National Golf Club in Pinehurst following Jack Nicklaus' advice

He came, he saw, he made suggestions.

Usually, when Jack Nicklaus makes recommendations, you follow through. Nicklaus visited the National Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., just outside Pinehurst, on a routine course inspection last year.

He liked what he saw of the course he designed in 1988, but suggested the club make a few changes. So the course has embarked upon several improvement projects, including renovating bunkers throughout the course, including. They’ve already taken out three, two of them near the first green and a fairway bunker on the third hole.

National is also in the process of redefining the perimeters of several greens that have shrunk over the years, as greens tend to do. They are cutting back trees and underbrush to help turf quality, and revamping the cart paths.

National is a private club that allows limited outside play.