Pinehurst &
Southern Pines

Pinehurst, NC is to golf as Southern Pines, NC is to riding horses. Who would have ever thought these two quaint little towns in the heart of North Carolina, only minutes from each other would have SO much to offer!
How did I find Pinehurst and Southern Pines? … In 1996, I headed to the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Along the way, I decided I would start to search for a new place to live as I knew Los Angeles was not where I wanted to stay forever. I grew up in Pittsburgh, but, after experiencing 10 years in sunny California, I desired to find a smaller town with warmer weather that would be my “forever” home! I concentrated my search on North and South Carolina thinking that the weather there may be a bit like LA! Looking in larger cities like Charlotte and Raleigh, I decided to take a respite to play a little golf at a place called Pinehurst. BINGO!!! What an amazing little town. Now with a population of only about 16,000 this golf mecca WAS and IS a sight for sore eyes with over 40 golf courses in a 40-mile radius…what more could one ask for! It is known as The Home of American Golf, with its celebrated Pinehurst resort and fabled No. 2 golf course that has played host to several major championships and every golf legend you can name.

What I DIDN’T know at the time was that Pinehurst’s sister town, Southern Pines, is as horse crazy as Pinehurst was and is golf crazy!

Without question, the James Boyd family who migrated here in 1904, brought their love of horses to Southern Pines and made it one of the leading equestrian centers in the nation, They inspired a couple named Ginnie and Pappy Moss to put down roots here during the late 1930s. The Mosses trained horses and developed their own farm, Mile-Away Farm, exactly that distance from the center of town.

The colorful pair joined ranks with the Boyds to preserve thousands of acres for riding and fox hunting. The acreage is now well over 4,000 and growing. After Ginnie and Pappy inherited stewardship of the Moore County Hounds, they recruited horse lovers from all over the country to migrate to Southern Pines. The town with a population of 15,000, is flanked by gorgeous horse farms and shared by riders of all disciplines including eight Olympic equestrian athletes.

A Southern Pines elder statesman by the name of Norris Hodgkin, Jr, who once served as mayor, was quite famous for his quotes. He once described Southern Pines this way.: “All you can see to the horizon is pine trees. Yet hidden beneath them is one of the most vibrant and unique towns anywhere. Its history is remarkable. Thanks to those pines, people come here from all over the world to ride horses or play golf, and many find they simply don’t want to ever leave. I’m sure you know the famous local saying…”Anyone who gets a little sand in their shoes will eventually come back and put down roots”. And I did just that!

Regrettably, Norris passed away in 2016 and I never had the pleasure of actually meeting him, but I agree with his description of Southern Pines one hundred percent. Both Pinehurst and Southern Pines are special places and these lovely little towns have inspired me to not only share more about THESE communities with those that seek the equestrian and golf lifestyles…but to explore many other places that share the same qualities so that we golf and horse lovers may continue to enjoy our passions with friends and family for many years to come. Welcome to Courses and Horses!