The Golden Age of Pinehurst

The revered Pinehurst No. 2 golf course, designed by the legendary Donald Ross, was one of the finest in America in the early 1900s. The physically and mentally demanding course, which first opened in 1907, gave players options on every hole. It required them to envision and execute recovery shots from the sandy perimeters and the pine forests as well as think creatively around the intricate greens. It became a favorite of the nation’s top amateurs and professionals. Unfortunately, modernization stripped the course of much of its character. In “The Golden Age of Pinehurst,” sports author and Chapel Hill resident Lee Pace chronicles the restoration of No. 2 from its recent, slick presentation back to a natural potpourri of hardpan sand, wire grass, and Sandhills pine needles. The book’s second edition, shown here, includes events from the 2014 Open Championships at the No. 2 course. Illustrated with color photographs and published by Pinehurst LLC. Hardcover, 336 pages, $49.95; e-book $16.19 (Amazon.com’s Kindle store).