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Pinehurst Resident Wally with the Hale Cottage built in 1895.
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warm pine–scented breezes, we greet locals
passing by on their way to the Village as they
cheer, "Hello, Wally!" It seems everyone knows
Wally as smiling hellos join the Village Chapel
church bells ringing out over the Village Green
known as James W. Tufts Memorial Park. The
year was 1895 when a certain Mr. Tufts visited
our sandy pines and felt the whisper of the
pines that continues to draw people like Wally
and so many others to the Village of Pinehurst
now celebrating her 125th birthday!
No matter the reason for coming whether it
be the golf, the climate or the sweet Southern
living, we come. For those of us fortunate
enough to have been born here, we tend to
stick around as the tar in the pines which
binds our hearts forever. Golf along with the
Norman Rockwell picture perfect Village
way of life drew my friend Wally and his
parents Jack and Peggy Lally who chose to
retire here. With so many familiar ties to New
England through Frederick Law Olmsted,
who designed the Village, to the Tufts family,
who established the Resort, the quaint Village
welcomed them home.
Born in Chicago and moving to Boston in
the 8th grade when his father made a career
move, Wally moved to Pinehurst after his
high school graduation. The youngest of eight
children, with a twenty-four year span from
oldest to youngest, Wally came along with his
parents. Interestingly, his father’s company
invented the Jaws of Life, the tool which
rescues people out of their wrecked cars after
an accident. When his father became the
president of the company, the family moved to
Boston. Wally smiles, “My mother was a mom,
a volunteer, a hard worker, the investor, I don’t
know how she did it all. She was awesome!”
In considering Florida, Arizona and coastal
North Carolina for a place to retire, once
the Lally family met Pinehurst, they knew
this was home. The year was 1984, when the
Lally's bought a lot near the Harness Track on
Morganton, built a house, bought a Cadillac
from Clark Chevrolet Cadillac and most
importantly bought a golf cart. Wally exclaims,
“They became members of Pinehurst and
lived their dream life! Golf was a huge part of
their life and the anchor for many friendships.
They loved it here and lived here until they
passed.”
From a little boy, Brian Lally known to
all as Wally, knew that he wanted a career
in either the hospitality industry or sport's
world. Thankfully, moving to Pinehurst
accommodated both desires of his heart. As
for his nickname, well this was established in
Pinehurst as well. Wally shares, “When I was
working at the Pine Crest Inn as a busboy, the
bartender Bill Jones gave me the nickname
‘Wally’ because I looked like Wally in the
show ‘Leave it to Beaver,’ and the name stuck.
To this day, people come down and say, 'I’m
looking for a guy named Wally because he
gave my neighbor a lesson last year.'”
Upon graduating from East Carolina
University with a major in communications,
Wally started working at the Resort full-time
and enjoyed a successful career as a golf
pro. He continues, “Working as a golf pro
for several companies who were really big
on customer service was awesome as I am a
concierge guy. Being the youngest of all those
kids, I was always the one to hold the door
for my mom and get the coats put away at
the parties." Continuing his passion to serve
others, Wally makes sure that the golfers and
families who visit have a great experience.
In the golf concierge/trip planner service,
Wally gains most of his clients from word of
mouth references. “The world of golf is a small
world,” explains Wally, “ I recently met a guy
from Cincinnati who knew a friend of mine
from Chicago because of golf. So it’s a really
small world, and this is such a golf town.
The Resort has done a great job as Pinehurst
remains a top 10 golf destination.”
As the sun dances in and out of front porch
pickets in tandem with the white, puffy clouds
framing the evergreens, we refresh with ice
water and enjoy the moment. Wally ponders,
“I would be nothing without Pinehurst. Zero. It
has helped my family, my parents, my career,
my friendships and has taught me how to treat
people. I’m 54 and have been rooting hard for
this place to be great ever since I was 16 years
old. In my youth, I always thought that I would
move somewhere else like D.C. or Charleston,
but I realized, ‘Why would I do that? I have it
all here!’ Pinehurst is my office. I live in the
Village; I work in the Village; my cottages are
in the Village. I’m a 10-minute walk or a golf
cart ride away from earning a living.”
Growing up right across the street from a
golf club in Chicago, Wally started playing golf
when he was four years old with his father.
“I spent my entire childhood at the club,”
remembers Wally. “I was a tennis player,
golfer and swimmer.”
In experiencing golf all over America,
Wally describes golf in Pinehurst as, “World
class! You can play many courses day after day
as you just fall in love and never tire of them."
Among his list of favorite courses?
Pinehurst No. 2 for sure! Pine Needles Lodge
& Golf Club, Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club,
Pinehurst No. 1, the Country Club of North
Carolina, and Southern Pines Golf Club.
"They’re all gems! They’re like pieces of art!"
exclaims Wally.
Built in the late 1800’s early 1900’s, many of
the courses are over 100 years old. Attracting
people from all over the world because of its
history, its charm, people and golf, there’s
just something about the friendly, easy–living
pace of Pinehurst. Encouraging all locals
who aren’t golfers to take a golf cart ride and
experience all of these courses, Wally shares,
“Locals would be so surprised at how beautiful
the courses are, especially Mid Pines. In
the spring, their dogwoods and azaleas are
breathtaking!”
Wally remembers an unforgettable
story that stays with him. “I was working at
Pinehurst Resort, when Bill Jones, the guy who
gave me the nickname, says, 'Jimmy Valvano,
the coach for NC State basketball is coming
to Pinehurst, and he needs somebody to play
golf with him. Will you play?”
Wally continues, “Valvano and I met up at
Pine Needles to enjoy some golf. Valvano was
just out there having fun, smoking a cigar and
really not very good at golf. We get to the third
hole, which is a par 3, and he makes a holein
one. His first and only! He’s like, ‘That’s it.
We’re done. We’re going to the bar, and I’m
going to buy everybody in there something to
eat and drink.’ And that’s what we did for the
rest of the day."
As for Wally's holes-in-one? He smiles,
"I’ve had 4. I recently had one at The Cradle,
which is the new par 3, 9-hole golf course at the
Resort, which is so awesome! You have to give
the Resort credit for making this brave move
which was not an easy decision. However,
it’s the most fun you can have on 10-acres of
land only taking about an hour and 50 bucks
to play. You don’t have to be a member or a
Resort guest to play; it’s unbelievable! On
opening day, there was an 8 year old boy and
a 80 year old man who both made holes–in–
one. I said, 'There’s your marketing plan for
the rest of your life!'"
Since Pinehurst is the cradle of American
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p.28 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 140