It was about as relaxing as it gets for us this year after a great sleep in the Pine Crest Inn and a mere 5 minute drive to the golf course for our 1220pm tee time. I think we even managed a lie in until around 9am - a first during our 40 days in the USA. Iâ??ve just come to the realization that playing golf every single day is actually a bit of a marathon. And looking back on 167 days of non-stop around the clock golf, blogging, meeting new folks and traveling 30,000 or so kilometers, it has already been some journey.
When we finally rose, we found time to check out the Tufts archives (the Donald Ross museum). Donald Ross is a legend of the game of golf, a Scotsman who moved to the US to sell golf clubs, play golf and famously design golf courses.  In the corner of the museum were a couple of golf historians trying to find the mark of Donald Ross on another old US golf course â?? I heard the words â??this might be the oldest Donald Ross in the USâ?¦â?? Weâ??re quickly learning that this guys work is good â?? up there with MacKenzie.
A few other names were dotted around the museum that Iâ??ve quickly learnt are synonymous with Pinehurst. There was an array of information about Peggy Kirk Bell, the owner of Pine Needles and of course Mr Tufts, the guy who sold his soda fountain business to create this golfing paradise.  And of course the champions of Pinehurst: the late Payne Stewart who won the 99 US Open here, the kiwi champion Michael Campbell who won the 2005 US Open here, and of course Danny Lee who won the US Amateur here in 2008. Kiwis have done well in this town, perhaps itâ??s because it is so laid back and chilled out like our country.
Anyway we cruised into the Country Club of North Carolina with plenty of time to spare and were greeted by our hosts, Jonathon Broyles and Cleve Folger. Cleve is a member here at the Country Club and Jonathon, who works at Cleveâ??s insurance firm, Trisure, had kindly arranged the round today.  The connection? Jonathon is mates with Kirby Yawn, the gentleman we have not yet met but who has kindly helped us out here and there including putting us in touch with his father in law at Augusta Country Club, Len Allgood.
There are two courses at the Country Club and both are revered by the Pinehurst locals. Our test for the day was the Cardinal course, with the Dogwood track to wait until next time we visit Pinehurst.Â
Iâ??d describe the course as stately. Large undulating fairways roll through the pine trees and down towards green complexes that are often surrounded by deep blue lakes.  These lakes were manmade by boy they look natural. Check out this one bordering the 18th hole on the Dogwood course which we had a quick look around
The Cardinal course which we played has a great set of par fives - all of which are punctuated by elevation changes and water. If you can bomb a drive you often get the benefit of a downhill springboard which opens the possibility of going for it in two.  Although then youâ??ve got to contend with water short,right or even long of the green. The hole below is the par 5 second - if you have the desire to go for the green you can't leak right. And if you bail out left of the bunker it takes some touch to not pitch it through the green and into the lake.
The course was really fun to play, difficult in parts but it gave you a chance as well - it wasn't a slog. Â And what made it even more fun to play was the perfect conditioning of it and in particular the greens which were rolling true and quickly.
Cleve and I played a cart match against Jonathon and Jamie. So during the round I was fortunate enough to hear all about Cleveâ??s involvement with the First Tee of Raleigh where he has joined the board and contributing to their chapter, a chapter which it sounds like there are some exciting things on the cards. Aside from the Insurance business Cleve also runs a small travel business and has a few other bright ideas he was sharing with me. An entrepreneurial man which I really enjoy. Jonathan was not in my cart and cart golf can be very fragmented so I didnâ??t get time to chat with him too much (unfortunately he had to head away swiftly after the round) but I can say that he was a handy golfer, even if he did stand on the wrong side of the ball.
All in all a top day, one of the most relaxing in a long time. Cleve and I took the spoils and snuck in a cheeky +2 round. The golf is getting better - I think it is a combination of the rest, the warm air, a new putter and that Pinehurst Chilled Out attitude. Iâ??ll leave you with photographs of a couple of par fours I loved, the 4th and the 18th. Both shortish, relying on angles and with the water very much in play.
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