Life

What to Know About USGA’s Golf House Pinehurst

by David DeSmith

Since its inception, the USGA has amassed the most extensive collection of golf artifacts and memorabilia in the world. The USGA Museum was originally located in New York City, but the organization eventually chose a location in Liberty Corner, N.J., where the museum opened to visitors in 1972 in a location adjacent to USGA headquarters. The museum there has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors every year since, and in 2008, a Himalayas-style putting course was added, giving people yet another reason to make the trek to the USGA’s New Jersey campus.

Fast-forward to today, and the USGA is putting down roots in another location, and one with a long golf history of its own: Pinehurst, N.C.

When the Golf House Pinehurst project was announced in 2020 after several years of planning, then-USGA CEO Mike Davis said: “There is no better place for the USGA to plant new roots than the Home of American Golf… we are taking a bold step forward and forging a long-term commitment that will elevate our championships, foster greater innovation in golf, and ultimately help grow the game.” The announcement included the news that Pinehurst No. 2 would host U.S. Opens not just this year, but also in 2029, 2035, 2041, and 2047, making it the first of three anchor sites for future Opens identified by the USGA (the others now being Oakmont and Pebble Beach). In 2029, Pinehurst will host back-to-back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships, as it did previously in 2014.

On May 10, Golf House Pinehurst—including the USGA Experience and World Golf Hall of Fame—officially opened on its new, seven-acre campus, located just steps from the Pinehurst Resort’s Carolina Hotel and main clubhouse. USGA CEO Mike Whan underscored the historic nature of the development at its official opening, saying: “When I joined the USGA, I shared with our internal teammates that while the USGA will always celebrate history, we’re not going to be afraid to make some. Today is proof positive that we’re just getting started. In four years, we’ve gone from vision to reality, and achieving this important milestone is the action of more than a visitor, but a neighbor.”

If you’re attending the 2024 Open, in addition to the on-course action you’ll be just a short stroll from USGA Golf House Pinehurst and its many attractions and other elements, including:

The USGA Experience: An immersive view of golf and the USGA’s work to unify, showcase, govern, and advance the game. The Science of Golf and Championship galleries feature interactive multimedia displays that incorporate augmented reality, interactive touch screens, sculptures, and trophies.
World Golf Hall of Fame: Where golf fans can discover and relive the legacies of those who’ve written golf history. On June 10, the Hall inducts a new class of members that includes Tom Weiskopf, Padraig Harrington, Sandra Palmer, Johnny Farrell, Beverly Hanson, and the 13 LPGA founders.
USGA Golf Museum Special Exhibitions: Fascinating exhibits that highlight the USGA’s deep collection of golf artifacts from throughout golf history.
The USGA’s Research and Test Center: Where the organization will now conduct its testing of clubs and balls to ensure that they conform to the rules of golf.
The Glade: An outdoor learning landscape designed to help elevate awareness of the USGA’s ongoing work to make golf more sustainable, with native pants and pollinator habitats.
The Grove: A restoration of the ancient longleaf pine forest native to the region, through a partnership with North Carolina State University.
The USGA Shop: Where visitors can purchase various USGA championship-logoed products.

In honor of the grand opening, admission to the USGA Experience and World Golf Hall of Fame will be free through the end of June.

The USGA’s footprint in Pinehurst will also be its HQ for the development of a national team program aimed at helping America’s best young players achieve their true potential, regardless of economic background. Heather Daly Donofrio, an LPGA alumna who most recently served as the LPGA’s Chief Tour Operations Officer, will head up the program as its Managing Director of Player Relations and Development. Chris Zambri, former Pepperdine and University of Southern California golf coach, will be responsible for identifying, recruiting, and coaching the athletes brought into the U.S. Development Program. Zambri will oversee international competition schedules, training sessions, and camps, and build and direct a team of coaches and managers who’ll work with athletes throughout all levels of the program.

If you find yourself in the Pinehurst area sometime in the future—if not for the Open, then hopefully for a personal round on one of the resort’s 10 premier courses (and don’t forget about The Cradle)—make sure to allocate time for a visit to the Golf House Pinehurst campus. There’s no better place to make some golf history of your own.