Pinehurst No. 2 at Pinehurst Resort celebrating its centennial

Pinehurst No. 2 is celebrating its 100th birthday this year with a nine-month party, starting in April.

Everybody who plays No. 2 this year will sign the archival registry – so people 100 years from now will know you shot 102 – and received a “commemorative gift of the course’s greatest stories.”

That includes Ben Hogan’s first pro win and Walter Hagen’s win at Pinehurst after an all-night drunk.

You have to admit, even if you’re one of those who thinks No. 2 is overrated, that it has withstood the test of time.

With all the advancing technology, the stars still say they love No. 2, and it keeps attracting major tournaments.

Pinehurst is a bit too taken with itself for my liking, but I did enjoy playing No. 2. I’m not a good enough player to totally absorb the total, creative impact of the greens, like the best modern players do, but I could sense what they demanded, and the artistry that went into them.