Overhills Putting Course Designed By Kyle Franz Opens For Play at Southern Pines Golf Club
18-hole course open daily to Members, Resort Guests and golfers playing Southern Pines Golf Club
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – September 27, 2023 – The Miller, McGowan and Tharani families announce the opening of Overhills, an 18-hole putting course designed by Kyle Franz and located at Southern Pines Golf Club.
“Overhills honors a timeless tradition of the game first developed by the forefathers of golf with Old Tom Morris at St. Andrews and Donald Ross at Pinehurst,” said Kelly Miller, President of Southern Pines Golf Club. “Here, Overhills putting grounds provides something for golfers of all ages and abilities, to be challenged and enjoyed.”
“I was really inspired during my time at St. Andrews to create an experience similar to The Himalayas,” said Golf Course Architect Kyle Franz, who restored all three of the resort’s Donald Ross courses; Mid Pines in 2013, Pine Needles in 2019 and Southern Pines in 2021. “Tom Morris’ design also inspired Donald Ross when he brought his own vision to Pinehurst in 1919. I have tried to capture that spirit in the landscape here at Southern Pines.”
The name Overhills pays tribute to one of Ross’s greatest yet most mysterious works. The 1913 design quietly remained part of a Rockefeller family-owned estate for the bulk of the 20th Century. Today it lies dormant and overgrown on the property that is now Fort Liberty, 18 miles from Southern Pines Golf Club.
The 22,000 square foot putting course will be open daily to Members, Resort Guests and golfers playing Southern Pines Golf Club on a first-come, first-served basis. Amenities include solar lighting to allow play into the evening, music, speaker system and portable custom trailer for special events. The course will also be available for private events.
“We are incredibly grateful for Kyle and his vision here at Overhills,” added Miller. “Kyle, Dave Fruchte (Director of Golf Course Maintenance) and his team have done an incredible job creating a memorable and magical experience here at Southern Pines Golf Club.”
Overhills is an integral part of ongoing restoration efforts at Southern Pines Golf Club. The 1906 Donald Ross course was restored by Franz in 2021. Course-side cottages were recently approved by the Town of Southern Pines and are set for development in the near future.
About Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club / Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club / Southern Pines Golf Club
Nestled in the fragrant pine forest of North Carolina, you will find an experience unlike any other. For nearly a century, golfers have reveled in the serene ambiance of Pine Needles, Mid Pines and Southern Pines Golf Clubs. Three 18-hole Donald Ross designed golf courses have earned us our place among the country’s best golf resorts – and one to which our guests and USGA Championships return to time and again.
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Media Library:
Photo: Overhills with lighting
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