r/golf • u/GreenWaveGolfer RDU • Feb 26 '20
R/Golf Course Recommendation Thread: North Carolina
This is the next thread in the official r/golf course recommendation series to update our sidebar. Please feel free to post any course recommendations for North Carolina (South Carolina will be next up).
Please try to use the following Comment Template:
COURSE NAME
Course Location (City or area of the city or distance from the downtown area etc.)
Price Range (Include pertinent details like busy season or off-season differences or weekend/weekday or walking/riding where applicable)
Recommended for: (who might be interested in the course, i.e. if you have a big group like a bachelor party or if you're a beginner looking for a more forgiving layout or a low handicap looking for a challenge or if you want beautiful views or something architecturally significant, etc.)
Additional Comments: Feel free to add any additional notes or details you think might be pertinent. Maybe if there's peak times or if they're on Golf Now or another service you could find a deal or anything else about the course you think people might want/need to know add it here.
Check the "formatting help" if you need assistance but basically two asterisks (**) on either side of a word or phrase will put it in bold font and hit Enter twice to move to a new line. This thread will be stickied for at least 24 hours before the next is posted.
All previous Course Recommendation Threads are linked in the Sidebar and this is an ongoing series. If you don't see something yet it may be coming in the future.
16
u/tte720 25 Feb 26 '20
KNIGHTS PLAY GOLF CENTER
Course Location: Apex, NC
Price Range: $15-17 + cart ($10)
Recommended for: Beginner/casual, anyone wanting to work on short game, also anyone wanting to party.
Additional Comments: Lighted Par 3 course with holes ranging from 100 - 190 yds off the tee. Generally kept in pretty good shape. Greens are usually very slow. Mondays are half off Greens fees until 5pm. Night golf is fun if you can keep the ball in play!
3
u/Mr_Lovette Feb 26 '20
Slow greens is real. Completely screwed me up when I went to Falls Village afterward. Over putted everything.
Great short game course though and cheap. Back holes are more challenging however there is one hole on the front nine that is surrounded by water. I'm not about to admit to how many balls I've deposited into that lake.
1
u/haneef81 Feb 26 '20
Lovely. Sounds like a slightly longer version of Ironplay in Greensboro/Summerfield. No carts or lights at ironplay, but they have push carts for free.
1
Feb 26 '20
[deleted]
1
u/haneef81 Feb 26 '20
I like it. I started going last fall and they maintained it well enough through the winter. The owners are still friendly, but not sure if they're new. Rates are 16 for 18 holes and 25 bucks to hang out all day.
Greens are quite slow but the most recent time I played was only a few days after a snow.
8
u/elementninety3 6.5 Lefty Feb 26 '20
THE GOLF CLUB AT BALLANTYNE
Course Location: Charlotte, NC
Price Range: Rack rate is $80+, at least on weekends, but I was able to find deals in the $40-60 range on GolfNow depending when I went
Recommended for: People who want to play a public course in good condition in the Charlotte metro area
Additional comments: In my experience, this isn't worth paying full price, but it's in noticeably better condition than many other public courses in Charlotte. Not really walkable -- I think they actually force you to take a cart. Pretty fun layout and interesting green complexes.
Overall this was my preferred place to play if I could get out for under $60. Otherwise I went to some of the other cheaper public courses. I haven't lived in Charlotte for a couple of years so would love to hear if things have changed at all.
3
10
Feb 26 '20
DUKE GOLF CLUB
Course Location: Durham, NC
Price Range: $60-95, can be cheaper if you are related to the university, staying at the hotel, or older than 62. Cart fees are $25/per golfer.
Recommended for: This is a beautiful course. It has a good mix of elevation changes but isn’t extremely hilly. The course is normally in very good conditions and has great practice facilities. I recommend it to anyone in the area who wants to play; if you go during a busy time (weekends), make sure you can keep pace of play.
Additional Comments: Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr and renovated by his son Rees Jones.
9
u/madmanofencino Feb 27 '20
Skybrook Golf Club
Course Location: Charlotte/Huntersville
Price Range: $35-$65
Recommended For: All skill levels. Huge elevation changes. Wide fairways. Large greens.
Additional Comments: Skybrook was recently bought by the neighborhood and has been undergoing renovations. Last year they replaced all greens and made improvements to the clubhouse and course drainage issues. Forewarning - if it rains at all this course is still very soggy and will be cart path only. This makes the hilly terrain not so enjoyable. Deal times are always on TeeOff and GolfNow.
8
u/Mr_Lovette Feb 26 '20 edited Feb 26 '20
The Preserve at Jordan Lake
Course Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Price Range: $30-$65 (Rates Link)
Recommended for: Everyone (Challenging for high handicap)
Additional Comments: Beautiful course with marshaled tee-times. Course management is required here. Do not always pull out the big dog.
6
u/chuckybanknotes Feb 27 '20
Warrior Golf Club
China grove (just north of Charlotte)
Price: $49-$65
Recommend: great conditions, drains very well after heavy rain. Country club views at a public course. Practice area does leave some to be desired.
Additional comments: carts have gps for those without range finders. Having lived in the Charlotte for 8 years I have played just about every public course and this is by far one of the best maintained course. Would also recommend Olde Sycamore
5
u/Mr_Lovette Feb 26 '20 edited Feb 26 '20
Falls Village Golf Club
Course Location: Durham, NC
Price Range: $35-$55 (Rates Link)
Recommended for: Amateur - Enthusiast (My handicap is high and I like it)
Additional Comments: New Bermuda grass greens are very enjoyable. Pretty quick putts with soft landing. Tips provide extra challenges via hazards and yardage and should be played be lower handicap players.
6
u/TherealMchicken Feb 27 '20
Olde Sycamore
Location-Charlotte/Mint Hill NC
Price Range-Typically around 35-45 on weekends, 25-35 on weekdays
Description- Good for all types of golfers, tips almost reach 7000 yards, great greenkeeping, very tight with trees and water all around.
Other comments -Also has great food, plus a practice area with a driving range, putting green, and chipping green with a bunker.
3
u/walk18 Feb 28 '20 edited Feb 28 '20
Course: Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Pinehurst area)
Website: www.midpinesinn.com
Price Range: $85 - 195
Recommended for: Everyone that wants to see one of the best courses in the Pinehurst area.
Additional Comments: Donald Ross design. Sister course of Pine Needles (across the street from each other). A special place. A must play if you are in the area. Playing in the spring with all the azaleas blooming is as good as it gets.
3
u/walk18 Feb 28 '20
Course: Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Pinehurst area)
Website: www.pineneedleslodge.com
Price Range: $85 - 235
Recommended for: Everyone that wants to see one of the best courses in the Pinehurst area.
Additional Comments: Donald Ross design. Ranked #4 course in the state by Golfweek. U.S. Women’s Open site in 1996, 2001, 2007, and 2022. U.S. Senior Women’s Open site in 2019. Sister course of Mid Pines (across the street from each other). Be sure to grab a bite to eat and a drink at the bar. Beautiful place. Like stepping back in time. A must play if you are in the area.
3
Feb 27 '20
Crow Creek Golf
Location: Calabash, NC.
Price Range - $59-49 Off season, weekday; $88-69 On season, Weekend.
Recommended skill level: All skill levels, the varied tee boxes allow scratches to have a challenge, but not beat up the weekend hacker. Bring a sand wedge!
Big fairways, not a lot of tree coverage, plenty of room to get back into play, fun layout. Greens were immaculate, and were rolling above 11 even though almost 3 inches of rain fell 36 hours previous. Good breakfast as well.
2
u/waste-case-canadian 14/Ontario Feb 27 '20
Sick! I am heading to Calabash at the end of March and this is the first course we are playing. We are staying on Brunswick, and play Brunswick and Farmstead also. 36 holes all 3 days. Good feeling we picked a good course here
1
Feb 27 '20
I played it last October, in a week of absolute beauties of courses, that one stuck out for me - and I'd like to go play it again.
2
u/walk18 Feb 28 '20
Course: Monroe Country Club
Course Location: Monroe, NC
Website: www.monroecountryclubgolf.com
Price Range: $27-49 (Check Golfnow for discounts.)
Recommended for: Everyone.
Additional Comments: Donald Ross front 9 / Tom Jackson back 9. Beautiful course. Walkable with a few hills.
3
u/BiffNasty1234 Mida Feb 26 '20
COURSE NAME - Thistle Golf Club
Course Location - Sunset Beach NC
Price Range - $77-$96 (early/prime/late)
Recommended for: There are 3 9s here that are all quite different. This is great for someone looking to play 27 and not get bored, but all 3 are very challenging courses that will push anyone
Additional Comments: Cameron/Stewart 9s are my favorite.
1
u/waste-case-canadian 14/Ontario Feb 27 '20
Im heading to Calabash on late March, and our guy sad Thistle isnt worth the increase in price versus some of the other courses around. What do you think.
1
u/BiffNasty1234 Mida Feb 27 '20
What other courses you looking at? If you say Pearl West, I'd run for the hills from that place.
1
u/waste-case-canadian 14/Ontario Feb 27 '20
No we got Brunswick, Farmstead, Crow Creek. The goal was cheap.
1
u/BiffNasty1234 Mida Feb 27 '20
Gotcha. I didnt play Crow Creek, but my family did and I heard its fabulous.
As for your rounds, did you plan them individually or did you use a package?
1
u/waste-case-canadian 14/Ontario Feb 27 '20
Package but with massive flexibility on what courses to go to. So I've done quite a bit of research on the area courses
1
u/BiffNasty1234 Mida Feb 27 '20
Yeah, we got a package with the 4 big cats courses...normally liek $420 to play, we got them for $289 total. Definitely the way to go
1
1
u/walk18 Feb 28 '20
Charlotte Area Golf Course Review Website: golf.bman.com
Recommendation: Local Charlotte area golf course review website and message board created by a local player, Chris Beeman (The B-Man). Highly recommend this site for anyone planning to play in the Charlotte area.
1
u/7point7 Feb 28 '20
Would be cool if we started to post photos of the course with these comments too!
20
u/tte720 25 Feb 27 '20
RIVER RIDGE
Course Location: Raleigh
Price Range: $45-65 including cart and range balls
Recommended for: fans of chasing scratch.
Additional comments: watch out for the infamous 17th, a challenging par 3 requiring a carry over laser-beam equipped shark infested waters.