Top 100 golf courses for 2019

04/01/2019

Photo courtesy of The Peninsula Club

Golf arcades such as Drive Shack and Topgolf are having a moment, but don’t count out the traditional golf experience just yet. Courses across the state are investing millions in upgrades to keep golf devotees hooked, the most high-profile being Gil Hanse’s restoration of Pinehurst No. 4 .

Another course undergoing renovations is Ashe County’s Jefferson Landing, which is the pride and joy of the Vannoy family, who have simultaneously created a thriving construction business.

The North Carolina Golf Panel’s ranking of the state’s top 100 courses includes public, private and semi-private venues and is based on reviews by its 150 members, which include professional and amateur golfers, coaches and business leaders. The same 10 courses that led the list in 2018 topped it again this year, including kingpins Pinehurst No. 2 and Grandfather Golf & Country Club. The panel also ranks courses by region and other criteria such as “most fun to play”, the “best getaways” and “best practice facilities”.

The group’s ranking of the Top 50 Courses You Can Play includes top picks for public and semi-private courses. New this year is The Cardinal by Pete Dye in Greensboro. Last month, owner McConnell Golf LLC renamed Sedgefield Country Club’s Dye Course and converted it to a semi-private facility. (Members still have preferred access.) Raleigh-based McConnell, which operates a dozen courses in the Carolinas and Tennessee, bought the course known as Cardinal Golf & Country Club in 2006, invested nearly $5 million on renovations, and merged it with Greensboro’s Sedgefield Country Club in 2013.

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Par Yardage Course Rating/Slope

1. (1) Pinehurst No. 2
Pinehurst
72 7,588 76.5/138

2. (2) Grandfather Golf & Country Club
Linville
72 7,021 74.2/148

3. (3) Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club
Cashiers
70 7,126 73.9/145

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5. (4 )The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood)
Pinehurst
72 7,204 75.2/134

6. (6) Quail Hollow Club
Charlotte
72 7,396 75.0/140

7. (5) Old North State Club
New London
72 7,102 74.8/142

8. (8) Charlotte Country Club
Charlotte
71 7,335 75.9/146

9. (9) Elk River Club
Banner Elk
72 6,826 73.4/141

10. (10) Pinehurst No. 8
Pinehurst
72 7,099 74.1/137

11. (12) Sedgefield Country Club (Ross)
Greensboro
71 7,117 72.9/130

12. (11) Wade Hampton Golf Club
Cashiers
72 7,154 74.0/144

13. (13) Cape Fear Country Club
Wilmington
72 6,856 73.4/135

14. (14) Old Town Club
Winston-Salem
70 7,042 74.5/140

15. (15) The Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal)
Pinehurst
72 7,212 75.0/141

16. (16) Eagle Point Golf Club
Wilmington
72 7,170 74.5/137

17. (19) Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club
Southern Pines
72 6,732 71.0/126

18. (17) Old Chatham Golf Club
Durham
72 7,210 74.0/131

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20. (20) Raleigh Country Club
Raleigh
71 6,816 73.7/135

21. (22) Rock Barn Country Club & Spa (Jones)
Conover
72 7,126 74.4/141

22. (21) Biltmore Forest Country Club
Asheville
70 6,606 71.5/127

23. (24) River Landing (River)
Wallace
72 7,009 74.1/141

24. (25) Forest Creek Golf Club (South)
Pinehurst
72 7,067 74.6/143

25. (26) MacGregor Downs Country Club
Cary
72 7,003 73.4/134

26. (23) Trump National Golf Club
Mooresville
72 7,037 74.2/140

27. (27) Prestonwood Country Club (Highlands)
Cary
72 7,082 74.4/138

28. (28) Governors Club
Chapel Hill
72 7,062 75.1/144

29. (30) Country Club of Landfall (Dye)
Wilmington
72 7,026 74.3/132

30. (31) Pinehurst No. 9
Pinehurst
72 7,125 75.1/143

31. (34) Treyburn Country Club
Durham
72 7,175 74.1/137

32. (37 )Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus)
Wilmington
72 7,100 75.7/144

33. (29) Linville Golf Club
Linville
72 6,946 73.4/139

34. (32) Forest Creek Golf Club (North)
Pinehurst
72 7,139 74.7/144

35. (33) High Point Country Club (Willow Creek)
High Point
72 6,972 73.9/139

36. (35) Hasentree
Wake Forest
71 7,074 73.9/139

37. (38) Forsyth Country Club
Winston-Salem
71 6,784 72.8/136

38. (36) Myers Park Country Club
Charlotte
71 7,120 74.3/138

39. (39) UNC Finley Golf Course
Chapel Hill
72 7,223 74.9/138

40. (40) Greensboro Country Club (Farm)
Greensboro
72 7,302 75.1/140

41. (43) River Landing (Landing)
Wallace
72 7,112 74.2/134

42. (44) Bald Head Island Club
Bald Head Island
72 6,855 73.7/143

43. (41) Duke University Golf Club
Durham
72 7,105 73.9/141

44. (49) Dormie Club
West End
72 6,988 74.0/140

45. (42) The Club at Irish Creek
Kannapolis
72 7,099 74.3/137

46. (46) Gaston Country Club
Gastonia
72 7,042 74.2/135

47. (45) Leopard’s Chase
Sunset Beach
72 7,055 74.3/140

48. (59) Country Club of Asheville
Asheville
71 6,672 72.3/134

49. (48) Scotch Hall Preserve
Merry Hill
72 7,257 76.3/139

50. (50) Hope Valley Country Club
Durham
70 6,671 73.1/133

51. (47) Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia)
Pinehurst
72 7,446 76.4/139

52. (53) Mid South Club
Southern Pines
71 7,003 73.8/144

53. (51) Tiger’s Eye
Sunset Beach
72 6,849 73.3/141

54. (52) The Cardinal by Pete Dye
Greensboro
70 6,821 74.2/139

55. (54) Balsam Mountain Preserve
Sylva
70 6,859 73.0/145

56. (55) River Run Country Club
Davidson
72 6,947 74.2/138

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58. (56) Alamance Country Club
Burlington
71 6,900 72.8/128

59. (60) Pinehurst No. 7
Pinehurst
72 7,216 75.5/143

60. (57) Prestonwood Country Club (Meadows)
Cary
72 7,108 74.6/138

61. (61) Lonnie Poole Golf Course
Raleigh
72 7,358 74.4/142

62. (58) Carmel Country Club (South)
Charlotte
72 7,503 76.5/142

63. (62) Grandover Resort (East)
Greensboro
72 7,270 75.4/140

64. (63) Bryan Park Golf & Conference Center (Champions)
Browns Summit
72 7,255 75.4/140

65. (69) Jefferson Landing
Jefferson
72 7,111 73.1/134

66. (64) The Currituck Club
Corolla
72 6,888 73.9/136

67. (66) Pinewood Country Club
Asheboro
72 6,830 73.5/134

68. (65) Thistle Golf Club
Sunset Beach
71 6,898 74.1/135

69. (68) Lake Toxaway Country Club
Lake Toxaway
71 6,500 70.9/134

70. (71) Croasdaile Country Club
Durham
72 7,068 73.4/140

71. (70) Porters Neck Country Club
Wilmington
72 7,112 74.8/138

72. (75) Ballantyne Country Club
Charlotte
72 7,034 74.1/136

73. (76) Cedarwood Country Club
Charlotte
71 6,940 73.9/137

74. (72 )Linville Ridge
Linville
72 6,775 72.8/136

75. (67) St. James Plantation (Reserve)
Southport
72 7,212 75.4/146

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77. (74) Tournament Players Club at Wakefield Plantation
Raleigh
72 7,257 75.2/137

78. (77) Hound Ears Club
Blowing Rock
72 6,327 69.9/129

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80. (79) Wilson Country Club
Wilson
72 6,851 73.1/136

81. (73) Cape Fear National Golf Club
Leland
72 7,217 74.5/143

82. (80) Grandover Resort (West)
Greensboro
72 6,800 72.7/137

83. (81) Kilmarlic Golf Club
Powells Point
72 6,560 72.2/144

84. (87) Bermuda Run Country Club (East)
Bermuda Run
72 7,045 74.3/139

85. (83) Brier Creek Country Club
Raleigh
72 6,885 73.6/139

86. (—) Benvenue Country Club
Rocky Mount
72 6,525 71.3/134

87. (85) Rocky River Golf Club
Concord
72 6,970 73.5/137

88. (89) Mill Creek Golf Club
Mebane
72 7,004 73.5/144

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Top 100 golf courses for 2019

1. (1) Pinehurst No. 2 Pinehurst 72 7,588 76.5/138

2. (2) Grandfather Golf & Country Club Linville 72 7,021 74.2/148

3. (3) Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club Cashiers 70 7,126 73.9/145

5. (4 )The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood) Pinehurst 72 7,204 75.2/134

6. (6) Quail Hollow Club Charlotte 72 7,396 75.0/140

7. (5) Old North State Club New London 72 7,102 74.8/142

8. (8) Charlotte Country Club Charlotte 71 7,335 75.9/146

9. (9) Elk River Club Banner Elk 72 6,826 73.4/141

10. (10) Pinehurst No. 8 Pinehurst 72 7,099 74.1/137

11. (12) Sedgefield Country Club (Ross) Greensboro 71 7,117 72.9/130

12. (11) Wade Hampton Golf Club Cashiers 72 7,154 74.0/144

13. (13) Cape Fear Country Club Wilmington 72 6,856 73.4/135

14. (14) Old Town Club Winston-Salem 70 7,042 74.5/140

15. (15) The Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal) Pinehurst 72 7,212 75.0/141

16. (16) Eagle Point Golf Club Wilmington 72 7,170 74.5/137

17. (19) Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club Southern Pines 72 6,732 71.0/126

18. (17) Old Chatham Golf Club Durham 72 7,210 74.0/131

20. (20) Raleigh Country Club Raleigh 71 6,816 73.7/135

21. (22) Rock Barn Country Club & Spa (Jones) Conover 72 7,126 74.4/141

22. (21) Biltmore Forest Country Club Asheville 70 6,606 71.5/127

23. (24) River Landing (River) Wallace 72 7,009 74.1/141

24. (25) Forest Creek Golf Club (South) Pinehurst 72 7,067 74.6/143

25. (26) MacGregor Downs Country Club Cary 72 7,003 73.4/134

26. (23) Trump National Golf Club Mooresville 72 7,037 74.2/140

27. (27) Prestonwood Country Club (Highlands) Cary 72 7,082 74.4/138

28. (28) Governors Club Chapel Hill 72 7,062 75.1/144

29. (30) Country Club of Landfall (Dye) Wilmington 72 7,026 74.3/132

30. (31) Pinehurst No. 9 Pinehurst 72 7,125 75.1/143

31. (34) Treyburn Country Club Durham 72 7,175 74.1/137

32. (37 )Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus) Wilmington 72 7,100 75.7/144

33. (29) Linville Golf Club Linville 72 6,946 73.4/139

34. (32) Forest Creek Golf Club (North) Pinehurst 72 7,139 74.7/144

35. (33) High Point Country Club (Willow Creek) High Point 72 6,972 73.9/139

36. (35) Hasentree Wake Forest 71 7,074 73.9/139

37. (38) Forsyth Country Club Winston-Salem 71 6,784 72.8/136

38. (36) Myers Park Country Club Charlotte 71 7,120 74.3/138

39. (39) UNC Finley Golf Course Chapel Hill 72 7,223 74.9/138

40. (40) Greensboro Country Club (Farm) Greensboro 72 7,302 75.1/140

41. (43) River Landing (Landing) Wallace 72 7,112 74.2/134

42. (44) Bald Head Island Club Bald Head Island 72 6,855 73.7/143

43. (41) Duke University Golf Club Durham 72 7,105 73.9/141

44. (49) Dormie Club West End 72 6,988 74.0/140

45. (42) The Club at Irish Creek Kannapolis 72 7,099 74.3/137

46. (46) Gaston Country Club Gastonia 72 7,042 74.2/135

47. (45) Leopard’s Chase Sunset Beach 72 7,055 74.3/140

48. (59) Country Club of Asheville Asheville 71 6,672 72.3/134

49. (48) Scotch Hall Preserve Merry Hill 72 7,257 76.3/139

50. (50) Hope Valley Country Club Durham 70 6,671 73.1/133

51. (47) Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia) Pinehurst 72 7,446 76.4/139

52. (53) Mid South Club Southern Pines 71 7,003 73.8/144

53. (51) Tiger’s Eye Sunset Beach 72 6,849 73.3/141

54. (52) The Cardinal by Pete Dye Greensboro 70 6,821 74.2/139

55. (54) Balsam Mountain Preserve Sylva 70 6,859 73.0/145

56. (55) River Run Country Club Davidson 72 6,947 74.2/138

58. (56) Alamance Country Club Burlington 71 6,900 72.8/128

59. (60) Pinehurst No. 7 Pinehurst 72 7,216 75.5/143

60. (57) Prestonwood Country Club (Meadows) Cary 72 7,108 74.6/138

61. (61) Lonnie Poole Golf Course Raleigh 72 7,358 74.4/142

62. (58) Carmel Country Club (South) Charlotte 72 7,503 76.5/142

63. (62) Grandover Resort (East) Greensboro 72 7,270 75.4/140

64. (63) Bryan Park Golf & Conference Center (Champions) Browns Summit 72 7,255 75.4/140

65. (69) Jefferson Landing Jefferson 72 7,111 73.1/134

66. (64) The Currituck Club Corolla 72 6,888 73.9/136

67. (66) Pinewood Country Club Asheboro 72 6,830 73.5/134

68. (65) Thistle Golf Club Sunset Beach 71 6,898 74.1/135

69. (68) Lake Toxaway Country Club Lake Toxaway 71 6,500 70.9/134

70. (71) Croasdaile Country Club Durham 72 7,068 73.4/140

71. (70) Porters Neck Country Club Wilmington 72 7,112 74.8/138

72. (75) Ballantyne Country Club Charlotte 72 7,034 74.1/136

73. (76) Cedarwood Country Club Charlotte 71 6,940 73.9/137

74. (72 )Linville Ridge Linville 72 6,775 72.8/136

75. (67) St. James Plantation (Reserve) Southport 72 7,212 75.4/146

77. (74) Tournament Players Club at Wakefield Plantation Raleigh 72 7,257 75.2/137

78. (77) Hound Ears Club Blowing Rock 72 6,327 69.9/129

80. (79) Wilson Country Club Wilson 72 6,851 73.1/136

81. (73) Cape Fear National Golf Club Leland 72 7,217 74.5/143

82. (80) Grandover Resort (West) Greensboro 72 6,800 72.7/137

83. (81) Kilmarlic Golf Club Powells Point 72 6,560 72.2/144

84. (87) Bermuda Run Country Club (East) Bermuda Run 72 7,045 74.3/139