North Carolina’s Best Golf Courses
For the fifth consecutive spring, the North Carolina Golf Panel is proud to partner with Business North Carolina in publishing rankings of the best golf courses in what we believe is the best state for golf. The list of the top 100 courses is determined by a scoring system in which panelists are asked to consider these factors: conditioning, routing, design, strategy, memorability, fairness, variety and aesthetics. Thanks to a voting process that’s now completed and tabulated online, we’re able to provide a greater array of specialty rankings that we hope you will enjoy.
Once again, Pinehurst No. 2, which reopened in March following an extensive restoration by designers Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, tops the list — as has been the case since the panel was founded in 1995. There was some shifting among the top 10 as Charlotte Country Club improved one position to sixth and the Elk River Club in Banner Elk two positions to seventh. Greensboro Country Club’s Farm course, previously unranked, received a complete makeover from designer Donald Steel. As a result, it won Best New Course honors and leapt into the top 100 at No. 37. Also making an impressive debut is Carolina Golf Club in Charlotte, a 1929 Donald Ross layout reinvigorated by Kris Spence. It came in at No. 57.
Panelists had fun with a new category this year — our Dream 18, a collection of our favorite holes in the state. If you’re an avid golfer, it will capture your attention — and maybe even lead you to compile a list of your own.
Kevin Brafford is executive director of the North Carolina Golf Panel.