New Partner Joins Bell Family in Mid Pines Ownership

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The Tharani Family through its investment company has joined the Bell Family as a new partner in owning and operating Mid Pines.

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club, a hallmark in the Sandhills area golf and travel industry for nearly a century, is under a new ownership partnership following the purchase on Dec. 1 by the Tharani family of the shares previously owned by three Triad area individuals.

The Tharani Family through its investment company has joined the Bell Family as a new partner in owning and operating Mid Pines, which opened in 1921 with Donald Ross-designed golf course and accompanying hotel.

The Bells, owners of the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club across Midland Road in Southern Pines, bought Mid Pines in 1994 along with Sonny Ridenhour and Jim Marsh of High Point and Jack Campbell of Winston-Salem.  Together they combined the two resorts into one of the area’s most popular golf destinations.

Kelly Miller, son-in-law of long-time Pine Needles matriarch Peggy Kirk Bell (passed away in November 2016), and the President and CEO of Pine Needles Lodge, knew Tharani and thought he would be a good fit to buy Marsh and the estates of Ridenhour (who passed away in 2007) and Campbell (who followed in 2013).

“Our family and staff are thrilled to welcome Haresh and his family to Mid Pines and the Sandhills area,” Miller says.  “They will be great additions and wonderful caretakers to this great property.”

Tharani is chairman of a private holding company that includes real estate and private equity investments and a variety of apparel companies. One of the appeals of the property to him is its rich heritage—the course designed by Donald Ross and co-owned at various times by LPGA founding member Peggy Kirk Bell and World Golf Hall of Fame member Julius Boros.

“Mid Pines has history and rich traditions,” Tharani says.  “It has the right bones.  Kelly and I share a vision for what Mid Pines has been and can be in terms of growing the game, enhancing the community and engaging the community. The first time I saw Mid Pines, I was overwhelmed by the greatness of the facility and the area around Mid Pines.  My instincts assured me this would be a wonderful place and family to be involved with.”