Could the USGA be relocating HQ to NC?

[sixcat 3,548]

https://www.wral.com/lawmakers-back-incentives-to-bring-sports-championship-employer-to-nc/19267486/

 

Very interesting piece on the news last night. I think the equipment testing center, museum and visitors center are a dead give-a-way!  Besides, what other sport meets all of these criteria with both men's and women's divisions?

• Invests at least $5 million in the state by the end of 2023.
• Builds at least two buildings totaling no less than 30,000 square feet that are "consistent with the surrounding campus" and house "an equipment testing center for research for advancements pertaining to the business,” as well as a museum and visitors center.
• Employs, for 10 years, at least 35 new employees and at least 50 people total with salaries that average at least $80,000.
• Holds championship events in the state with an aggregate benefit of at least $500 million.
• Holds at least one "men's major professional championship event" every five to seven years and at least one "women's major professional championship event" every 10 years, plus 13 additional championship events.

[greggarner 485]

There was some chatter a while back about the PGA relocating to the Triangle and partnering with one of the universities, but then it all fell apart and they're headed to Texas now. I gotta say, it wouldn't bother me a bit if the USGA wants to set up shop here

[sixcat 3,548]

https://www.thepilot.com/news/usga-picks-pinehurst-for-2nd-hq/article_9d65f182-f218-11ea-954b-f7e53e8eae9d.html

Interesting development. Prices in and around Pinehurst are about to go up.


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[Golfspy_CG2 24,004]

Yeah. I started hearing of this last year.  Makes sense on a lot of levels.  
 

FYI, for those that didn’t know it, GolfPride built its new HQ there a year or so ago.   
 

pretty soon we’ll be calling Pinehurst “The Carlsbad of the East” LOL J/K of course. 

[sixcat 3,548]

US Kids Golf also relocated to Pinehurst in the past couple of year. Truthfully, I assumed they had always been located in Pinehurst.


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[Lacassem 6,790]

Are they hiring facilities managers/directors ?! Managing that complex would be a dream come true 

[Golfspy_CG2 24,004]

45 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

Are they hiring facilities managers/directors ?! Managing that complex would be a dream come true 

It would wouldn't it.  I suspect when the memo went out to employees asking "who wants to move from NJ to Pinehurst?"  There was an immediate line at HR's door asking how to file moving expenses 

[sixcat 3,548]

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[greggarner 485]

25 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

 "who wants to move from NJ to Pinehurst?"

It's not too far a drive from Cary to Pinehurst and then they could just live with the rest of the state of New Jersey

C ontainment
A rea for
R elocated
Y ankees

[sixcat 3,548]

It's not too far a drive from Cary to Pinehurst and then they could just live with the rest of the state of New Jersey
C ontainment
A rea for
R elocated
Y ankees

My niece and her husband live in Cary. I’ve heard them refer to it with that acronym before. They met at Virginia Tech. She is originally from Maryland, he is originally from New Jersey.


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[Bosox04 119]

Just what we need. More folks from NJ moving to NC!

[Golfspy_CG2 24,004]

31 minutes ago, greggarner said:

It's not too far a drive from Cary to Pinehurst and then they could just live with the rest of the state of New Jersey

C ontainment
A rea for
R elocated
Y ankees

I lived in Cary for several years---thus the origin of my screen name.   But I came up from the South---Carolina that is, so I was the reverse transient

[greggarner 485]

1 hour ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

I lived in Cary for several years---thus the origin of my screen name.   But I came up from the South---Carolina that is, so I was the reverse transient

A rare bird indeed! When asked why we moved from Texas, we say, "for the cool summers" and lemme just tell you how much the Yankee-locals love that answer

[Golfspy_CG2 24,004]

8 hours ago, greggarner said:

A rare bird indeed! When asked why we moved from Texas, we say, "for the cool summers" and lemme just tell you how much the Yankee-locals love that answer

Yeah, i’ve gone from Tampa, Fl, to Southern CA, to South Carolina,  to NC to Maryland.   I’ve told my family if I go any further North, then they have my permissions to have me committed

[Bosox04 119]

On 9/9/2020 at 11:10 AM, Bosox04 said:

Just what we need. More folks from NJ moving to NC!

I'm just kidding. I think this is great, and I'm looking forward to going through the museum when the facility is open.

[03trdblack 730]

The other side of the discussion:

 

USGA deal at Pinehurst is cronyism at its worst, experts say

https://www.carolinajournal.com/news-article/usga-deal-at-pinehurst-is-cronyism-at-its-worst-experts-say/

[sixcat 3,548]

9 hours ago, 03trdblack said:

The other side of the discussion:

 

USGA deal at Pinehurst is cronyism at its worst, experts say

https://www.carolinajournal.com/news-article/usga-deal-at-pinehurst-is-cronyism-at-its-worst-experts-say/

The first sentence reads "it's a beautiful day for golfing...", which leads me to assume the author knows nothing of what she speaks.  Don't need to read anything else! 

The John Locke Foundation is listed as a "right-wing pressure group" by SourceWatch with such noted supporters as the Koch brothers, the Bradley Foundation and Art Pope to name a few.  They have actively fought legislation centered around Renewable Energy, Global Warming, Election Reform and Education Reform.  A large portion of their early financial support came from Big-Tobacco. 

Consume information as you choose.  After all, it's a free country.  I for one, will steer clear of anything being pushed by this organization!

[JohnSmalls 5,512]

25 minutes ago, sixcat said:

The first sentence reads "it's a beautiful day for golfing...", which leads me to assume the author knows nothing of what she speaks.  Don't need to read anything else! 

The John Locke Foundation is listed as a "right-wing pressure group" by SourceWatch with such noted supporters as the Koch brothers, the Bradley Foundation and Art Pope to name a few.  They have actively fought legislation centered around Renewable Energy, Global Warming, Election Reform and Education Reform.  A large portion of their early financial support came from Big-Tobacco. 

Consume information as you choose.  After all, it's a free country.  I for one, will steer clear of anything being pushed by this organization!

Considering sourcewatch is run by and funded by the complete opposite end of the political spectrum, one could say the same there.  I digress (and suggest we all do).

Whether or not we are supporters of the move, it appears that the USGA is indeed making their way to NC. Is this a good move for golf? 

[sixcat 3,548]

9 minutes ago, JohnSmalls said:

Considering sourcewatch is run by and funded by the complete opposite end of the political spectrum, one could say the same there.  I digress (and suggest we all do).

Whether or not we are supporters of the move, it appears that the USGA is indeed making their way to NC. Is this a good move for golf? 

Agreed!  Just trying to point out that the online "journals" are biased with agendas that serve their masters.  Moving on! 

It's difficult for me to wrap my mind around how this could be anything but a net positive for NC.  The jobs at the USGA surely won't be the only jobs created.  Considering the USGA has plans for similar "anchor sites" in other US Open "rota" locations around the country, this isn't going to be the end of the story.  It's clear Pebble Beach, Oakmont and Shinnecock Hills are on the list for future sites.  Given the recent renovations at Oakland Hills to remove the Jones family influence, I suspect they will be another.  Some others I would think to be in the conversation would be Torrey Pines, Whistling Straits, Chambers Bay, Erin Hills, and Winged Foot.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/usga-signals-shift-in-philosophy-for-how-it-will-pick-future-us-open-venues-pinehurst-anchor-site-rota

[greggarner 485]

On 9/11/2020 at 7:15 AM, sixcat said:

The John Locke Foundation is listed as a "right-wing pressure group" by SourceWatch

On 9/11/2020 at 7:35 AM, JohnSmalls said:

Considering sourcewatch is run by and funded by the complete opposite end of the political spectrum, one could say the same there.

I used to work on education policy and it was basically impossible to release anything without JLF jumping in. I will say, they are at least consistent: if it involves the government, they're against it. (JLF is very libertarian. They make Rand Paul look like big-government guy.)

That being said and to @JohnSmalls point - regardless of your political stance on the role of incentivizing business, let's focus on how the game of golf might benefit from this move. In general, if a state government wants you and the local economy is structurally ready to support you (hello, Pinehurst), it seems like this is a win all the way around.