Robert Dedman Sr. is a man of means. He’s rich and powerful and obviously comfortable with both.

But money and power are not what Dedman is about. Those are just tools he uses to accomplish the goals he sets for himself and the company he founded, ClubCorp International.

ClubCorp owns, manages or is involved in the construction of 260 golf facilities around the world. One of those is Pinehurst Inc., and, according to Dedman, Pinehurst is the brightest star in the galaxy that makes up ClubCorp.

"First, there was the desire to preserve Pinehurst as the heritage of golf in this country, and maybe around the world," Dedman said in explaining why ClubCorp was interested in the property back in 1984. "Also, it was a business opportunity for us in another division. We were already the largest company in the world in golf, but not in resorts. Pinehurst represented a super opportunity to start a resort division. This was our first resort acquisition, and it’s one of the superstars in our orbit."

At the time, Pinehurst was struggling, financially and image-wise. The name was still magic, but more because of the quantity of its golf courses than for the quality of the resort. Dedman was certainly aware of the situation, but had no qualms about the challenge.

"There were no reservations," he said. "I knew it was right for us and that we were right for Pinehurst. That proved to be true on both counts. Pinehurst because of what it had been and what it could be again, and us because we were peculiarly qualified to restore it to its former glory with the hopes of creating greater glory. But, to get back to where it was, we had to take it to new heights.

"The U.S. Open coming here in June speaks louder than anything I could say."

The men’s U.S. Open will be held on Pinehurst No. 2 June 17-20, and for Dedman and his dedicated staff, that week will be a defining moment. The world will know that Pinehurst is back.

"That was a goal — getting Pinehurst to the point that it could host an Open," Dedman said. "Hosting the Open is a way of saying we have accomplished that goal.

"I like to think we’re just getting started. We always perceive everything we do as a launching pad opportunity to do more with every institution we have. That’s a strong statement, but we live up to it."

Dedman is emotional about Pinehurst and the tradition he feels his company must preserve.

"I can’t think about Pinehurst, all it stands for and our relationship with it, without tearing up," he said, his voice momentarily breaking. "If you love golf, everything about golf, and your relationship with Pinehurst doesn’t reach you, you probably ought to get out of golf.

"We couldn’t do what we do — in golf particularly — if it weren’t an almost soul issue. Golfers will understand that."

Dedman still resides in Dallas, where, as a 31-year-old lawyer he founded ClubCorp, working nights and weekends until the company was able to stand on its own. It’s a billion-dollar organization now, but none of its holdings means as much to Dedman as Pinehurst.

"Pinehurst is the most special," he said. "How does it get better than Pinehurst? This is as good as it gets. We have some super properties in ClubCorp, but nothing comparable to Pinehurst in the whole world.

"The first time I came here, I walked out on No. 2 and tears came to my eyes. It’s so special and I could see that it wasn’t being maintained to the standards that it, the members, the homeowners, the resort guests, North Carolina and the world were entitled to."

Dedman takes the responsibility of keeping Pinehurst atop the golf industry pecking order very seriously. He’s proud that the resort is looked at as "the St. Andrews of America."

"As we get closer to the Open — as golfers — we feel we’re kind of the guardian angel for Pinehurst," he said. "It’s awesome. To come here, acquire the golf Mecca of the world, and having the Open here is as good as it gets."

Still, Dedman expects things to get even better.

"Hopefully we’ll have another Open," he said. "It’s hard to get a more prestigious event. And David Fay, (USGA executive director) has said that the USGA is not a one-stop organization. I think it’s up to us, ClubCorp, members, community, North Carolina, the media and the weather, to collectively demonstrate that we’ve had one of the best-ever Opens and are entitled to it.

"Once you’re secure in that rotation, everybody benefits: the club, members, homeowners’ values and marketability, local merchants, the whole community, generally all of Moore County, the region and the whole state. Everybody has a stake in its being a tremendous success.

"The fruition, hopefully, will be as good as the anticipation."

Not everyone is positive about ClubCorp and its ambitious goals, however, and Dedman has heard and read the opposing views.

"The negativism hurts," he said. "We honestly have a sense of nobility about what we’re doing. We think we’re putting infinitely more back into the community than we’re trying to take from it.

"It does hurt when some don’t perceive that. You’d like to win them all. We always try to go the extra mile for everybody. You have to feel that the members are king, the homeowner partners are king, the guests are king. That’s indoctrinated into our staff. We want to exceed everybody’s expectations, and I feel we have here."

What would Dedman say to detractors?

"I’d tell them to look at our track record," he said. "You can’t say it better than that."

That record shows a tremendous investment in the property, estimated by Dedman to exceed "$40 or $50 million." The building of courses No. 7 and 8, as well as extensive renovations to courses 1 and 5, have cost millions. And No. 4 is currently being rebuilt from scratch by renowned architect Tom Fazio.

"Everything we’ve made here has been reinvested into the facility," Dedman said. "We’re always trying to get better for everybody’s benefit."

And, yes, Dedman does consider himself and ClubCorp among "everybody."

"Our profitability is always a concern," he said. "But we do have a tremendous knowledge of golfers and a tremendous knowledge of the food and beverages that are needed in attracting these people. We have a repeat business mentality, which means we have to do better with the golf, know better how to handle golfers such as logistics with bags, what they like to eat and drink, and make them want to come back."

Coming back. That’s what it’s all about for Robert Dedman. Since the day he walked out onto the No. 2 Course and felt the tears come into his eyes, he’s been hooked.

"I come to Pinehurst every chance I get," he said. "Why not? This is as close to heaven as we can get on this earth."