The Triangle is home to some fantastic, accessible golf courses. Craig Walton grew up in the area and has played them all several times.
- Walton, who lives in Raleigh, runs the RDUgolf Tour , a community for golfers across central N.C.
- He's put together a ranking of the Triangle's 10 best public or semi-private courses, including details like pricing and scorecard. While Walton works in corporate finance, golf is his passion.
Five criteria were used to determine the top 10 courses:
- The "Wow" Factor: something about the course that is unique and makes you want to come back.
- Conditions: factoring in current and general trends of conditions on the course.
- Layout: a mix of fun, challenge, intrigue, and design through 18 holes.
- Amenities: practice facilities, clubhouse, restaurant/bar, etc. that make your experience memorable.
- Value: "bang for your buck." How the rest of the rating factors stack up to the price of greens fees.
Each scorecard includes various details, including total course yardage, USGA rating, the year the course was built and the architect/designer of the course.
The top 10 courses in the list below represent the best public-access courses around the Triangle and do not extend to the Sandhills or west of Durham.
- To start, many know that the three university courses are touted as the best in the Triangle. They are tied at No. 1 and listed alphabetically below.
One of the truest tests of golf in the Triangle.
Photo: Craig Walton
Location: Durham
Rates: Weekend — $115 walking, $150 riding. Weekday — $90 walking, $125 riding.
- Discounts available for twilight rounds and Triangle residents.
Scorecard: 7,154 - 75.2/145/72, 1955 Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Walkability: Very walkable. Good green-to-tee proximity with only a tiring hill from 7-8 and a little distance from 9-10.
Description: A great facility from pro shop to range to restaurant accompany, this course cuts through endless tall oak trees. Holes are tight and will stress your tee shots. Green complexes are large and intimidating and can leave you struggling to save par.
- The course isn't big and bold, but it is subtle and will eat at you through 18 holes and prey on any missed shot, but will reward good ball-striking with ample scoring opportunities.
- While the price tag can be hefty, walking at twilight is a very reasonable rate. This place will test every aspect of your game.
My favorite hole: #7, 554-yard par-5. A slight dogleg right, which could easily be played as a 3-shot hole or as a big drive over the right bunker to catch a speed slot.
Newly renovated in 2023 to introduce the most fun public greens in the Triangle.
Photo: Billy Richards of @Carolina_Pines_Golf
Location: Chapel Hill at UNC
Rates: Weekend — $90 walking, $120 riding. Weekday — $80 walking, $110 riding.
- Discounts available for twilight rounds.
Scorecard: 7,041 - 74.6/141/70, 1949 Tom Fazion. 2023 renovation by Davis Love III.
Walkability: Very. Green-to-tee is comfortable and only one tiring hill (approach to 7 green).
Description: Davis Love III renovated the course in 2023 to provide the golf team with a facility to become nationally competitive. Tee shots are generally open and allow some dispersion, but placement into the green is increasingly important. The approaches need to be well-planned because the new greens are large, hard, fast and undulating.
- The range and publicly available practice facilities are some of the top in the Triangle. If you're planning to grind on your game for hours, this is the spot.
Favorite hole: #5, 435-yard par 4. An elevated tee-box with water encasing the left side and bunkers on the left.
Big, bold and in your face, this course packs a punch for every level.
Photo: Billy Richards of @Carolina_Pines_Golf
Location : Raleigh at N.C. State
Rates: Weekend — $75 walking, $100 riding. Weekday — $60 walking, $75 riding.
- Discounts available for twilight rounds.
Scorecard: 7,358 - 74.6/142/72, 2008 Arnold Palmer
Walkability: It's doable but tough. Long distance from green-to-tee, plus elevation.
Description: The scale of Lonnie Poole is its best attribute: A gigantic property with elevation changes and space for very large holes. Because of that, tee shots can be a little less calculated and people who love to swing hard can open up. Approaches are often less intimidating as well, but can have multiple options of playing.
- Lonnie is a great place, with length being its main defense. One drawback is its pace of play and availability; the tee sheet is always packed full and rounds can get very long. But once you snag a spot, you're in for a fun test.
Favorite hole: #11 is the signature hole with a gorgeous view of downtown Raleigh, but my personal favorite is #16, 379-yard par-4. An elevated tee box to a wide fairway, water on the right but small, circular bunkers in the center of the fairway.
Enjoyable, playable layout with good conditioning and great greens
Photo: Craig Walton
Location : Wake Forest
Rates: Weekend — $76 walking, $98 riding. Weekday — $54 walking, $76 riding.
Scorecard: 7,016 - 73.2/132/72, 2001 Bob Moore.
Walkability: Pretty walkable. A few elevation changes and a few longer walks between holes, but very manageable.
Description: The course is very "what you see is what you get," with the holes laid out in front of you. The scale of the holes is large, so you can get away with spraying the ball a bit, but to score well, you need course knowledge and placement on the proper side of the fairways to attack greens.
- Heritage flies under the radar, but once you play it, you'll want to go back. It's a great mix of a course that allows you to test your game and score — or just hit it around with buddies.
Favorite hole: #18, 505-yard par-5. A forced carry over a lake allows for an ample shorter landing area for higher handicaps, but for long hitters, you can cut off as much distance as you want. Spotted bunkers adorn the landing area as well to add extra trouble.
Some of the best natural land movement of the public courses in the Triangle and an approachable vibe.
Photo: Craig Walton
Location: Raleigh (east side)
Rates: Recently switched to dynamic pricing, so rates vary.
Scorecard: 6,740 - 73.1/139/72, 1997 Chuck Smith.
Walkability: A tougher walk. Several elevation changes and longer walks from green to green make this laborious.
Description: The routing of the course played well into the natural aspect of this land. Filled with hills, ravines, slopes and undulations, the holes are unique without being overly manufactured. Tee shots require planning, as the driver can be hit a lot, but is not always the best option. Varied shaping also allows golfers to play more boldly or conservatively depending on what is in front of them.
- This is an everyday kind of course. When you can't decide where to go, this is the place because it's always just so good, enjoyable and consistent.
Favorite hole: #14. 375-yard par-4. A tee shot that looks fairly open and may play less than driver. Short, you can't see the green; left, you're blocked out by trees; right, you're playing with bunkers; long, you've fallen down a ravine. From there, it's largely downhill into a multi-sectioned green that can lead to either a birdie or an easy 3-putt.
Don't tell too many people because this may be a bit of a hidden gem.
Location: Durham
Rates: Weekend — $42 walking, $67 riding. Weekday — $34 walking, $48 riding.
Scorecard: 6,442 - 71.1/130/72, 1957 George Cobb.
Walkability: Very. I don't think I have taken a cart here.
Description: Architecture and character are what define this course. Playing through tall pines, rolling hills and multiple streams, Umstead Pines requires golfers to execute shots from the tee to avoid strategically placed, dangerous bunkers while giving themselves a good shot into a well-shaped intriguing green complex.
- While conditions may have a bit of scruff when you factor in the routing of this course and the cost of greens fees, Umstead Pines is top-notch.
Favorite hole: #15, 360-yard, par-4. Any miscue can leave you in one of three strategic pot bunkers with a 175 carry over a creek into the green.
Smooth layout with a great, relaxed atmosphere.
Photo: Billy Richards of @Carolina_Pines_Golf
Location: Clayton
Rates: Weekend — $51 walking, $73 riding. Weekday — $33 walking, $57 riding.
Scorecard: 6,583 - 71.9/134/71, 2000 Bob Moore.
Walkability: Very. Only a long walk from 9-10 and 16-17
Description: The "every man's" course! Cut into tall pines, the course includes some gettable par-5s, risk/reward par-4s and several holes requiring planning off the tee. Tee shots vary from needing accuracy to having enough space to spray the ball. The strategic bunkering and rolling hills can either ruin your hole, or give you a great kick to put you 20 yards farther forward. The main prize: the greens. Consistently hard and very fast.
- This is a crowd favorite in the Triangle. The greens are fantastic, but I find the overall layout a bit lacking in excitement outside of a few holes.
Favorite hole: #5 par-3 over water is the signature hole, but my personal favorite is #17; 473-yard par-5. A dogleg left with an approach over water. Bunker on the left in the crux of the dogleg is a cheat code; if you carry just over the bunker, you'll get a kick forward and put you in a very nice distance to go for it in 2.
You'll have to think on every tee box, and a driver isn't always the answer.
Photo: Craig Walton
Location: Chapel Hill
Rates: Recently switched to dynamic pricing, so rates vary.
Scorecard: 7,000 - 74.0/145/72, 2002 Davis Love III.
Walkability: Don't. Green-to-tee is long on a lot of holes, and it has several elevation changes.
Description: An example of natural usage of the land; Davis Love III worked with what was there and created several unique holes dictated by hills, valleys and creeks. This course requires thinking on every tee box. Almost every hole has some form of slope or undulation to move the ball on the fairway, then approaches are impacted by distinct bunkering and large undulations on the green.
- This course is polarizing! Many hate how strategic you have to be, but many love the challenge of executing a perfect shot.
Favorite hole: #7, 299-yard par-4. The normal play is a straightforward layup with less than a driver, then hit into a downhill green backed by large bunkers. Or if you're bold, off the tee you can take the driver over the left trees and reach the green. It's 100% blind and you have to get the ball up quickly, but it's a rush.
It's like stepping back in time.
Location: Durham
Rates: Weekend — $29 walking, $45 riding. Weekday — $25 walking, $40 riding.
Scorecard: 6,425 - 69.7/126/71, 1911 Joe May.
Walkability: Incredibly!
Description: An approachable course for golfers of every level and very similar to courses of its time; not overly long or in-your-face, but creates difficulty by shaping holes around natural features and strategically placing bunkers and other hazards in natural landing areas.
- If you play here and don't get something from the grill, you've done it wrong! Easily one of the best grills around.
- This is as close as the Triangle comes to a "muni" environment. Come as you are, love the game, and enjoy a little piece of history.
Favorite hole: #8, 397-yard par-4. A dogleg left with a creek and overgrown bushes leads you into a turtleback green that requires golfers to control their spin. Off the tee, a little draw up the left can cut off some distance, but be weary of getting blocked out by trees.
A tough design with a lot of potentially rewarding shots
Location: Clayton
Rates: Weekend - $75 riding. Weekday - $60 riding.
Scorecard: 6,911 - 74.1/143/72, 1994 John LaFoy.
Walkability: Not ideal. Elevations and distance between holes make walking less than enjoyable.
Description: Land movement is a theme for this course, providing many opportunities to hit all shot shapes. Tee shots need to be planned, as a driver may not be the option and paying attention to the pin position will assist in knowing which side of the fairway to target.
- The people who like The Neuse, really really like it.
Favorite hole: #14, 193-yard par-3. A longer hole, but the left side of the green is covered by a boulder with a hill hidden behind it, which will funnel your ball nicely to the green.
Honorable mentions:
There are a few courses just outside of the Triangle that are within a reasonable distance. I believe people need to give them a try:
- Cutter Creek Golf Club: East of Raleigh in Snow Hill, but it's like stepping into a different world. Fantastic staff, consistently good conditions, and course enjoyable for + handicaps and newer golfers.
- Mill Creek Golf Club: West of Raleigh in Mebane, this place never disappoints! A solid layout, great conditions, and great practice facilities.
- Belmont Lake Golf Club: North of Raleigh in Rocky Mount, this course provides a relaxing vibe but a course that will make you play strategically.
- Tot Hill Farm: West of Raleigh in Asheboro. Recently renovated and in immaculate condition, this is on the pricier side, but it is now a destination course for golfers around the country and really worth a trip!
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