13 Best Golf Courses In North Carolina
Golfers commence! The state of North Carolina is bursting at the seams with courses that offer a healthy balance of technicality and beauty. North Carolina is known for its versatility in landscape, from the mountainous regions surrounding the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic coastline and alluring Outer Banks. Golf Courses in North Carolina carry the same compelling nature; they are sure to satisfy any golfer’s fantasy of ideal course conditions and prime weather.
Pinehurst Resort #2
Pinehurst Resort is a massive mecca for golf enthusiasts in North Carolina. It has 10 courses, all 18 holes on its grounds. #2 was expertly restored and re-opened in March 2011 from its original design by Donald Ross, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw conducted work on every hole to provide the best possible environment for visiting golfers. It has served as the site of several golf championships, has hosted U.S. Open Championships, and has been ranked as one of the top 5 courses in North Carolina since 2011. Green fees range from $320-$595 depending on the package and season. #2 is only open to guests of the resort. The Carolina Hotel puts golfers conveniently close to the course and features a large, heated pool complex, spa, and complimentary shuttle service.
Pinehurst Resort #4
Pinehurst must be mentioned twice on the list because it is quite simply one of the best golf destinations in the U.S. Pinehurst #4 was designed by Gil Hanse and opened in 2018. Just one year after it opened, it was chosen to host the 2019 U.S. Amateur. Green fees range from $169-$219 and is only open to resort guests. It has been ranked on the 100 Greatest Public courses from Golf Digest since 2021. Pinehurst Resort offers an airport shuttle directly from RDU (Raleigh-Durham International Airport) during peak hours, so most travelers choose to fly into Raleigh out of convenience. Visitors can plan to stay at The Holly Inn directly on the Pinehurst Resort grounds, it was Pinehurst’s first hotel in 1895 and has a classic charm to its comfortable rooms.
Wade Hampton Golf Club
In the western North Carolina town of Cashiers, Wade Hampton Golf Club is a private course designed by Thomas Fazio with backdrops overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is one of the most coveted exclusive courses in the U.S. and is invite only with high-cost memberships. The clubhouse at Wade Hampton offers dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Tavern or Porch. It has incredible views of the course and Chimney Top Mountain while overlooking the opulent homes that line the surrounding area. Wade Hampton Golf Club has been ranked on Golf Digest "100 Greatest" consecutively since 1991.
Tobacco Road
Designed by Mike Strantz, Tobacco Road was established out of a sand quarry in 1998 in central North Carolina, just 30 minutes away from Raleigh. If booking far ahead, guests can have a chance to stay in one of the rustic cabins on the property, otherwise, golfers typically choose to stay in nearby Sanford. The course itself is public and ranked among the best courses in the world; it has been ranked on GolfDigest for '100 Greatest' since 2009 along with 'Best in State' for North Carolina. It has been in North Carolina's top 15 since 2019. The clubhouse is open daily at 7:00 am and offers food and drinks at the Pack House Snack Bar with “to-go” sandwiches and drinks. Tobacco Road also runs a beverage cart while on course.
Lonnie Poole
With a convenient location near downtown Raleigh, Lonnie Poole is accessible to the public on the Centennial Campus of NC State University. The course serves as the venue for both men’s and women’s golf teams at NC State and was originally designed by Arnold Palmer and his team (which included two NC State graduates, Erik Larsen and Brandon Johnson). Lonnie Poole has been ranked as the #1 Public Golf Course in Raleigh for four years in a row by NC Golf Panel. Lonnie Poole Golf Course has affordable green fees for the general public that range from $75-$100 with discounts for NCSU Faculty, staff, and students. The course has a two-story clubhouse for golfers to enjoy with views of the Raleigh skyline with most amenities reserved for the golf teams and faculty. The Stateview Hotel just across the street is a visitor favorite for its convenience to the course and fantastic restaurant and bar, Flask & Beaker.
Old Town Club
Old Town Club is a private course dedicated to its members and their guests in Winston-Salem. It was designed by architect, Perry Maxwell, on the R.J. Reynolds estate and officially opened for play in 1939. It is the official home course for Wake Forest University and has ranked in the top 5 golf courses in North Carolina since 2019 according to GolfDigest. Along with the course, Old Town Club has several amenities for members to enjoy, including a large outdoor pool, fitness center, and dining rooms serving lunch and dinner. Old Town Club also serves as a venue for large outdoor weddings and corporate events.
Pine Needles
A darling of public courses in North Carolina, Pine Needles is a sought-after resort in Southern Pines, just 70 miles south of Raleigh. It was designed by Donald Ross in 1927 and restored by Kyle Franz in 2017. Pine Needles has been awarded four U.S. Women’s Open Championships and is in close proximity to Mid Pines and Southern Pines Golf Club. The course has been rated the #4 golf course in North Carolina according to Golfweek. Pine Needles has a fantastic golf academy for learning golfers that spans over 4 days with meals included and instruction from winning professionals. For visiting golfers wanting to stay overnight, the Lodge at Pine Needles is a chalet style accommodation with a heated pool, fitness center, and restaurant to enjoy. The course green fees range from $115-$305 depending on the season and day of the week. Visitors can take advantage of stay and play packages that vary in accommodation, meal offerings, and play access to the course.
Biltmore Forest Country Club
The Biltmore is a private, invitation only club that was founded in July of 1922 amongst the famous Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The course was designed by Donald Ross with Baltimore based architect, Edward L. Palmer designing the clubhouse. The course has been ranked in North Carolina's top 15 since 2021 by GolfDigest and has hosted several USGA Championships; it is ranked #11 in the state of North Carolina by Golf Digest. The historic club features a fitness center, tennis courts, Golf Pro Shop, locker rooms, bedrooms for overnight stays, dining rooms and a bar for guests to enjoy.
The Pointe Golf Club
Opened in 1995, The Pointe Golf Club has served as a fun, playable course in the Outer Banks. It was designed by Russell Breeden and has been rated in the top 15 courses in North Carolina on Golf Advisor for four years. It appeals to golfers of all skill levels and includes a practice facility, in house club repairs and regripping, and golf lessons. Rates vary seasonally but are generally affordable with the lowest rate at $60 during the low season. The Pointe Golf Club is located in Powells Point in the Outer Banks with the closest airport being Norfolk International airport just 82 miles north. Most visitors stay across the bridge in Kitty Hawk or Duck with several hotels, like the Sanderling Resort, overlooking the Atlantic coast.
Linville Land Harbor Golf Club
Beautifully maintained and member owned, Linville Land Harbor Golf Club is an affordable public course within the Blue Ridge Mountains. The course has a rating of 75.3 according to Golfday and green fees range from $33 to $48 for a full 18 holes dependent on the season. The front nine holes was designed by Tom Jackson and was opened for play in 1972, later, in 1982, Ernie Hayes designed and developed the back nine holes. Next to Hole #9, The Patio Grill is a newly build restaurant open for lunch from May to October. The club also houses a golf shop and practice facility for members and guests.
Elk River Club
Located at 5000 feet and surrounded by Beech, Sugar, and Grandfather Mountains, Elk River Club is the perfect golf course oasis to escape the muggy heat of peak season. The course was named as one of North Carolina’s top 10 courses in 2021 by the state’s golf rating committee and has appeared on Golf Digest's top 30 since 2021. The club was founded in 1982 and designed by Jack Nicklaus; it is a privately owned club with members limiting out at a max of 245. Along with the golf course, Elk River Club includes an equestrian center, private airport, tennis courts, pool, and fitness center.
Diamond Creek
High elevation, fresh air, and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains greets golfers at Diamond Creek in Banner Elk, North Carolina. This private course was expertly designed by Tom Fazio and officially opened in 2003 as a member only, private club. The course has been ranked on Golf Digest's top 100 greatest since 2013. It has an award-winning clubhouse with book-lined lounge, excellent food at Artisanal (a restaurant open to the public), a wellness center, and equestrian center. Diamond Creek is close to the town of Banner Elk where members will typically stay while visiting the course; Little Main Street Inn or condos at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort serve as excellent stays during golf season summers.
Southern Pines
Open in 1906, Southern Pines is one of the earliest course designs of Donald Ross. The course is open to the public and has and has appeared on Golf Digest's 100 greatest public golf courses list since 2023. Fees vary by season but can cost anywhere from $95 to $245, not including a cart. Visitors typically fly into Raleigh (RDU) as it’s the closest major airport and just 70 miles north of Southern Pines Golf Club. The nearby Jefferson Inn in the town of Southern Pines serves as an excellent base for golfers and 1906 Grill at the Club serves golfers a variety of healthy or hearty breakfasts and lunches to fuel up.
Final Thoughts
North Carolina truly is a coveted destination for golfers all over the country. Its varied amount of private and public courses amongst the Blue Ridge Mountains or along the Atlantic coastline give golfers a wide array of choices. Some of most well-known designers and architects (Donald Ross or Arnold Palmer) carved their mark within well thought out courses in North Carolina. The state serves as an excellent golf getaway for any skill level or budget.
