Pinehurst No. 2 History: Donald Ross, the U.S. Open & the Course That Changed Golf

Pinehurst is one of the most famous names in American golf, but how did a North Carolina resort become home to one of the most historic golf courses in the world?

In Episode 14 of Under Par Over Time, Sammy Jo heads to the North Carolina Sandhills to explore the history of Pinehurst No. 2, the legendary Donald Ross course that has hosted some of the biggest championships and most memorable moments in golf.

We go back to the founding of Pinehurst in 1895, the arrival of Donald Ross, and the opening of Pinehurst No. 2 in 1907. Then we follow the course through decades of changes, its transformation into a heavily manicured championship course, and its eventual restoration by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to bring back much of its historic Sandhills character.

Along the way, we revisit some of Pinehurst No. 2's greatest championship moments, including Payne Stewart's 1999 U.S. Open victory, Michael Campbell's 2005 win, Martin Kaymer's 2014 championship, Michelle Wie's U.S. Women's Open victory, and Bryson DeChambeau's dramatic 2024 U.S. Open victory.

Pinehurst No. 2 isn't simply a famous golf course. It's a living piece of American golf history.

Listen to Episode 14 of Under Par Over Time and discover how Pinehurst No. 2 became one of the most important courses in the game.

Sources for today's episode are available in the show notes, along with a companion journal at underparovertime.com.

Professional golf is returning to Asheville, North Carolina, for the first time in more than 80 years. But the Biltmore Championship Asheville isn't actually the beginning of Asheville's PGA TOUR history.

We revisit the Asheville Land of the Sky Open, an official PGA TOUR event from 1939 - 1942, and the remarkable three-year run when Ben Hogan won the tournament in 1940, 1941, and 1942.

Then we bring the story into 2026 as the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville prepares to take place September 17 - 20 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, a Jack Nicklaus-designed course in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The new tournament is part of the FedExCup Fall, with a $5 million purse and 500 FedExCup points available to the winner.

Sources for the episode and a companion journal are available at Under Par Over Time.

Have you ever arrived at the golf course only to discover it's closed for maintenance? Or wondered why perfectly good greens suddenly have thousands of holes punched into them?

In this episode of Under Par Over Time, Sammy Jo takes you behind the scenes to explore the science of golf course maintenance. Learn why golf courses close, what aeration actually does, how different turfgrasses respond to heat, and why golf course superintendents play one of the most important roles in the game.

From bentgrass and Bermudagrass to moisture meters, GPS-guided irrigation, and the maintenance routines used at Augusta National and Pinehurst No. 2, discover what it really takes to keep a golf course healthy all season long.

Whether you're a weekend golfer or simply curious about how championship courses stay in pristine condition, this episode offers a fascinating look at the living landscape beneath every round of golf.

What is the FedExCup, and why did the PGA Tour create a season-long championship?

In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we explore the history of the FedExCup: from Commissioner Tim Finchem's vision of creating golf's version of a postseason to Tiger Woods winning the inaugural championship in 2007.

Learn how the FedExCup points system works, why Signature Events and major championships award more points, how the playoff format has evolved over the years, and why the TOUR Championship has become one of the biggest events in professional golf.

Why does one of the shortest courses on the PGA Tour continue to challenge the best golfers in the world?

In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we're exploring the history of Sedgefield Country Club, home of the Wyndham Championship and one of legendary golf course architect Donald Ross's greatest designs.

Travel back to Scotland in 1872 to meet the young man who would become known as the father of American golf architecture before following his journey to North Carolina, where he designed one of the PGA Tour's most strategic courses.

Sources used in today's episode are listed in the show notes, and you'll find a companion journal entry with additional photos, facts, and research at UnderParOverTime.com.

The Wyndham Championship is much more than the final stop before the FedExCup Playoffs.

Founded in 1938 as the Greater Greensboro Open, it has become one of the oldest and most important events on the PGA Tour. What began as a way to bring visitors to Greensboro, North Carolina has evolved into one of the most pressure-filled weeks in professional golf.

The Wyndham Championship may be one of golf's oldest tournaments, but every August it continues to shape the future of the PGA Tour.

Sources used in today's episode can be found in the show notes, along with a companion journal entry at underparovertime.com.

Sources

• Wyndham Championship: https://www.wyndhamchampionship.com/about/tournament-history/

• Sedgefield Country Club:https://www.wyndhamchampionship.com/about/sedgefield-country-club/
• PGA Tour, Sam Byrd: https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2024/10/25/meet-sam-byrd-who-played-in-a-world-series-and-won-on-tour

When most people think of golf trophies, one image comes to mind: a silver jug held high above a champion's head as crowds cheer and history is made.

But the Claret Jug almost didn't exist at all.

In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we're diving into the fascinating history of golf's most famous trophy, from the red leather Challenge Belt that came before it to the strange series of events that caused The Open Championship to go a year without a winner.

The Claret Jug is more than a trophy - it's a timeline. Every name on it becomes part of golf's story.

Sources:

• The Open Championship
• The R&A
• Young Tom Morris -history
• St. Andrews Golf Links

Golf has four major championships, but only one existed before all the others.

Before Augusta National.

Before the U.S. Open.

Before the PGA Championship.

Before modern golf even looked the way it does today.

In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we’re diving into the history of The Open Championship, the oldest major championship in golf.

Sources

• The R&A
• Prestwick Golf Club
• St Andrews Links
• The Open Championship
• United States Golf Association

The U.S. Open didn’t start as the massive championship we know today.

In 1895, the tournament featured just 10 professionals, one amateur, and a total purse of only $335. Today, it stands as one of the four major championships in golf with millions in prize money, global television coverage, rotating championship venues, and some of the toughest course setups in professional golf.

In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we’re diving into the evolution of the U.S. Open, from its origins at Newport Country Club to the modern championship played at iconic venues like Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Winged Foot, and Shinnecock Hills.

Sources

• United States Golf Association
• PGA Tour
• Oakmont Country Club
• Golf Digest

There are tough golf courses…

And then there’s Oakmont.

In this episode of Under Par Over Time, we’re diving into one of the most demanding and respected courses in the game, Oakmont Country Club.

Built in 1903 with one goal in mind—to challenge the best players in the world, Oakmont has become synonymous with difficulty. From lightning-fast greens that can exceed 14 on the Stimpmeter to over 170 strategically placed bunkers, this course doesn’t just test your swing…

It tests your patience.

And your mindset.

We’ll explore how Oakmont was designed, why it continues to host the U.S. Open more than any other course, and what makes it so different from other venues on the PGA Tour.