In commemoration of the 150th birthday of Donald Ross in 2022, the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has commissioned the creation of a special edition coin to mark the occasion. The coin shows Ross on the front of the coin and on the flip side is an image of Dornoch Cottage, the Pinehurst home along the third hole of the iconic No. 2 where he lived for many years.

The coin can be purchased for $25 at the CVB offices in Southern Pines. All proceeds from the sale of the coin support the Tufts Archives, whose mission is to preserve the history of Pinehurst. The 2.5-inch-wide challenge coin was produced by MetalPromo of Austin, TX.

“Donald Ross is arguably the greatest golf course architect the world has ever known and among all of his creations for golfers to enjoy, Pinehurst No. 2 is regarded as his finest work,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). “As the undisputed ‘Home of American Golf’ the CVB wanted to do something to commemorate Ross and the one-of-a-kind coin was something we really enjoyed creating, so golfers, fans and historians can remember the significance of his contributions not only to the game, but to the Pinehurst community as well.”

Donald Ross was born on November 23, 1872 in Dornoch, Scotland and after his arrival in America, he was eventually hired as a golf professional at Pinehurst Resort in 1900, where he also began his career as a golf course designer. Today, Ross is recognized as one of the greatest golf course architects in the history of the game. He designed nearly 400 golf courses around the world and his greatest work is considered to be Pinehurst No. 2. He designed four courses at Pinehurst Resort, but also designed other notable courses in the Sandhills of North Carolina including Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club and Southern Pines Golf Club.

The Tufts Archives is a non-profit whose mission is to preserve the unique history of Pinehurst from its founding in 1895 to present. Located in a wing of the Given Memorial Library in the Village of Pinehurst, the Tufts Archives was added in 1975. Its creation was spurred by Richard S. Tufts, grandson of the founder of the village, James Walker Tufts. Richard Tufts and other family members created the Tufts Family Foundation, which provided the funding for the archives, and a small endowment. The archives operate through the generous donations of patrons, the sale of images and graphics, and specific fundraisers. It is open to the public, researchers, media, and scholars at no charge.

“We are thrilled that the CVB created the coin to mark the significant contributions of Donald Ross,” said Audrey Moriarty, Tufts Archives executive director. “In 2022, we are also celebrating the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted, so we look forward to commemorating both gentlemen this year and remembering their collective contributions to the history of Pinehurst.” The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area is home to nearly 40 golf courses within a 15-mile radius in the Sandhills area of North Carolina. Courses in the Home of American Golf consistently rank among some of the finest in the state or the country. Pinehurst No. 2 will host the 2024 U.S. Open and will be the USGA anchor site for future championships in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047. Last September, the USGA announced it will move its second headquarters to Pinehurst and construct Golf House Pinehurst, set to be completed by the end of 2023. Pine Needles will host the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open from June 2-5, the fourth time the historic Donald Ross layout will host the prestigious championship.

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 2020, Moore County ranked as the twelfth largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $396 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county.

# # #