Salem Glen Country Club recently introduced the first Global Positioning Satellite System (GPS) in the Triad. The electronic course management system mounted on the cart, combines state of the art GPS information and two-way communications. In addition to speeding up the pace of play, the GPS system provides cart to cup yardages accurate within one to two yards, detailed graphics of each hole and golf tips. Yardages to hazards and landing areas can be determined along with the distance of your tee shot.

Players can order lunch from the carts and pick it up at the turn. The system informs players of the current time, the cart rules for the day, and their pace of play. When necessary, golfers are able to send messages to the pro shop such as "cart trouble," "send ranger," or "medical request." The placement of the carts on the course can be monitored in the clubhouse for better course management.

One of the advanced features found on the second generation GPS system is the PGA Tour-like tournament scoring from start to finish. Leaderboards are displayed and updated in real time by the participants. The system can manage gross and net scoring along with skins games.

Asheboro Country Club is nearing completion of construction on two new holes at the facility. The fifth and sixteenth holes both par-5s are being moved. The awkward fifth hole featured a double dogleg that will now play straight and require an accurately struck tee shot to avoid the water on the left. The sixteenth another par-5 will feature a straightforward tee shot but for long hitters wishing to go for the green in two they will have to thread the needle to get on the green. The fairway will be narrow and tree lined with a very undulating green.

Homewood Suites by Hilton is the newest addition for lodging in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area. The all-suite accommodations held their official grand opening in mid-May. The 100-suite hotel is located at Olmsted Village, off NC Highway 211 and about one mile from the heart of the Village of Pinehurst.
Homewood Suites will also offer a deluxe continental breakfast daily and evening Manager's Reception Monday through Thursday. In addition to the outdoor swimming pool and picturesque fountain, Homewood will also have an exercise facility.
"What also makes Homewood Suites exciting are the extras you'll find," said General Manager Carolyn Malmrose. "Each suite has its own full-service kitchen with cooktop, full-size refrigerator and microwave."
"The Homewood brand is a good fit for this area, offering outstanding quality and exceptional value for visitors whether they are here for golf, business or a meeting," said Caleb Miles, Executive Director/CEO for the Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area. "The traveling public has developed a real appetite for suite hotels.
In fact, the number of such properties has doubled in the past five years."

Homewood Suites will also bring additional meeting space to the area, accommodating up to 100 people, perfect for intimate gatherings or corporate outings. For further information on Homewood Suites by Hilton, please call (910) 255-0300.

The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach announced the completion of the final phase of its year-long, $6 million renovation project which included renovations to the golf course and the clubhouse. The project, which began in April 2000, added more than 12,000 square feet to the member and guest areas of the clubhouse, doubled the size of the driving range, and modified the golf course. A grand opening celebration for members was held to commemorate the event on Friday, April 27.

On the course, the driving range was expanded 40 yards in length and 40 yards in depth which more than doubled the number of stations from 18 to 40. This significant renovation has provided ample room for day-to-day practice and is now capable of servicing a full field tournament. In addition to the changes made to the driving range, golfers have noticed modifications to the 18^th hole, where a new tee box was added. This new tee box offers an option of playing the par 4 hole as a dogleg left or playing from the original tees as a dogleg right. The club also added an extra hole to the course between the 13^th and 14^th holes. This "alternate hole" is substituted when another hole is closed for maintenance. It will guarantee that eighteen challenging holes will always be open for play.

The idea to build the Dunes Golf and Beach Club was formed in 1947 by the area’s local businessmen. Since its inception, it has proved to be a world class course, offering the best in golf and service. It was the host to prestigious Energizer Senior Tour Championship for 1994-1999. The Robert Trent Jones course has been named in the "Top 100 Courses" by both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, and the famed 13^th hole has been selected by Sports Illustrated as one of the "Best 18 Holes in America."

The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is located at 9000 North Ocean Boulevard.