When choosing a golf course in North Carolina, you want to choose a course that is highly rated and credited by professionals in the golfing industry. GOLF.com has teamed with GOLF Magazine and SI Golf Plus--known collectively as the Sports Illustrated Golf Group--to provide advice, instruction, equipment information and travel tips for golfers. This top 10 list was derived from Golf.com's list of the best golf courses in North Carolina.
Pinehurst Number Two was renovated in 1996 and since has consistently been ranked as one of the top courses in the U.S. and in the world by GOLF Magazine’s panel of experts, according to GOLF.com. The Number two course is one of the toughest courses from within 50 yards of the greens and is a true test of championship golf. The course includes bent grass on the greens and Bermuda grass on the fairways. There are water hazards and sand bunkers, and green fees cost $275.
Pinehurst Resort
Carolina Vista Drive
Pinehurst, NC 28374
800-487-4653
pinehurst.com/north-carolina-golf-resorts.php
The golf course at Pine Needles was constructed in 1927 and restored in 2009. The hilly terrain, ponds, wetlands and large bunkers make the course interesting to golfers of all skill levels, and the surrounding magnolias, hollies, dogwoods and longleaf pines make the course visually appealing. Pine Needles hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 1996, 2001 and 2007, and has ranked 45th on GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play. Green fees range between $140 and $175.
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club
1005 Midland Road
Southern Pines, N 28387
910-692-7111
http://www.pineneedles-midpines.com/
Linville Golf Club resides in a valley beneath Grandfather Mountain and therefore encompasses numerous elevations, a winding river and significantly sloping fairways. GOLF Magazine has ranked this course 25th on the Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S. list, and Golf Digest has rated it 19th on the Top 75 Affordable Golf Courses, and Golfweek has listed it among America’s 100 Best Classical Courses. Green fees are $62.
Linville Golf Club
83 Roseboro Road
Linville, NC 28646
828-733-4363
eseeola.com/golf
Pinehurst Number Eight is ranked as the fourth best course in North Carolina by GOLF Magazine. Pinehurst Number Eight is a course that just opened in 1996 and covers 125 acres of wetlands and freshwater marshes. The design is much like Pinehurst Number Two but on a larger scale.
Pinehurst Resort
Carolina Vista Drive
Pinehurst, NC 28374
800-487-4653
pinehurst.com/north-carolina-golf-resorts.php
Pinehurst Number Four is the last of the Pinehurst courses to make it on GOLF Magazine’s top 10 list for North Carolina golf courses. Number Four received a complete makeover in 2000 by Tom Fazio, but many of the original features of Donald Ross’ design are still visible, such as over 140 sand bunkers. Therefore, the course combines classic with contemporary design.
Pinehurst Resort
Carolina Vista Drive
Pinehurst, NC 28374
800-487-4653
pinehurst.com/north-carolina-golf-resorts.php
The Tobacco Road course was built in 1998 and extends into a spacious course with ample space on the greens and fairways, some as wide as 99 yards. The course was designed by Mike Strantz and includes numerous blind and restricted tee shots and lots of greens with bumps and false starts. Aside from a few weeks in the spring, green fees only cost from $75 to $95 year-round.
Tobacco Road Golf Club
442 Tobacco Road
Sanford, NC 27330
919-775-1940
tobaccoroadgolf.com
Rivers Edge golf course is an Arnold Palmer design that includes five sets of tree clusters, fairways lined heavily with trees, large greens with water and sand bunkers, and winter rye greens and fairway grass. Fees vary; call the golf club on the day you plan on golfing.
Rivers Edge Golf Club
2000 Arnold Palmer Drive
Shalotte, NC 28470
910-757-3454
river18.com
Leopard’s Chase golf course opened in 2007 and was immediately named one of the Top 10 New Public Courses in America by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine. The course was designed by Tim Cate and includes generous landing areas and significant elevation changes. The course also includes picturesque scenery of Myrtle Beach. Green fees cost $72.
Leopard’s Chase
351 Oceanridge Parkway, SW
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
877-480-4653
myrtlebeachgolfdirectors.com/LeopardChase.html
Tiger’s Eye is also located on Myrtle Beach and was opened in 2000. Designer Tim Cate incorporated 60-foot elevation changes, twisty fairways and scenic water features throughout the course. Picturesque scenery includes 40 acres of wildflowers, lakes, islands and waterfalls. Green fees cost $52.
Tiger’s Eye Golf Course
360 Ocean Ridge Parkway
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
877-669-4653
myrtlebeachgolfcourses.com/tigerseye.htm
Tot Hill Farm provides a 367-acre golf course that resides on a rolling countryside and is surrounded by the Uwharrie Mountains. The course opened in 2000 and was designed by Mike Strantz, meaning the fairways are lined with trees and wind through visually appealing scenery. For history buffs, the course also houses a 200-year-old farmhouse on the property. Green fees range from $44 to $54.
Tot Hill Farm Golf Club
3183 Tot Hill Farm Road
Asheboro, NC 27203
336-857-4450
tothillfarm.com/
