Top 10 NC Golf Courses

With its wealth of golf opportunities, North Carolina can offer every player a chance to step onto a top-level course, whether it’s on the coast, in the mountains, or somewhere in between.

1. PINEHURST NO. 2

Pinehurst No. 2, the most famous course at Pinehurst Resort was first opened in 1907 and designed by Donald Ross. Pinehurst is considered to be Ross’s best work and he continued to perfect it until his death in 1948. Golf Digest ranks No. 2 as the 29th best golf course in the United States and the 6th best public course in the country. North Carolina Golf Panel has consistently ranked it as the best course in the state, both public and private.

2. PINE NEEDLES LODGE & GOLF CLUB

Pine Needles’ award-winning golf course is the first in the nation to be awarded four U.S. Women’s Open Championships. The club’s golf course was designed by  Donald Ross in 1927 and meticulously restored by Kyle Franz in 2017. Today, the course spans more than 7,000 yards with each rolling hill and fairway bunker reimagined to reflect the challenges Ross envisioned nearly a century ago. The club hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 1996, 2001,2007, 2019, and is set to host in 2022. 

3. PINEHURST NO. 4

While No. 4 has been through a number of iterations since it was first built by Donald Ross in 1919, Hanse’s version is the most stunning. With the most interesting topography on the entire Pinehurst property, a shimmering lake as a centerpiece, and natural ridgelines defining corridors, golfers are treated to a brazen blend of sand, native wire grasses, and shimmering water.

4. PINEHURST NO.8

No. 8 opened in 1996 to commemorate Pinehurst’s centennial year. Fazio incorporated signature Ross features into the design of No. 8, including dips and swales around the greens, sloping greens, and false fronts. As the site of the PGA Club Pro Championship in 1997 and 1998, it is a proven championship course that daunts and delights all who play it.

5. MID PINES INN & GOLF CLUB

Mid Pines Golf Course remains exactly as the world-renowned architect built it in 1921 and impeccably restored by Kyle Franz in 2013. The renovation was honored with GOLF Magazine’s Best U.S. Resort Renovation and Restoration of the Year. Mid Pines was not intended to be a daunting challenge for the finest players competing under championship conditions but was envisioned as a course that would offer friendly competition for members and guests of a private club and resort. However, fanatics and pros have taken note of the perfectly preserved course and Mid Pines has become a classic gem, which has now played host to many national competitions including the 2002 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.

6. PINEHURST NO. 9

No. 6, reopened in 2005 as a championship course. Renovations by Tom Fazio have increased shot values, developed all-new putting greens, and rebunkered the entire course – making it a strong addition to the championship golf set at Pinehurst. You’ll find the terrain different here – rolling hills make for a test from the tee box. The back nine is one the most difficult anywhere. One thing rings true – it continues to be a favorite for those who love Fazio designs

7. LINVILLE GOLF CLUB

Designed by Donald Ross in 1924, the championship 18-hole course at the Linville Golf Club is open mid-may to mid-Oct to members and to guests of The Eseeola Lodge. Players are surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery and a creek that winds its way across the beautifully conditioned fairways. As challenging as it is stunning, the Linville Golf Club is one of the most esteemed courses in North Carolina.

8. UNC FINLEY GOLF COURSE

UNC Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the home of the North Carolina Tar Heels men’s and women’s golf teams. It was originally built by Raleigh businessman A. E. Finley in 1949 to a design by George Cobb. Further holes were added in the 1980s

9. BALD HEAD ISLAND GOLF COURSE

The course was designed by George Cobb and opened for play in 1974. This beautiful private golf course in North Carolina was recently restored by Tim Cate, who breathed new life into the tired layout, making it much more natural-looking and challenging.

10. MID SOUTH CLUB

The Mid South Club is one of the Carolinas’ most attractive private residential golf communities. Five hundred forty-five acres of longleaf pine forests, lakes, and gently rolling hillsides provide a backdrop for a place of beauty and serenity. The Mid South Club Arnold Palmer signature golf course offers it’s members a challenging yet enjoyable championship layout on which to test their skills. Mid South Club has 11 acres of bunkers.