The Spa at Pinehurst in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina
Julie Register visited the spa at this famous golf resort in July 2005

Lunch arrived in a picnic basket. I had just moved out onto the Spa at Pinehurst's large verandah with my stack of magazines. I spent the morning in the spa - first in the fitness center, then by the pool relaxing with my husband, then having a treatment. Jeff hurried off after his Champions massage to golf on Pinehurst #2 (completed by Donald Ross in 1907), Jeff's first choice of the eight golf courses Pinehurst offers even though it had just been aerated from the US Open. I was very relaxed and planned to spend the afternoon at the spa. I had a number of magazines I brought from home and was determined to read them some time during our trip. What better place than the spa? I enjoyed the Pinehurst Trio Salad Sampler near one of the fountains in front of the spa. While I ate, I read The Best of Oprah's What I Know for Sure, a small book my mother had gotten with her subscription to O: The Oprah Magazine. It was really the perfect choice. It was filled with wisdom and insights to help us cope with our lives...many of the things I have heard from spas, actually.

• Listen. Pay attention. Treasure every moment.
• I've learned not to worry aout what might come next.
• If you don't know what your passion is, realize that one reason for your existence on earth is to find it.
• Your life is a journey of learning to love yourself first and then extending that love to others in every encounter.
• This is the body you've been given. Love what you've got.
• Happiness is never something you get from other people. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.
• It's not easy being grateful all the time. But it's when you feel least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can give you.
• I do it every day. I keep a gratitude journal as Sarah Ban Breathnach suggests in Simple Abundance listing at least 5 things I'm grateful for.

What a great idea! I knew I would never have the discipline to keep a daily journal. Never have. But I thought about five things I was grateful for that day. The first was having time to take this trip with my husband. The second was the lovely place we were staying at - Pinehurst. The third was that I actually got up early to be at the gym at 6 am, so I would have time to work out and eat breakfast at Carolina's with Jeff before our treatments. The fourth was I only had poison ivy on my chin and cheek (usually, I break out all over). It had appeared that morning - a result of gardening earlier that week, no doubt. Fortunately, the spa had no problem switching my treatment from a Fore Layer Facial to a Pinehurst Deluxe body treatment. The fifth was the spa treatment I received.

* The Spa at Pinehurst Adjacent to the Carolina, The Spa is just a short walk from other Pinehurst accommodations and the village. The Fitness Center in The Spa at Pinehurst offers Cybex equipment with individual TV's, free weights and pilates balls

The Pool at The Spa at Pinehurst

Shannon found me by the pool and escorted me to the wet treatment room for my 70 minute Pinehurst Deluxe. She started with an exfoliating pine cream made from sand in the local sand hills. While I showered off under the large rainforest showerhead, Shannon changed the sheets. I returned to the treatment table, and Shannon massaged a thick coat of moisturizing lotion all over my body. She then put a bolster under my knees, a support under my neck and a cloth over my eyes and wrapped me up. She turned down the lights and let my skin soak in the lotion for about 15 minutes. The table was warm. Soft, hypnotic music was playing. I was totally relaxed - close to falling asleep - when Shannon returned. She unwrapped me and massaged more lotion in. I relaxed for about 20 minutes in the women's wet area before I decided to have lunch at the spa.

Spa Reception Desk Women's Locker Room Wet Treatment Room at The Spa at Pinehurst

* Women's Private Steam, Sauna and Whirlpool at The Spa at Pinehurst Spa at Pinehurst Retail Shop Pine Body Scrub and Lotion are available in the Retail Shop

I actually thought of 26 things I was grateful for in the spa that day. Running through that list certainly made me feel blessed.

The Spa at Pinehurst is a 31,000 sq. ft. facility, built in March 2002. It includes a co-ed lap pool and whirlpool, separate men's and women's changing areas with their own whirlpools, steam rooms and saunas. There are 28 private treatments with individual climate and sound controls, six spa suites and a Teen Lounge. The Salon within the Spa includes hair, makeup and nail stations to accommodate 10 guests simultaneously. This includes the luxurious massaging pedicure chairs. Treatments offered include over 40 services, ranging from 30-minute therapeutic baths to daylong packages:

The Spa has received a number of awards:

• Golf For Women
  
  • Pinehurst Resort ranked on the top 10 of resorts that pair fabulous spas with equally great golf instruction (2003)
• Celebrate Living (American Airlines In-Flight Magazine)
  
  • The Spa at Pinehurst - Spa Platinum Award (2003)
• Metro Magazine - METROBRAVO! Awards
  
  • (2004) Standing Ovation - The Spa at Pinehurst by subscribers in the Resort Spa category.
    
  • (2004) An Honorable Mention - The Spa at Pinehurst under the Day Spa category.
• Mobil Travel Guide
  
  • (2005) The Spa at Pinehurst receives the Four-Star rating in the Best Resorts & Spas category

More Spa Photos

Woman's Vanity Area in The Spa at Pinehurst	Women's Locker Room Shower
The CoEd Whirlpool at The Spa at Pinehurs	Spa at Pinehurst Hallway
The Spa at Pinehust Massage Treatment Room	The Spa at Pinehurst Facial Treatment Room
The Spa at Pinehurst Couples Treatment Room	The Spa at Pinehust Hydrotherapy Room

The Spa offers special savings on the Spa Treatment of the Month:

• JANUARY - Personal Training and Hot Stone Massage
  
• FEBRUARY - Magnolia Luxury Facial
  
• MARCH - Carolina Peach Nourisher
  
• APRIL- Ultimate Hydrating Manicure/Pedicure Combination
• MAY - Magnolia Mud Wrap
• JUNE - Gentleman's Pinehurst Facial
  
• JULY- Total Teen Facial
  
• AUGUST- Homestead Mountain Laurel Body Polish
  
• SEPTEMBER - Reflexology
  
• OCTOBER - Seagrove Clay Wrap
• NOVEMBER - Pumpkin Seed Scrub
• DECEMBER - Holly Berry Back and Foot Treatment

More Spa Photos

The Spa at Pinehurst Private Lounge	The Spa at Pinehust Bath
Salon Hair Stations	Manicure Station at The Salon at Pinehurst
Pedicure Station at The Salon at Pinehurst	The Spa at Pinehust Teen Spa Lounge

Of course, there is much more to do at Pinehurst than relax in the spa. Pinehurst’s Amenities include

• Eight 18-hole, world-famous championship golf courses open for year-round play; five off the main clubhouse
  
• Twenty-four tennis courts - eighteen soft Har-tru and six hard surfaced - open for year-round play. Four of the courts are lighted. The tennis program is staffed by three full-time USPTA professionals and has a full schedule of activities, instruction and tournament play.
  
• Two immaculately groomed croquet courts open for year-round play, and instruction available from United States Croquet Association Open Champion Mack Penwell.
  
• A championship lawn bowling course, open for year-round play.
  
• Lake Pinehurst, a 200-acre freshwater lake with seasonal sailing, canoeing, paddle boating, kayaking, fishing and swimming. Amenities also include beach volleyball, covered picnic areas, grills, certified lifeguards, a snack bar, restrooms and complimentary transportation from resort hotel.
  
• Two outdoor swimming pools, with the largest at the Carolina.
  
• Carriage rides through historic Village of Pinehurst, as well as historic walking tours.
  
  

  * The Pinehurst Beach Club on Lake Pinehurst	* Pinehurst Tennis
  * Pinehurst Golf Course No. 2 Hole 2	* Birdseye View of the 2005 US Open at Pinehurst

Pinehurst boasts three world-class hotels:

• The Carolina, opened in 1901 and dubbed the “Queen of the South” and the “White House of Golf,” has 210 rooms plus 12 suites.
  
• The Holly, opened in 1895, was Pinehurst's first inn. It was completely renovated in 1999, a multi-million dollar renovation of its 77 rooms, including 3 suites a $31 million project.
  
• The Manor, opened in 1923, offers casual accommodations with its 45 guest rooms and houses a popular Pinehurst sports bar – Hacker’s at Pinehurst
  
• Pinehurst also offers 40 four-bedroom villas, each with a connecting parlor; and 80 one, two and threebedroom condominiums, each with a full kitchen and located adjacent to several golf course fairways or
  lakeside.

* Pinehurst - The Carolina	The Pool on The Carolina's West Lawn
Bagpipes at Pinehurst	Bedroom in Suite 223
Living Room in Suite 223	Bathroom in Suite 223

Pinehust offers a number of Restaurant and Pub Dining Options:

• Carolina Dining Room – Southern gentility abounds in this elegantly appointed dining room with breakfast,
  lunch and dinner fare. (The Carolina)
  
• The 1895 Grille – Given a AAA Four Diamond rating in 2002. An upscale, delightful room with original hardwood paneling and columns leading toward the atrium ceiling with seating capacity for 60 guests. (The Holly) Expect the best, offering breakfast seasonally as well. Advance reservations are highly suggested in this popular locale.
  
• The Tavern – an authentic recreation of 19th Century Scottish pub, complete with a magnificent English Oak Bar, hand-carved in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1880, and original stained glass and beveled mirror inlays. Casual seating for up to 35 guests. (The Holly)
  
• Donald Ross Grill – Enjoy lunch in this Clubhouse dining setting. Also available for private dinner parties.
  
• Hacker’s at Pinehurst – A casual, sports-themed restaurant, providing an array of appetizers, sandwiches, signature pizzas and the Chef’s special entrée selections. Seasonal patio seating area for 36 is also featured. (The Manor)
  
• Ryder Cup Lounge – Located just off the lobby of The Carolina hotel. Relax with a beverage as you travel back in Ryder Cup history in this lounge which features outstanding Ryder Cup memorabilia.
  
• The Centennial at No. 8 - Offers seasonal lunch and dinner items from its a la carte menu.
  
• Fairwoods on Seven - A delightful gathering spot for lunch, featuring chef’s choice menu and a fantastic view.

We enjoyed the buffet breakfast in the Carolina Dining Room each morning. We also enjoyed a delicious dinner at the 1895 Grille.