.
“We are thrilled to bring the ponies back to Southern Pines,” said Bryan Rosenberg, Carolina Horse Park board member. “Our sponsors were a huge part of that success. We are excited by the sponsors that will join us for the 2021 event. Their enthusiasm will help ensure another positive event for the community.”
“Our Painted Pony will embody our vision of what the ‘Home of American Golf’ means to us as an organization,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB. “We really enjoyed promoting the inaugural event and auction last year and pleased we could expand our involvement this year with our own Destination Storyteller, Dan Dreyer, painting our pony.”
Sponsors, artists, equestrians and visitors to the Painted Ponies Art Walk are all invited to use the hashtag #PaintedPoniesCHP when posting to social media. The event culminates in an auction of the ponies on April 3, with all proceeds benefiting the Carolina Horse Park Foundation.
The Carolina Horse Park (CHP) Foundation is a 315-acre, nationally recognized premier equine competition venue and preserve located in Hoke County, NC. Founded in 1998 as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization by equestrian enthusiasts, CHP is dedicated to the preservation of open space for equestrian events, as well as educational and recreational purposes.
For more information about the Painted Ponies Art Walk and Auction, visit www.CarolinaHorsePark.com.
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
ConventionSouth Magazine Honors Destination for Best Meeting Sites in the South
PINEHURST, NC (October 20, 2020) – The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has earned its eleventh consecutive Readers’ Choice Award as determined by the voters of ConventionSouth magazine. The CVB is among nearly 380 convention and visitors’ bureaus, meeting facilities and hotels located across the South to receive this year’s award.
There are only seven 11-time winners of this particular award throughout the Southeast and the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB and the Greensboro CVB are the only organizations in North Carolina to achieve this level of recognition.
According to CVB executive vice president, Beverly Stewart, the organization garnered top votes for the best meeting sites in the South. More than 8,000 voters participated in this year’s Readers’ Choice survey. The survey also reported its highest voter participation via social media this year. The Readers’ Choice Awards program started in 2001.
“Receiving this award for the eleventh time is a tremendous honor and it never gets old,” says Beverly Stewart, executive vice president for the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Of course, we have a truly unique area to promote, but during these challenging times, this award indicates that meeting planners still have the Pinehurst area top of mind when it comes to places to gather for great meetings. We hope we can get back to those larger scale meetings as we get into 2021.”
“ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB has been selected to receive our annual Readers’ Choice Award,” said ConventionSouth Associate Publisher Ashleigh Osborne. “The value in receiving this prestigious recognition is that it comes from the United States’ top meeting professionals who hold events in the South. These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have contributed in determining that Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB indeed displays the commitment to professionalism, creativity and service that they require.”
Since its creation in 2001, this is the eleventh time that Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB has received the award, making it an even greater honor to present it with a 2020 Readers’ Choice Award. Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB will be featured as an award recipient in the December 2020 Awards Issue of ConventionSouth magazine. This exciting issue will also showcase some of the most talented meeting professionals in the nation as ConventionSouth also presents planners with its annual “Meeting Professionals to Watch” designation. “Featuring peer advice and trade secrets from our Meeting Professionals to Watch in 2021, our Awards Issue is one of the most popular must-read resources within the meetings industry,” Osborne said.
Celebrating almost 40 years as a leading meeting planning resource, ConventionSouth magazine is based in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and is distributed to more than 18,000 meeting professionals located across the country who book meetings held within the South, according to Osborne.
The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2019, Moore County ranked as the eleventh largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $563 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.
