How Pinehurst No. 2's restoration project made it better environmentally

Flashback: In 2010, ahead of hosting the U.S. Open, Pinehurst No. 2 decided it would revert the course back into an environment more reminiscent of the Sandhills region where it is located.

• The project meant taking out non-native plants and grasses in exchange for native plants like wiregrass.
• Rather than it being an oasis of bright green Bermuda grass in an area known more for its sand and pine needles, the course would become a little less manicured — though reviews found it made the course more beautiful and a more compelling challenge.

The bottom line: Besides pleasing golfers, the decision made the course better for the environment, according to presentations from N.C. State.

• It enhanced the natural habitat — it helped local pollinator plants, like toadflax, return — and restored environmentally sensitive areas.

• And it reduced the usage of water, fertilizers, pesticides and labor.

What they're saying: "There's some very obvious benefits," Carley said of deferring to native plants and landscaping.

• "One is that you're going to enhance the habitat for wildlife of all kinds … You do increase the biodiversity of the pollinators, the beneficial insects, and by extension the birds and other wildlife."
• "And then environmentally, they reduced the amount of water they were using."