Revamped Pine Needles Gets Another U.S. Women's Open

Beth Ann Nichols at Golfweek with all of the details on new/old look Pine Needles getting a record fourth U.S. Women's Open, this time sadly without patron saint Peggy Kirk Bell around but featuring revitalized architecture.

As he did at the must-play Mid-Pines, 36-year-old architect Kyle Franz is bringing some fun back to Donald Ross’ 1928 Pine Needles design. Not that there was anything wrong with the course restored about fifteen years ago by John Fought, but as The Forecaddie notes, with everything going on in the neighborhood, Pine Needles was starting to lack a certain visual sizzle that you can only find in the sandhills of North Carolina.

Some photos of the recent work, starting with this before/after (arrow on right of image will take you to the after):

Pine Needles, #13: the front-right bunker was expanded to guard hole locations; a 1910s #donaldross style hazard was added in dense native grass area left of the green to improve playability; and, the back-right hole location was restored. @kyle_franz_kmf_golf_design #pineneedles #golf #restoration Photo Credit: @kevinmurrayphotography

A post shared by Pine Needles - Mid Pines (@pineneedlesresort) on Feb 26, 2018 at 11:06am PST