Peggy Kirk Bell is one of America's best-know, most admired, and most honored golf celebrities.

A native of Findlay, Ohio, she moved to Southern Pines, NC, in 1953 when she and her late husband, Warren (Bullet) Bell purchased Pine Needles.  With her family and three other partners, she became owner of Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club, also in Southern Pines, in 1994.  Both feature classic Donald Ross golf courses that date to the mid-1920's.

As an amateur in the 1940's Mrs. Bell was one of the nation's best players. She won the Ohio Women's Amateur three times and also captured the famed North and South Amateur in Pinehurst, one of the game's most prestigious events. Other major wins were in the Eastern Amateurs and the Augusta Titleholders.

Mrs. Bell was one of the Charter Members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association along with Patty Berg, Babe Zaharias, Betsy Rawls, Louise Suggs and others. She teamed with Zaharias to capture the International Four Ball and was a member of the Curtis Cup Team in 1950 and the Weathervane Team in 1951.

When the Bells purchased Pine Needles in 1953, one of her first projects was establishing a unique series of Golf. For her many contributions, she has been the recipient of numerous major awards including the USGA's Bob Jones Award, the Golf Writers Association's William Richardson Award, the LPGA's Ellen Griffin Award, the National Golf Foundation's Joe Graffis Award, and the National Golf Course Owners Order of Merit.

She is in four Halls of Fame, a master professional and holds three honorary doctorate degrees.

Because of Mrs. Bell's many contributions to women' golf and Pine Needles' outstanding course, the USGA awarded Pine Needles the 1996 US Women's Open Championship with Mrs. Bell serving as honorary chairman. The event returns to Pine Needles in 2001.

She is active in a number of civic, charitable and sports organizations, including The Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Mrs. Bell has two daughters and a son and six grandchildren. Her entire family is active in the management of both Pine Needles and Mid Pines resorts.

As graduate of Rollins College, she has written an instructional book and has produced two teaching videos. She is a frequent contributor to golf publications.

Business Affiliation
Owner, Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines, NC, and Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club, Southern Pines, NC. Founder of Golfaris (golf schools) at Pine Needles in 1960. The Golfari Schools are among the nation's first golf schools.

Author  
"A Women's Way to Better Golf." Mrs. Bell has produced two instructional video tapes: "How to Play Your Best Golf," and "Women's Golf."

She has contributed to Golf Digest Magazine, Golf Magazine, Golf World Magazine, Par Magazine, and Golf For Women Magazine.