Paradise in the Pines

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The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area of North Carolina is a burgeoning music destination. And no one has a better pulse of the local music scene and its potential like Baxter Clement, owner of Casino Guitars in downtown Southern Pines. Clement has spent most of his life in the music industry and has traveled the world to perform.But, Southern Pines and Moore County has always been home for Clement and while his touring days are pretty much over, his guitar empire is known across the globe. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, Clement talks about his life in music, being married to the Mayor of Southern Pines, our talent-rich music scene and the potential for a major regional music festival for our destination.

Tim Russell is the new executive director of the Sunrise Theater in downtown Southern Pines. His path to the stage at the Sunrise spans the globe from Australia to Hong Kong to Europe as a corporate executive. All along the way, he's always been a huge music fan and part-time musician. He's been a resident of Moore County for about 10 years, and when the chance to manage the Sunrise became available, he jumped at it. Russell brings a ray of sunshine to the Sunrise and in this episode of Paradise in the Pines, he talks about his vision for the venerable venue, his passion for music and how Moore County is becoming a burgeoning music destination. @visitnc  #mooremusic #sandhillsnc #southernpinesnc

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Golf doesn't just bring people from all over the world to experience our world-class, Top 100 courses— it also attracts a variety of businesses connected to the golf industry.One of those is Dr. Savannah Gardner, a board-certified chiropractic physician and owner of The Movement Foundry in Southern Pines. Originally from Jupiter, FL, Dr. Gardner is also a Titleist Performance Institute Medical Level 3 expert.Gardner's love for golf led her and her family to find their place in the Home of American Golf. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, hear how she built her brand, what brought her to the Pinehurst area, and—despite being a Floridian—why she's more likely to shout Roll Tide instead of Go Gators!

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Millions of people love to play golf, but there is arguably no one more passionate about playing golf on as many courses as possible than Greg Ohlendorf. And we're are not just talking any golf courses. Ohlendorf is the second person to play Golf Magazine's World Top 100 Courses and Golfweek's Top 100 Modern and Classic Golf Courses. He's also played in all 50 states, more than 1,000 courses and in 16 countries. All that travel and he now calls Pinehurst home! Author of the book "Global Golf Travels," Ohlendorf set his clubs down recently to enter the Paradise in the Pines podcast to talk about his golf adventures, his favorite courses, and what motivates him to play the best golf courses in the world. ‪@golfweek‬ ‪@golfcom‬ ‪@GolfChannel‬ ‪@visitnc‬ #visitncExplore the podcast

North Carolina ranks as the fifth most-visited state in the U.S., welcoming approximately 43 million visitors in 2023. The state's tourism efforts are driven by VisitNC, part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Scott Peacock, the Director of Marketing for VisitNC, works alongside state tourism director Wit Tuttell and the VisitNC team to implement strategies that attract visitors and boost spending across the state. The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB collaborates closely with VisitNC to ensure statewide promotions also highlight the Sandhills region, known as the Home of American Golf. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, Scott Peacock shares insights into VisitNC's mission, the ongoing effects of Hurricane Helene, and what's ahead for North Carolina tourism in 2025. ‪@visitnc‬ #visitnc

From the battlefield of Iraq and Afghanistan to the plush confines of The Country Club of North Carolina, Joe Steadman has quite the story to tell. Throughout it all, the one common denominator and glue that has kept him going is the game of golf. From his youth growing up in upstate New York to his current role as the director of instruction at CCNC, Steadman has been a student of the game and his passion is paying off. Recently, Steadman was named to Golf Digest's list of the Best Young Teachers in America for 2025-26. In this episode of the award-winning Paradise in the Pines, Steadman talks about his love for golf, his teaching style and his plans to grow the game lesson by lesson. ‪@GolfDigest‬ #homeofamericangolf ‪@visitnc‬ #visitnc ‪@usga‬

Cassy Tully could be considered the female version of LeRoy Neiman. Her artwork celebrates the style, captures the memories, and preserves the legacies of majestic golf courses, prestigious properties, and private patrons. Her championship golf art includes works for the USGA, PGA of America, Veteran Golfers Association, and the Arnold Palmer Foundation. She created official artwork for the 2020 Ryder Cup, which took place at Whistling Straits, very close to where she's from in Wisconsin. Tully recently moved to the Pinehurst area and opened a new studio in downtown Aberdeen. Cassy's mission is to use her talent to give back and make a difference. In this Paradise in the Pines episode, Tully talks about her work, her move to the Home of American Golf, and her love for the game! @visitnc @usga @PGATOUR @PGAofAmerica #homeofamericangolf #visitnc

Survivalist, Ninja, the Black MacGyver! His name is Hakim Isler, the nation's premier professional African-American survival expert. He is most notably recognized for his appearances on Discovery Channel's Naked & Afraid, Naked & Afraid XL, and FOX's Kicking & Screaming. A man of many skills, Hakim is a decorated combat war veteran, Ninja sixth degree black belt, certified close-protection specialist and professional self-defense & combat weapons instructor. Now a Moore County resident, his new business, The SOIL Foundation, provides individuals and families an opportunity to unplug, regroup, and heal through contact with nature today in order to prevent mental health struggles tomorrow. Check out the latest episode of Paradise in the Pines!  @visitnc  #visitnc #sandhillsnc #survivaltraining  @nakedandafraiduncensored6131 

Our U.S. Open series of podcasts continues this week with Angela Moser. She was the lead designer of Pinehurst No. 10, the resort's newest golf course in nearly three decades. While Tom Doak receives credit as the main designer, Moser played a daily and intricate role in building and shaping the course which opened in April to rave reviews. Moser is immensely talented as a landscape architect and golf course designer but does so in a male-dominated industry. Originally from Germany, Moser has traveled the world under Doak's guidance for more than 10 years and has more than earned the respect of her boss and her peers. Check out the latest Paradise in the Pines from the U.S. Open as Moser talks about creating Pinehurst No. 10 and how she made her way within the golf industry. ‪@pinehurstresort‬ ‪@GolfDigest‬ ‪@GolfChannel‬ ‪@visitnc‬ #visitnc #homeofamericangolf

If you watch WRAL-TV weekdays in the morning, or at noon, you've seen him. If you play golf in the Pinehurst area, you may have seen him walking our area courses (he's easy to spot as a lefty). Jeff Hogan has called the Raleigh area home for six years and while he's a trusted news source at the Big 5, he's also an avid golfer and loves to tee it up inside the Home of Amercian Golf every chance he gets, especially with our podcast host! In our final Paradise in the Pines broadcast from this year's U.S. Open site at Pinehurst No. 2, Hogan talks about covering a major golf event, the current state of his game and how he'd tame the untamable No. 2... ‪@usga‬ ‪@pinehurstresort‬ ‪@WRAL5‬ #homeofamericangolf #visitnc ‪@visitnc‬

Ryan Lavner is living his best life and dream job as a golf reporter for Golf Channel and NBC Sports. In our continuing series of Paradise in the Pines podcasts recorded on-site at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, Lavner talks about his career on the road covering the PGA Tour and other aspects of the golf industry. We also learn how he fared playing No. 2 for the first time and whom he rates as the "best dressed" talent on the Golf Channel set between Brandel Chamblee, Rich Lerner and Todd Lewis! Check out the latest episode of Paradise in the Pines! For more information on the Home of American Golf, visit www.HomeofGolf.com. ‪@pinehurstresort‬ ‪@usga‬ ‪@GolfChannel‬ ‪@NBCSports‬ ‪@visitnc‬ #visitnc #homeofamericangolf #sandhillsnc

Our special on-location U.S. Open podcast series continues this week with someone who has perhaps the most memorable tie to the championship. Mike Hicks was the long-time caddie for Payne Stewart and had a front row seat for all the drama that unfolded during the final round of the 1999 U.S. Open. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines from Pinehurst No. 2, Hicks recalls that epic final round, Payne's historic final putt and how much he misses his good friend... ‪@pinehurstresort‬ ‪@usga‬ ‪@visitnc‬ #visitnc #homeofamericangolf

Ann Ligouri is an icon in sports broadcasting. Host, executive producer, and owner of the award-winning Sports Innerview cable series, an original sports talk show host on WFAN New York and the Golf Channel, Ann covers golf from the major championships to various PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events. Ann is a recipient of the Met Golf Writers Association's Winnie Palmer Award among a long list of career accolades and accomplishments. We caught up with Ann at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 at our special championship Paradise in the Pines broadcast location. ‪@usga‬ ‪@pinehurstresort‬ ‪@visitnc‬ #usopen #pinehurst #visitncExplore the podcast

Imagine playing in your first PGA TOUR event and it just happens to be at the U.S. Open. Oh, and its also in your hometown! That's exactly what's happening to Southern Pines native Michael McGowan. The son of former PGA TOUR player Pat McGowan and grandson of the legendary Peggy Kirk Bell, McGowan grew up around Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, played collegiately at UNC and is now poised to compete with the world's best golfers on the game's grandest stage at historic Pinehurst No. 2. Will we see a storybook ending on championship Sunday? Check out the latest Paradise in the Pines as we take a moment with McGowan and his performance coach Veronica Karaman to talk about how he made the field for the 124th U.S. Open, his nine-year journey on mini tours to make his debut this week on the PGA TOUR and how he truly believes he can win the championship! ‪@usga‬ ‪@PGATOUR‬ ‪@visitnc‬ ‪@pinehurstresort‬ #homeofamericangolf For more podcasts, visit www.homeofgolf.com

If you visit or reside in the Pinehurst area, or Moore County in general, you likely have seen the work of Bob Koontz and his team from KoontzJones Design. As a landscape architect and planner, some examples of his team's work include USGA's Golf House Pinehurst, Golf Pride's Global Innovation headquarters, Pinehurst No. 10, Morganton Park (where the new Target resides), and the new Graybull Club golf course in Nebraska as part of the Dormie Network. A native of Northern Virginia, Koontz and his family moved to Southern Pines in the early 2000s, so he has seen and has been a part of the growth of Moore County the last 20 years. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, Koontz talks about current projects, the new Autoport motorsports race course near Robbins and what he sees in the years ahead inside the Home of American Golf. For more podcasts, go to www.homeofgolf.com/podcast ‪@visitnc‬ ‪@usga‬ #landscapearchitecture

Dan Van Horn is the President and Founder of U.S. Kids Golf. What started as a father simply trying to make golf easier and more enjoyable for his kids has become the world's leading provider of kids' golf equipment, tournaments, and development best practices in the world. Since 2018, U.S. Kids Golf has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Businesses in golf by the National Golf Foundation. In 2022, Golf Business Magazine stated “no organization has done more to grow the game of golf than U.S. Kids Golf. It's not even close.” The annual U.S. Kids World Championships will mark its 19th year competing inside the Home of American Golf and annually brings together some of the best junior golfers from all 50 states and more than 30 countries. The event has an estimated $16.5 million economic impact on the Pinehurst area. Check out this episode of Paradise in the Pines as Dan Van Horn talks about the growth of U.S. Kids Golf, how much Pinehurst has played a role in his success, and what the future holds for the organization.

Will commercial flight service ever return to the Moore County Airport? We may know soon according to the facility's new director, Rick Cloutier. He was named director in the fall of 2023 taking over from long-time director Ron Maness. Cloutier brings a wealth of aviation experience to his new role and steps in as the airport plans to welcome players and corporate execs from around the country and the world for the 2024 U.S. Open in June. Beyond the championship, the Moore County Airport has big plans for the future and Cloutier took time to visit the Paradise in the Pines podcast to tell everyone all about it. Listen in as Cloutier talks about the potential for the return of commercial flight service to Moore County, his aviation background, the upcoming Festival D'Avion and his love of bourbon and cigars! @visitnc #moorecountync #aviation

Dr. Tom Dorsel is Professor Emeritus of Psychology, a clinical/sport psychologist, and author of the best selling book, “GOLF: The Mental Game.” He currently works with golfers in both Hilton Head and Pinehurst. With major championship golf season upon us in 2024, what better time than to talk about the most challenging six inches in the golf game - the space between the ears! Dr. Dorsel has published hundreds of articles about the mental part of the game including for such noted publications as Golf Magazine, Golfweek and Golf Digest. Check out this episode of Paradise in the Pines as Dorsel delves deeply into the mental part of golf! @visitnc @usga @PGATOUR @golfweek @GolfDigest #mentalgame #sportspsychology

Dan Van Horn is the President and Founder of U.S. Kids Golf. What started as a father simply trying to make golf easier and more enjoyable for his kids has become the world's leading provider of kids' golf equipment, tournaments, and development best practices in the world. Since 2018, U.S. Kids Golf has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Businesses in golf by the National Golf Foundation. In 2022, Golf Business Magazine stated “no organization has done more to grow the game of golf than U.S. Kids Golf. It's not even close.” The annual U.S. Kids World Championships will mark its 19th year competing inside the Home of American Golf and annually brings together some of the best junior golfers from all 50 states and more than 30 countries. The event has an estimated $16.5 million economic impact on the Pinehurst area. Check out this episode of Paradise in the Pines as Dan Van Horn talks about the growth of U.S. Kids Golf, how much Pinehurst has played a role in his success, and what the future holds for the organization.

Robert Hayter is a landscape architect by trade, but there is no one title that defines him. Hayter possesses a wealth of knowledge not only about his trade, but also about a number of topics which made for one of our most interesting Paradise in the Pines episodes. Among his accomplishments, Hayter co-authored Pinehurst's first unified development ordinance and Moore County's plan for highway corridor development in the 1990s. Over the years, he has done work for Duke University, Pinehurst Resort, Colonial Williamsburg and The Homestead Resort in Virginia. He even taught for many years at Sandhills Community College. Talk about a life well-lived! A modern day Frederick Law Olmsted? Many may agree. Give it a listen and Robert Hayter touches many topics and may inspire you in this Paradise in the Pines podcast. For more episodes, visit: www.homeofgolf.com/podcast

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Mitch Capel is a storyteller, poet, recording artist, actor and author born in Southern Pines. Since 1985, he has been bringing stories to life and delighting audiences throughout the United States with his warmth, wit and compelling storytelling style. As a youth, he was inspired by “The Life & Works of Paul Laurence Dunbar." The genius of Dunbar's work coupled with the joy in his grandmother's eyes and the passion of her delivery reading the book to him left an indelible impression in Mitch's heart. So much so, he is considered the "national interpreter" of the poet laureate's work. Capel has performed all over the country at countless storytelling events and conventions, and has also appeared at the The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and at the inaugural celebration for Barack Obama. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, Mitch Capel tells a few stories, talks about his love for the game of golf and growing up in Southern Pines.  @visitnc  #moorecountync #sandhillsnc #storytelling #visitnc

This is one podcast you want to check out! Warren Lewis is a chef, entrepreneur, world traveler, wildlife photographer and true Renaissance man. More affectionately known in the Sandhills as "Chef Warren" and proprietor of the impeccable dining establishment in Southern Pines that bears his name, he is always into something. And whatever it is, Lewis does it with verve, energy, passion and with a purpose. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, Lewis talks about his eye behind the camera, his skill in the kitchen and his mesmerizing, yet unexplained connection to the country of Iceland! Come along for the whirlwind tour with Chef Warren Lewis!  @visitnc   @NCsandhills   @foodandwine  #visitnc #sandhillsnc

The son of a farmer and a school teacher from Richmond County, Tom McInnis was raised on traditional values and beliefs. As a reigning fifth-term North Carolina Senator, McInnis is in the midst of an effort to secure a sixth term as he serves constituents in Moore and Cumberland counties. While the CVB does not endorse candidates and is non-political, Sen. McInnis efforts have impacts on the tourism industry. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, Sen. McInnis takes on many topics and we invite you to take the time to listen and share!

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a great holiday season and welcome to 2024! This episode of Paradise in the Pines is our look ahead at 2024. As we celebrate two years and 45 episodes in, we take a look back over the last year and share some highlights from past guests, including a little of what to expect in 2024. Enjoy, be sure to search for Paradise in the Pines on your favorite podcatcher, and subscribe!

Taylor Clement is the newly elected mayor of Southern Pines. Aside from being mayor, she is a wife, mother of three, entrepreneur and business owner. The thread through all of those attributes is a passion for the town of Southern Pines and a vision for the future inside one of most rapidly growing areas of North Carolina. Check out this latest episode of Paradise in the Pines as Clement talks about her Kentucky roots, how she ended up owner of a guitar shop, her rise into politics and what lies ahead inside her town and overall within the Home of American Golf... @visitnc #visitnc #southernpinesnc #sandhillsnc

Bill Fields is an award-winning golf writer and journalist from Southern Pines who got interested in writing about sports as a boy in North Carolina sharing the sports section of The Greensboro Daily News every morning with his father. His writing continued through high school and later as editor of The Daily Tar Heel as a student at UNC. Throughout a multi-decade career, Fields has written for daily newspapers, major national sports publications, and even locally for PineStraw magazine. Since 2017, he has been a contributing researcher at NBC Sports, providing information to announcers on golf broadcasts including the U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the Ryder Cup. He was part of two Sports Emmy-nominated production teams. He will be alongside Dan Hicks in the booth providing research content for this year's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. His list of honors and awards are lengthy, but perhaps his highest achievement was as the 2020 recipient of the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, Bill Fields talks about his long career, some special golf memories and growing up in Southern Pines. @visitnc @pinehurstresort #visitnc @NBCSports #pinehurstnc

Talk about insider politics, Brian Lewis is the ultimate insider at the N.C. General Assembly. As a lobbyist and the owner/principal for New Frame, he and his colleagues gauge the bipartisan pulse of our lawmakers in Raleigh. Among many political topics and issues, Lewis is a huge friend and advocate of the tourism industry as he possesses a vast knowledge of hotel occupancy tax legislation and its enforcement across all 100 counties. His weekly podcast #DoPoliticsBetter is a huge hit among legislators as they sometimes vie for a spot on his show, so they can advocate for issues and break news on new ones. We caught up with Lewis when he wasn't rubbing elbows with state senators and representatives at the recent North Carolina Tourism Industry Association (NCTIA) Leadership Conference in Raleigh to talk about his passion for politics, cycling, cigars and golf in Pinehurst. @visitnc @ncweekend #sandhillsnc #ncpolitics #visitnc #DoPoliticsBetter

Jaime Diaz has spent 40 years documenting happenings in the world of golf. The respect among his peers and a long list of career accolades are many. Diaz is a nine-time Golf Writers Association of America award-winner; earned the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism in 2012; and was recognized by Jack Nicklaus as the recipient of the Memorial Golf Journalism Award. He spent time in his career as a golf writer or editor for the New York Times, Golf Illustrated, Golf World, and Golf Digest. Since 2018, Diaz has appeared regularly on Golf Channel as an in-studio analyst and on Golf Central's Live From broadcasts at major golf tournaments and events. Originally from San Francisco, Diaz has called Moore County home for 17 years, but this is his first appearance on the Paradise in the Pines podcast. Listen as Diaz talks about the state of the game, LIV Golf vs. the PGA TOUR, his love of Pinehurst and what he really thinks about Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee…

Eric Kuester started his career at Pinehurst Resort as a front desk agent. Fast forward 20 years and Kuester is now on the front lines of one of America's greatest golf resorts poised to host the 2024 U.S. Open, its first such championship in 10 years. Since the Resort hosted its first U.S. Open in 1999, capped off with one of the most memorable moments in golf history as Payne Stewart made an iconic putt to win the championship, Pinehurst has been continually adding to its lore. In recent years, the Resort has added new amenities on and off the course, will soon welcome the USGA's Golf House Pinehurst, the return of the World Golf Hall of Fame, a new course at Pinehurst No. 10, and so much more. Kuester took some time to enter the Paradise in the Pines podcast to tell us more about what we know is coming from Pinehurst and what is to come.

For nearly 10 years, Linda Parsons has served as the President and CEO of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce. During her tenure, Parsons has witnessed the growth of the Moore County business community, seen it more recently impacted by the COVID pandemic, and now emerging as one of the leading areas in North Carolina for growth and a positive business climate. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, listen as Linda Parsons talks about the Moore County business community and what she sees on the horizon at the Chamber of Commerce.

We hope you have been enjoying our bi-monthly podcast, Paradise in the Pines. The podcast is all about the people, places and stories that make us the Home of American Golf. This time, the podcast offers a unique twist. In a somewhat hostile takeover, we're giving our boss a break and taking over the airwaves! In this episode, listen as CVB staffers Dan Dreyer, Ashley Baker and Melissa Holt talk about everything they love about travel, the destination, what they do for the CVB and their favorite recommendations in Moore County. They do it all and never even talk about golf! As you know, we may be golf here, but we are also so much Moore!

From a humble upbringing in Raeford, North Carolina, Sally Austin is recognized inside the Home of American Golf and beyond as a champion and trailblazer for women's golf. Austin's love for the game was instilled by her father and she honed her skills under the tutelage of the legendary Peggy Kirk Bell at Pine Needles, where she still teaches the game today. A faithful and diehard North Carolina Tarheels fan, Sally was part of the first women's varsity golf team at UNC Chapel Hill in 1974 and later became their head coach during the 1992-93 season and directed the program for 16 years. Austin lives in Pinehurst and when not teaching or enjoying all the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area has to offer, she also serves on the prestigious N.C. Golf Panel traveling the state to rank the Top 100 golf courses from the mountains to the coast. In July, Austin won the super senior division of LPGA Professionals National Championship at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA. Sit back and enjoy this episode of Paradise in the Pines with Sally Austin. For more podcasts, go to www.HomeofGolf.com/podcast/

With Pinehurst Resort officially "on the clock" for the 2024 U.S. Open, we wanted to check in with Janeen Driscoll from the USGA to get the latest updates as we countdown to golf's national championship returning to the Home of American Golf. Plus, what's going on with the build out of Golf House Pinehurst, the World Golf Hall of Fame and so much more. Listen to the latest Paradise in the Pines podcast and learn more about all the excitement with the USGA HQ2 coming to town! @usga @pinehurstresort #visitnc @visitnc #pinehurst #pinehurstnc #usopengolf

U.S. Kids Golf is a global brand, recognized around the world as one of the leaders in attracting youth golfers to the game. However, the epicenter of the efforts and leadership for U.S. Kids Golf is right here in the Pinehurst area of North Carolina. Chris Vonderkall is vice-president of the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation and has been with the organization for more than two decades. The mission of U.S. Kids Golf is to help kids have fun learning the lifelong game of golf and to encourage family interaction that builds lasting memories. While the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation and their Golf Academy is located at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines, it is perhaps best known inside of the Home of American Golf for its annual U.S. Kids World Golf Championships, played on 11 different golf courses in the Sandhills area during a two-week period from the end of July through early August. In this Paradise in the Pines podcast, Vonderkall talks about his passion for the mission of U.S. Kids Golf, how he arrived and enjoys the Pinehurst area with his family and his love for the Pittsburgh Steelers! @USKidsGolfFDN @pinehurstresort @usga #visitnc #pinehurstnc #homeofamericangolf

North Carolina is the sixth most-visited state in the country. The main reason why people make plans to visit the Tarheel State is Wit Tuttell, the Executive Director of Visit NC. Tuttell oversees a team passionate about everything from Murphy to Manteo and every town and hamlet in between, including the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area. To catch up with Wit, who enjoys minor league baseball and barbecue when not touting tourism, we brought our podcast, Paradise in the Pines, to the Visit NC nerve center in downtown Raleigh. Listen in as we learn more about the secret sauce behind the state's travel and tourism strategies and why people choose North Carolina more than ever before. @visitnc @ustravelassoc @SoutheastTourismSociety #visitnc

Natalie Hawkins has been leading the charge for Moore County's economic development for over two years. As president of the Moore County Economic Development Partnership (formerly Partners in Progress), she and her team are constantly seeking new business opportunities and enhancing current ones to define the future of the area. To accomplish these goals, Hawkins is constantly speaking and negotiating with elected officials and community leaders to find common interests and solutions for issues and create future opportunities for businesses attracted to Moore County. In her spare time, Hawkins loves to travel, experience new culinary adventures, and get in a little golf from time to time. Check out this Paradise in the Pines episode and learn more about the future vision for the Home of American Golf. #moorecountync #visitnc

Happy Anniversary to the Country Club of North Carolina as they celebrate their 60th year. The club has a championship pedigree dating back decades and has witnessed some of the greats in the game compete in USGA and other notable events, including the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Hal Sutton, Fred Couples and Webb Simpson, among many others. In April 2023, CCNC will host the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Golf Championship on their Dogwood Course (April 21-24). The Dogwood (#3) and Cardinal courses (#13) are ranked high in the latest N.C. Golf Panel poll of the Top 100 courses in the state. Aside from golf, the club provides an array of amenities and experiences for its members and guests. They've even embraced the latest sports craze - Pickleball! Listen to this Paradise in the Pines podcast as Don Hunter (COO) and Jeff Dotson (Director of Golf) talk about the legacy and what's yet to come at The Country Club of North Carolina.  @usga   @visitnc  #visitnc  @GolfChannel  #pickleball #golf For more information about the Pinehurst area of North Carolina, visit: www.HomeofGolf.com

Joshua Peyton is a purpose-driven person. As president of the Veteran Golfers Association (VGA) which he founded in Pinehurst in 2014, and as an Army veteran, served 20 years at Fort Bragg as part of the 82nd Airborne division. The VGA is a national non-profit organization that offers military veterans the opportunity to enjoy competition and community through golf. VGA membership is open to all U.S. veterans – wounded, non-wounded, disabled, active duty and retired – as well as to their families, including parents, siblings and dependents who are at least 18 years old. There are more than 17,000 members nationwide. Each year, the VGA hosts hundreds of golf tournaments all over the country, culminating with a national championship event. In the podcast, Peyton talks about the VGA, his own golf game and his love for the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area of North Carolina.

The fourth annual Painted Ponies Art Walk is a sure sign of spring in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area of North Carolina. More than a dozen beautifully painted ponies line the streets of downtown Southern Pines along Broad Street between February to early April in celebration of the deep equestrian culture in the Sandhills. The Painted Ponies are a public art display that benefits the Carolina Horse Park Foundation. The CVB is a proud sponsor of two ponies. Bryan Rosenburg, chairman of the board at CHP recently joined the Paradise in the Pines podcast to talk about the Painted Ponies, his lifelong love for the equestrian lifestyle and what's happening at the Carolina Horse Park this year. #visitnc #sandhillsequine #paintedponies

Bob Farren is known as the “keeper of the greens” at Pinehurst Resort, a responsibility he has enjoyed for 41 years as the Director of Golf Course & Ground Management. In 41 years, you could say Farren has seen it all – a resort that was owned by the bank when he arrived in 1982 to now one of the most revered and globally-recognized golf resorts in the world and the first anchor site for the U.S. Open. Farren grew up in West Virginia, the son of a golf course superintendent, so you could say the seeds of golf were planted at an early age. In the last four decades, he has overseen 14 USGA Championships, including three U.S. Opens, and will host another in 2024 on historic Pinehurst No. 2. In between, add renovations to No. 2, No. 4, No. 8, the addition of The Cradle short course and soon to be completed “tenth course,” the coming of the USGA Golf House Pinehurst and World Golf Hall of Fame and you have one of the busiest men shaping not only golf landscapes, but the future of the Cradle of American Golf. Enter Paradise in the Pines and listen to a fascinating discussion with Bob Farren about how Pinehurst has become the model of the golfing world for others to follow. @USGA @pinehurstresort @visitnc #2024USOpen #homeofamericangolf www.pinehurst.com

If you are a fan of the arts, you are familiar with the Arts Council of Moore County. That means you likely know Chris Dunn and Ray Owen, a dynamic duo that are passionate about the arts and its place in the culture of Moore County. The Arts Council is the center of a thriving creative district, with arts and cultural industries generating $13.2 million in local economic activity annually. The Campbell House, home to the Arts Council, is one of the region's most significant landmarks, owing its existence to the Boyd family. Once part of their Weymouth estate, the natural setting is among the nation's important historic landscapes, encompassing the world's oldest longleaf pines. For more than 100 years, Campbell House has been a beacon of culture, informing, influencing, and enhancing civic life. A gift to the Arts Council is the ultimate expression of faith in our goal of sustaining our community as a place resilient with the arts at its core. In the latest Paradise in the Pines podcast, Dunn and Owen talk about the history of the arts in Moore County and the exciting and innovative things and programs to come. https://www.mooreart.org/  @visitnc  #moorecountync #paradiseinthepines

If you follow professional golf, the names inside the ropes are household names. As a journalist covering the sport, Ron Green, Jr. is one of the most respected names inside the ropes and in the industry. This year, Green, Jr. was named the 2023 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism by the PGA of America. He is the 32nd recipient of the award. His 93-year-old father, Ron Green Sr., won the award in 2006 for his own golf coverage and was a longtime Charlotte Observer sports columnist. They are the first father-son duo to separately win the award. On a recent trip to one of his favorite golf destinations, Pinehurst, N.C., Green Jr. ventured into the Paradise in the Pines podcast to talk about this year's Masters, the upcoming PGA Championship and U.S. Open, how his father influenced his career, what it was like covering the 1982 North Carolina Tar Heels national championship run featuring some kid named Michael Jordan and much more.  @usga   @PGATOUR   @pinehurstresort   @visitnc  #homeofamericangolf #pinehurst

If you haven't been to Red's Corner in Southern Pines, what are you waiting for? North Carolina's first and only permanent food truck and beer pavilion is the hottest place to be and be seen in Moore County. The vision for Red's Corner comes from owner, Rachel Jurgens who is from Bend, Oregon where food trucks have been prevelent for years, so she wanted to create the same vibe here. After three years of painstakingly pursuing the dream of what would become Red's Corner, it has become a reality and the facility celebrated its one-year anniversary on March 17, 2023. Jurgens visited our Paradise in the Pines podcast to talk about what's happening at Red's Corner, the person who inspired the name, her love of horses and her equestrian background and why a west coaster like her now calls the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area home.

Abby Liebenthal has a passion for the game of golf. She grew up around the game in Toledo, Ohio and as the assistant dirctor of media and CRM marketing for the USGA, she enjoys working and playing in the Home of American Golf otherwise known as Pinehurst, NC. Aside from her main career role, she has found another purpose as the founder and president of Fore The Ladies, a female-based, non-profit organization that brings women together to learn how to play golf through events nationwide. Liebenthal is doing her part to increase interest in the game among one of the fastest growing sectors - females! She is helping women continue their journey with the game and participate in all that golf has to offer. Abby is doing her part to make golf more accessible and approachable, while removing the expected barriers such as cost, intimidation and access. Liebenthal took time off the course to enter Paradise in the Pines and we teed up a great converation about golf, the ladies who play it and why the Pinehurst area is heaven on Earth! @usga #pinehurst #visitnc #northcarolina