The Carolinas golf community lost a treasured friend and devoted steward of the game when Ronald “Ronnie” Warren Crow, Sr. passed away on March 11, 2025, at the age of 89. A man of deep faith, unwavering family values, and a lifelong love for golf, Ronnie left a legacy as enduring as the longleaf pines that line the fairways he knew so well.
Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Ronnie charted a life of purpose and service—first as a standout student-athlete at NC State University, then as a U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant, and later as a respected leader in the textile industry. But it was his passion for golf—and the people who shared it—that brought him home to Pinehurst.
In the Sandhills, Ronnie became a fixture of championship golf, volunteering with tireless energy at Pinehurst Resort and Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club. Over the years, he played an instrumental role in organizing the thousands of volunteers required to marshal major championships, including the U.S. Open (2005, 2014) and U.S. Women’s Open (2005, 2007, 2014). He also led the volunteer effort for the North & South Amateur for more than a decade, serving as its chairman for 15 years—a testament to his leadership, attention to detail, and love for the game.
In 2008, he served as Chairman of the U.S. Amateur, and in 2024, the USGA honored him as Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. Open—a fitting capstone to a lifetime spent nurturing the traditions of golf in Pinehurst and beyond.