Plan Helps Locals Get To Open

BY MATTHEW MORIARTY: Staff Writer, The Pilot

Even though Jacque Weston lives in Pinehurst, she’ll have to drive to Eastwood and take the shuttle bus just like spectators from all over the world to get to the U.S. Open.

The Open transportation plan includes two satellite parking lots. One is on N.C. 73 in Eastwood. The other is south of Pine-hurst on Sandpit Road in Pinebluff.

Weston and her husband, Gerry, live on Pinehurst No. 6. It’s too far for a hike to the walk-in gate at the clubhouse. They discussed biking to the Open, but that isn’t allowed.

Unless the Westons can work out a deal with one of their neighbors to be dropped off at the gate at the former World Golf Hall of Fame off Midland Road, they will have to drive to the satellite lot. But, she said, that it is not something worth worrying about, especially considering the benefits the Open brings to the area.

“It’s a little inconvenient,” she said, “but it’s not that big a deal. We all have to give and take.”

There are many people like the Westons; locals who plan to attend the Open but don’t know exactly how they fit into the transportation plan.

The Open has developed a transportation plan for local residents, as well as people coming in from outside the county for the championship June 13 through 19. It is much like the plan that worked well in 1999.

“In 1999, our transportation system was very effective in reducing traffic congestion in the immediate area surrounding the championship,” said Lee Bowman, director of operations for Pinehurst Championship Management (PCM), the division of Pinehurst Inc. responsible for Open logistics. “With the increase in overall traffic in our area since 1999, it will be even more critical that local residents follow our traffic guidelines.”

The transportation system is designed to assure a smooth traffic flow and to reduce congestion, said officials with Pinehurst Championship Management.

Unless they can walk or drive a golf cart to the championship (there will be three golf cart parking areas), the best thing for residents to do, Bowman said, is to head to one of the two satellite parking areas.

Residents can also drop off spectators at the former World Golf Hall of Fame site located off Midland Road near the Traffic Circle. Parking in Pinehurst during the Open is prohibited.

Parking violations “will be closely monitored and towing will be enforced,” according to a release from PCM.

“There will be no championship parking for general spectators within the village of Pinehurst,” Bowman said. “General spectators should use the satellite lots. It will be the fastest, most convenient and enjoyable way to get to the Open.”

Residents are asked to adhere to the following guidelines and road closures during the week of the championship to help ensure a smooth traffic flow:

Midland Road (N.C. 2) and N.C. 5 are the primary shuttle traffic routes and should be avoided as much as possible, particularly between the times of 7:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., which are peak shuttle hours.

Law enforcement has advised that parking in nondesignated spaces on the rights of way of village and state roads will not be permitted. Vehicles will be ticketed and towed.

The Pinehurst Police Department will closely monitor parking areas in the downtown.

Morganton Road will be closed from Doral Drive to N.C. 5, with local traffic detoured to Monticello Drive. Pine Tree Drive will be closed at the intersection with N.C. 5. Local traffic requiring access to Pine Tree Drive will be routed to the light at the intersection of N.C. 5 and Lake Hills Road.

“The parking and transportation plan will be very similar to the successful strategy utilized in 1999 when Pinehurst first hosted the Open,” Bowman said. “Our satellite parking system will make it as easy and efficient as possible for spectators to enter and leave the championship grounds.”

Visitors traveling to North Carolina for the Open will find trail signs on interstate highways and on the primary routes leading to the Sandhills area. Signs will direct spectators to satellite parking areas within Moore County.

The 120-acre red/north satellite parking lot can accommodate 12,000 cars, while the 50-acre blue/south lot can park 5,000 vehicles daily, according to PCM.

More than 125 complimentary shuttle buses will run continuously from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, dropping spectators at the Pinehurst Harness Tracks across from the championship grounds. More than 100 State Highway Patrol troopers, along with local law-enforcement agencies will be strategically stationed throughout the area to assure safe, smooth traffic flow, Bowman said.

“By following our traffic guidelines, residents can ensure another successful transportation outcome,” he said. “We appreciate everyone taking the time to familiarize themselves with these plans so we all can enjoy the excitement of championship week.”

For local residents planning to attend the Open, Pinehurst Championship Management suggests the following:

n Residents who live north of N.C. 211 and those who live between U.S. 15-501 north and Midland Road (N.C. 2) should use the red/north lot by taking U.S. 15-501 north and turning left on N.C. 73 west. The lot is two miles on the right.

n Residents who live south of Midland Road and east of N.C. 5 should use the blue/south lot by taking U.S. 15-501 South/U.S. 1 South and turn right on Roseland Road. The lot is two miles on the left.

n Residents who live west of N.C. 5 should take N.C. 5 south to the intersection of U.S. 15-501 south and U.S. 1 south and use the blue/south lot by taking U.S. 15-501 South/U.S. 1 South. Turn right on Roseland Road and then left on Sand Pit Road. The lot is two miles on the left.

More than 2,000 of the 5,000 volunteers for the Open live in the Sandhills area and should use the volunteer parking lot during their volunteer assignments, Bowman said. To access volunteer parking, turn on N.C. 5 from U.S. 15-501/U.S. 1 South in Aberdeen. At the intersection of N.C. 5 and Linden Road in Aberdeen, turn left onto Linden Road. The entrance to volunteer parking is two miles on the left.

Locals living in close proximity to the championship can use one of three golf cart designated parking areas:

# For people who live west of N.C. 5, parking will be by the second tee of Pinehurst No. 3 and No. 5 across N.C. 5 from the championship grounds.

# For residents of Fairwoods On Seven, golf cart parking is allowed adjacent to the admission gate behind the ninth green on Pinehurst No. 2.

# For residents of Doral Woods and Monticello Road, golf cart parking will be provided on the third hole of Pinehurst No. 1.

For people living north of the traffic circle (Village Acres of Pinehurst and Pinehurst No. 6), it is recommended that you not use golf carts for transportation for the week of the Open. Any unlicensed vehicle traveling on publicly-owned roads will be ticketed. Private carts will not be allowed on the Championship grounds.