Ten cottages that could hold 56 guest rooms would range in size between 1,800 and 3,500 sq. ft. Nearby residents worry the transient population would cause excess noise, traffic and litter. Bob Koontz of Koontz Jones Design, says each of the 10 cottages would be rented out in full, meaning each individual room would be not rented out, but rather the entire cottage.

Plans were recently presented for 10 cottages that could hold 56 guest rooms at Southern Pines (N.C.) Golf Club, the Triangle Business Journal reported. The club recently underwent an ownership change and restoration process.

The group that also owns and operates the Pine Needles and Mid Pines resorts nearby now also owns Southern Pines Golf Club, the Business Journal reported. That group, led by Kelly Miller, acquired the course in July 2020, according to the Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area.

The idea for the cottages is to be a place where golfers could stay before or after playing at the course, the Business Journal reported. Representatives for the proposed project said the structures would not be classified as a hotel or motel, but rather a golf course resort. Each cottage would range in size between 1,800 and 3,500 sq. ft., said Bob Koontz of Koontz Jones Design in Southern Pines.

Koontz said each of the 10 cottages would be rented out in full, the Business Journal reported. Meaning, each individual room would be not rented out but rather the entire cottage.

“Ownership is creating a true golfing destination that will allow folks to stay on property for tee times,” Koontz said. “The ownership group also owns and operates Mid Pines and Pine Needles, two other Donald Ross courses here in Southern Pines. Folks can stay on this property for a few days, and play all three courses. All three properties will be managed together.”

There was staunch opposition to the cottages from nearby residents who worry the transient population would cause excess noise, traffic and litter, the Business Journal reported. A Dec. 13 public hearing on the proposed cottages lasted four hours as representatives for the applicant and the opposition presented their cases. The issue was continued to the Jan. 10 Town Council meeting.

This is just the latest project to be proposed in fast-growing Southern Pines, the Business Journal reported. The town, home to about 16,000 people, is attracting heightened interest from homebuilders and commercial developers as people flock to the small town seeking a slower pace of life.

The town is getting the first Target store in Moore County, and there have been several large apartment complexes that have been proposed, the Business Journal reported.

Some Southern Pines residents are opposed to the growth the community is experiencing. For example, the first public hearing for the planned Patrick’s Pointe apartment complex saw several residents from an adjacent community voice opposition, the Business Journal reported. The hearing lasted seven hours, and eventually the apartment complex was begrudgingly approved by the Town Council.

C+RB initially reported on plans for the cottages in November 2022.