Cody Transou, 9, is making his way around hallowed golf territory this summer, playing in a series of kids golf tournaments at the Pinehurst Resort.

Transou recently qualified for the U.S. Kids Golf World championship for the sixth straight year. Cody's age division will play at Pinehurst #8 Aug. 6-9.

The Northwest Elementary student is preparing for the championship by playing on the Pinehurst Local Tour. The tour consists of eight events and will be held on the eight different Pinehurst courses. The championship round will be played at Pinehurst #2 on the same course where Payne Stewart won the 2002 U.S. Open.

Transou has played four rounds against AJ Beachler from Pinehurst, N.C., who is ranked second in the world.

Currently Cody is 9 under par for 36 holes. AJ is 8 under. AJ is ahead on points by winning three tie breaking playoffs.

Trent Phillips, a Boiling Springs resident who attended kindergarten with Transou at Northwest Elementary, is currently ranked no. 1 in the 9-year-old division.

Phillips narrowly won on the last hole of seven tournaments to win the Western North Carolina tour series in their last matchup.

"Cody is playing against some of the best kid golfers in the world on the Pinehurst Tour," said Billy Transou, Cody's father and caddy. "This is a tremendous experience for him to play on these great championship courses, especially Pinehurst #2 where the 2014 U.S. Open will be held."

Pinehurst is one of 44 local tours hosted by U.S. Kids Golf nationally. Family Tee markers help shorten the course to make golf a more enjoyable experience for young golfers.

Widely known as the cradle of American golf, Pinehurst has hosted more single golf championships than any other course in America.

Events have included the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup Matches, and the PGA Tour Championship.

Transou has played on the western North Carolina fall tour and competed in state kids golf events. His father, Billy, was a standout golfer at Gaffney High while his grandfather, Henry, was the head golf pro at Cherokee National Golf Course for 40 years.

The Pinehurst tour is the latest step in Cody's effort to follow in his family's tradition of producing great golfers. He has been playing since he was 4-years-old.

"Cody has played in summer tournaments for several years. It's been a good experience. He's really taken to it," Billy Transou said. "The Pinehurst kids golf tour is the most ambitious schedule he has attempted since he started playing golf.

"I made sure Cody understood there will be a lot of hours in the car riding to tournaments at Pinehurst. Cody never wavered. As soon as I asked him if he wanted to participate, he said, 'let's do it.'"

Along with a drive to succeed, Cody shares another trait all good golfers learn at an early age.

"He doesn't like to lose," Billy Transou said.