SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. -- It is fitting that the acknowledged cradle of American golf, the Pinehurst/Sandhills region of North Carolina, has given birth to the country’s very first Golf Welcome Center, strategically located at the gateway to the region on US Highway 1 in historic Southern Pines.

The Golf Welcome Center© is a 9,000 sq. ft. facility which will offer visiting golfers the welcoming feel of a lodge living room, combined with state-of-the-art communication and reservation links, all enhanced by the personal touch of a full-time Golf and Resort Concierge. The Welcome Center will feature a comprehensive wall map of the region, resort brochure and photo displays, last minute tee-time reservations, a beverage station, internet access, informal gathering areas for groups of golfers and even a 10-foot fireplace to warm up by on a cool morning.

The Golf Welcome Center© is the imaginative product of local residents: Mike Zack, Former PGA Tour player and president of a golf management company, native Southern Pines resident, entrepreneur and philanthropist Linda Covington; and her son Brad Covington, an eight-year marketing communications professional.

Says Ms. Covington; “Our goal is to provide a home-away-from-home for visitors to the area, while at the same time guiding them through all the values and special attributes of the Sandhills resort experience.”

At the heart of the Golf Welcome Center© is the Personal Golf and Resort Concierge, a full-time staffer who is trained to be an expert on everything from the region’s golf course architecture and playing characteristics to the best restaurant, accommodations, and art galleries. The concierge also can help book short-term “value” tee times through a reservations network, which is linked to numerous area courses.

Says Mike Zack, “Even though the Pinehurst area has been ranked the #3 golf destination in the world in Golf Digest, we’ve found that most consumers don’t really know that there are over 40 golf courses in the area available for daily-fee play, not to mention the abundance of restaurants, shopping and cultural offerings. We feel that the addition of our golf concierge will enhance the vacation experience by acquainting visitors with all that the area has to offer.”

Says Brad Covington, “ Maintaining the integrity and perception of the area is first and foremost in the mission statement for the Golf Welcome Center”

The Golf Welcome Center of the Sandhills’© location on US Highway 1 is uniquely strategic as the State of North Carolina is nearing completion of a 12-mile bypass that will reduce traffic lights and make US 1 an efficient four-lane road all the way from the transportation hub of nearby Raleigh. The enhancement project, spurred on by Pinehurst’s hosting of the 2005 U.S. Open Golf Championship in June, and the 2007 Women’s U.S. Open, will not only cut travel time off the trip from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, but will establish US 1 as the preferred access road to the resort area, hence increasing exposure and access to the Welcome Center.

The Golf Welcome Center of the Sandhills© is a privately-held facility that is sustained by area resorts, golf courses, hotels and restaurants, which fund the center’s operations by renting promotional displays and brochure rack space in the center. Display space is also available to golf resort destinations outside of the Sandhills region, such as Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Scottsdale and Hilton Head.

Long-range plans are to introduce Golf Welcome Centers at golf resort destinations around the country. The Golf Welcome Center will provide an economical marketing vehicle promoting the destinations to targeted avid golfers.

The Golf Welcome Center of the Sandhills© will be open seven days a week in season, with slightly reduced hours of operation over the winter.

For further information: Golf Welcome Center, 5375 US Highway 1 North, Southern Pines, NC, 28387, or call 910-692-6242.
Email address www.golfwelcomecenter@vbb.us