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  Top 100 for 2010
  Rankings by Region
  Most Intimidating Tee Shots
  Best Greens Complexes
  Hidden Gems
  Best Remodeled Courses (Since 2000)
  Courses You'd Like to Play Every Day
  Most Coveted Club Memberships

Pinehurst No. 2 Still on Top; Grandfather Jumps to Second
Once again, Pinehurst No. 2 remains No. 1 in the Top 100 - as has been the case every year since the panel was founded in 1995. A notable change is in the second spot, where Grandfather Golf and Country Club (Linville) supplants the Old North State (New London). And improving from sixth to fourth is the Quail Hollow Club (Charlotte), home to the PGA Tour's widely successful Quail Hollow Championship. Other significant jumps were made by Myers Park Country Club (Charlotte), which moved from 42nd to 27th, and also within the top 50, The Club at Irish Creek (Kannapolis), which improved from 45th to 34th.

Our list of the Top 100 courses is determined by a scoring system where panelists are asked to consider among these factors: conditioning, routing, design, strategy, memorability, fairness, variety and aesthetics. In addition to the Top 100, below you'll find Regional Rankings and a handful of specialty categories: Best Greens Complexes; Most Intimidating Tee Shots; Hidden Gems; Best Remodeled Courses; Courses You’d Like to Play Every Day; and Most Coveted Club Memberships.

Of note, our approximate 150-member statewide panel consists of top amateur players, golf industry members, business executives and media members. Panelists only can vote for courses they've played.

Top 100 Courses for 2010

1. Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst 72 7,252 75.9/138
2. Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville 72 7,085 74.3/145
3. Old North State Club, New London 72 7,102 74.8/142
4. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte 72 7,396 75.0/140
5. Pine Needles, Southern Pines 71 7,015 73.5/135
6. The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood), Pinehurst 727,204

75.5/140

7. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte 726,764  73.3/136
8. Forest Creek Golf Club (South), Pinehurst 72 7,067  74.6/143
9. Elk River Club, Banner Elk 726,826 73.4/141
10. Pinehurst No. 4, Pinehurst 72 7,117 74.5/136
11. Linville Golf Club, Linville 72 6,946 73.4/139
12. Pinehurst No. 8, Pinehurst 72 7,092 

74.2/135

13. Cape Fear Country Club, Wilmington 72 6,856 73.4/135
14. Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington 727,170  74.5/137
15. Biltmore Forest Country Club, Asheville 70        6,606

71.5/127

16. Forest Creek Golf Club (North), Pinehurst 727,139 

74.7/144

17. Rock Barn Golf and Spa (Jones), Conover        727,126 

74.4/141

18. Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro 71        6,737 

72.9/130

19. Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers       72 7,154  74.0/144
20. The Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal), Pinehurst     72 7,212

75.1/137

21. National Golf Club, Pinehurst 727,125 75.1/143
22. Bright’s Creek Golf Club, Mill Spring 72 7,392  76.1/143
23. Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh 716,816

73.4/134

24. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem 71 6,825

73.2/132

25. River Landing (River), Wallace 72        7,009  73.5/141
26. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva 70 6,859 

73.0/145

27. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte 72 6,926 73.0/132
28. Willow Creek Country Club, High Point 72        6,972  73.9/139
29. The Club at Longview, Weddington 727,068  74.5/140
30. Treyburn Country Club, Durham 72 7,070 74.5/140
31. The Hasentree Club, Wake Forest 71        7,074  73.9/139
32. Duke University Golf  Club, Durham 72 7,105 73.9/141
33. The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Arden 72 7,278

74.7/138

34. The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis        727,099 

74.3/137

35. Leopard’s Chase, Sunset Beach 72 7,055  74.3/140
36. Linville Ridge Country Club, Linville 72 6,775  72.8/136
37. Tiger’s Eye Golf Links, Sunset Beach 726,849 73.3/141
38. Finley Golf Course, Chapel Hill 727,119  75.2/141
39. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst 72 7,216

75.5/149

40. St. James Plantation (Reserve), Southport 72 7,212 75.2/140
41. Governors Club, Chapel Hill 72 7,062

75.1/144

42. Forsyth Country Club, Winston-Salem 71        6,555 

71.7/130

43. Gaston Country Club, Gastonia 72 7,042 74.2/135
44. Bald Head Island Club, Bald Head Island 72 6,855  73.8/137        
45. Scotch Hall Preserve, Merry Hill 72 7,257

76.3/139

46. Alamance Country Club, Burlington 71 6,900  72.8/128
47. Grandover (East), Greensboro 72 7,100 74.3/140
48. River Landing (Landing), Wallace 727,112  74.0/132
49. Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia), Pinehurst   72        7,446 

76.4/139

50. Old Chatham Golf Club, Durham 72 7,210  74.0/131
51. Lake Toxaway Country Club, Lake Toxaway 71        6,500 

70.9/134

52. Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro 72 7,197 

75.9/145

53. Hope Valley Country Club, Durham 70        6,671  73.1/133
54. Tanglewood Park (Championship), Clemmons            70 7,018 75.4/142
55. Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, Southern Pines  726,528  71.3/127
56. Mid South Club, Pinehurst 71        6,988 73.9/140
57. Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh          72 6,885

73.6/139

58. Country Club of Landfall (Dye), Wilmington 727,026  74.5/135
59. MacGregor Downs Country Club, Cary 72        6,812  72.9/134
60. Porters Neck Country Club, Wilmington 72 7,112

74.8/138

61. The Cardinal Golf and Country Club, Greensboro 70        6,821  74.2/139
62. Jefferson Landing, Jefferson 72        7,111 73.1/134
63. Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center (Champions), Browns Summit    72 7,097

74.5/135

64. Tobacco Road Golf Club, Sanford 71        6,554 73.2/150
65. River Run Country Club, Davidson 72 6,947 74.2/138
66. Wilson Country Club, Wilson 72 6,851 73.1/136
67. Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro 72 6,830 73.5/134
68. Grandover (West), Greensboro     726,800  72.5/136
69. Grove Park Inn Golf Course, Asheville 70        6,162  70.0/126
70. Bermuda Run Country Club, Advance 727,082  74.3/136
71. Prestonwood Country Club (Meadows), Cary 72 7,108 

74.6/138

72. Mount Mitchell Golf Club, Burnsville       72 6,495 70.0/121
73. Crow Creek Golf Club, Calabash 72 7,101  73.9/130
74. The Golf Club at Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, Charlotte 72 6,735

73.0/133

75. Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club, Morganton          72        6,664 72.4/135
76. The Heritage Club, Wake Forest 726,929  73.2/135
77. Carmel Country Club (South), Charlotte 72 7,008  73.8/133        
78. Rivers Edge Golf Club, Shallotte 726,909  74.0/144
79. Anderson Creek Golf Club, Spring Lake 72        7,180 75.0/140
80. Starmount Forest Country Club, Greensboro    71        6,518 

72.0/136

81. Country Club of Salisbury, Salisbury 71        6,665 72.0/128
82. Providence Country Club, Charlotte 72 7,021 73.9/138
83. The Point Lake & Golf Club, Mooresville            727,037

74.2/140

84. Tournament Players Club at Wakefield Plantation, Raleigh 727,257 75.2/137
85. Mill Creek Golf Club, Mebane 72 7,004  73.5/144
86. Hound Ears Club, Blowing Rock  72 6,327  69.9/129
87. Seven Lakes Country Club, Seven Lakes 72 6,943 74.4/140                        
88. Sea Trail (Jones), Sunset Beach 72 6,761 72.8/132
89. The Peninsula Club, Lake Norman 72 7,075 74.6/130
90. Little River Golf Club, Carthage    72 6,907 73.4/135
91. Catawba Country Club, Newton 726,614 73.2/132
92. Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus), Wilmington 72 7,019 74.0/140
93. Pinehurst No. 6, Pinehurst 71 6,990

74.4/139

94. Legacy Golf Links, Aberdeen        72        6,989 

73.9/133

95. Tournament Players Club at Piper Glen, Charlotte       72        6,853  73.1/138       
96. Trillium Golf Links, Cashiers         71        6,281 71.3/140
97. Boone Golf Club, Boone    71        6,686 71.3/128
98. The Country Club of Whispering Pines (East), Southern Pines 72 7,097 73.9/132
99. Pinewild Country Club (Holly), Pinehurst 727,021 73.1/137
100. Rocky River Golf Club, Concord 72 6,970

73.5/137

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North Carolina Golf Panel’s Regional Rankings Of the State’s Best Golf Courses

Western

  1. Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville
  2. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
  3. Linville Golf Club, Linville
  4. Biltmore Forest Country Club, Asheville
  5. Rock Barn Golf and Spa (Jones), Conover
  6. Wade Hampton Country Club, Cashiers
  7. Bright’s Creek Golf Club, Mill Spring
  8. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva
  9. The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Arden
 

10. Diamond Creek Golf Club, Banner Elk

  11. Linville Ridge Country Club, Linville
  12. Lake Toxaway Country Club, Lake Toxaway

Charlotte Metro

  1. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
  2. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
  3. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte
  4. The Club at Longview, Weddington
  5. The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis
  6. Gaston Country Club, Gastonia
  7. River Run Country Club, Davidson
  8. The Golf Club at Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, Charlotte
  9. Carmel Country Club (South), Charlotte
  10. Providence Country Club, Charlotte
  11. The Point Lake and Golf Club, Mooresville
  12. The Peninsula Club, Lake Norman

Piedmont Triad

  1. Old North State Club, New London
  2. Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro
  3. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem
  4. Willow Creek Country Club, High Point
  5. Forsyth Country Club, Winston-Salem
  6. Alamance Country Club, Burlington
  7. Grandover Resort (East), Greensboro
  8. Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro
  9. Tanglewood Park (Championship), Clemmons
  10. The Cardinal Golf and Country Club, Greensboro
  11. Bryan Park Golf Club (Champions), Browns Summit
  12. Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro

Triangle

  1. Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh
  2. Treyburn Country Club, Durham
  3. The Hasentree Club, Wake Forest
  4. Duke University Golf Club, Durham
  5. Finley Golf Club, Chapel Hill
  6. Governors Club, Chapel Hill
  7. Old Chatham Golf Club, Durham
  8. Hope Valley Country Club, Durham
  9. Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh
  10. MacGregor Downs Country Club, Cary
  11. Prestonwood Country Club (Magnolia), Cary
  12. The Heritage Club, Wake Forest

Sandhills

  1. Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst
  2. Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, Southern Pines
  3. The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood), Pinehurst
  4. Forest Creek Golf Club (South), Pinehurst
  5. Pinehurst No. 4, Pinehurst
  6. Pinehurst No. 8, Pinehurst
  7. Forest Creek Golf Club (North), Pinehurst
  8. The Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal), Pinehurst
  9. National Golf Club, Pinehurst
  10. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst
  11. Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia), Pinehurst
  12. Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, Southern Pines

Eastern

  1. River Landing (River), Wallace
  2. Scotch Hall Preserve, Merry Hill
  3. River Landing (Landing), Wallace
  4. Wilson Country Club, Wilson
  5. Ford’s Colony, Rocky Mount
  6. Keith Hills Country Club (Creek), Buies Creek
  7. Cypress Landing Golf Club, Chocowinity
  8. Greenville Country Club, Greenville
  9. Gates Four Country Club, Fayetteville
  10. Walnut Creek Country Club, Goldsboro
  11. Keith Hills Country Club (River), Buies Creek
  12. Highland Country Club, Fayetteville

Coastal

  1. Cape Fear Country Club, Wilmington
  2. Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington
  3. Leopard’s Chase, Sunset Beach
  4. Tiger's Eye, Sunset Beach
  5. St. James Plantation (Reserve), St. James
  6. Bald Head Golf Club, Bald Head Island
  7. Country Club of Landfall (Dye), Wilmington
  8. Porters Neck Country Club, Wilmington
  9. Crow Creek Golf Club, Calabash
  10. Rivers Edge Golf Club, Shallotte
  11. Sea Trail Plantation (Jones), Sunset Beach
  12. Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus), Wilmington
Top


Most Intimidating Tee Shots
Considering all 18 holes, criteria include topography, length of tee shot required, accuracy of tee shot required (including desired landing area with regard to the ideal approach shot into the green), and appeal to the eye.

Western

  1. Linville Ridge, Linville
  2. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
  3. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva
  4. Rock Barn Golf and Spa (Jones), Conover
  5. Trillium Golf Links, Cashiers

Charlotte Metro

  1. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
  2. The Club at Longview, Weddington
  3. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
  4. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte
  5. The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis

Piedmont Triad

  1. The Cardinal Golf & Country Club, Greensboro
  2. Tot Hill Farm Golf Club, Asheboro
  3. Tanglewood Park (Championship), Clemmons
  4. Willow Creek Country Club, High Point
  5. Old North State Club, New London

Triangle

  1. Governors Club, Chapel Hill
  2. Duke University Gold Club, Durham
  3. TPC at Wakefield Plantation, Raleigh
  4. Treyburn Country Club, Durham
  5. The Hasentree Club, Wake Forest

Sandhills

  1.Tobacco Road Golf Club, Sanford
  2. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst
  3. Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst
  4. National Golf Club, Pinehurst
  5. Pinehurst No. 8, Pinehurst

Eastern

  1. River Landing (River), Wallace
  2. River Landing (Landing), Wallace
  3. Keith Hills Country Club (Creek), Buies Creek
  4. Scotch Hall Preserve, Merry Hill
  5. Cypress Landing Golf Club, Chocowinity

Coastal

  1. Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington
  2. Leopard’s Chase, Sunset Beach
  3. St. James Plantation (Reserve), St. James
  4. Bald Head Golf Club, Bald Head Island
  5. Rivers Edge Golf Club, Shallotte
Top

Best Greens Complexes
Criteria include conditioning, consistency, variety of available pin placements, bunkering, collars, degree of difficulty, variety over 18 holes, and appeal to the eye.

Western

  1. Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville
  2. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
  3. Linville Golf Club, Linville
  4. Biltmore Forest Country Club, Asheville
  5. Bright’s Creek Golf Club, Mill Spring

Charlotte Metro

  1. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
  2. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
  3. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte
  4. The Club at Longview, Weddington
  5. Gaston Country Club, Gastonia

Piedmont Triad

  1. Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro
  2. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem
  3. Old North State Club, New London
  4. Alamance Country Club, Burlington
  5. Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro

Triangle

  1. Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh
  2. Hope Valley Country Club, Durham
  3. Prestonwood Country Club (Magnolia), Cary
  4. Treyburn Country Club, Durham
  5. The Hasentree Club, Wake Forest

Sandhills

  1. Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst
  2. Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, Southern Pines
  3. The Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal), Pinehurst
  4. Forest Creek Golf Club (South), Pinehurst
  5. Pinehurst No. 8, Pinehurst

Eastern

  1. River Landing (River), Wallace
  2. Wilson Country Club, Wilson
  3. River Landing (Landing), Wallace
  4. Greenville Country Club, Greenville
  5. Ford’s Colony, Rocky Mount

Coastal

  1. Cape Fear Country Club, Wilmington
  2. Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington
  3. Country Club of Landfall (Dye), Wilmington
  4. St. James Plantation (Reserve), St. James
  5. Tiger’s Eye Golf Club, Sunset Beach
Top
 

Hidden Gems

Western

  1. Hound Ears Club, Boone
  2. Mount Mitchell Golf Club, Mount Mitchell
  3. Roaring Gap Club, Roaring Gap
  4. Boone Golf Club, Boone
  5. High Meadows Country Club, Roaring Gap

 

Charlotte Metro

  1. Carolina Golf Club, Charlotte
  2. River Run Country Club, Davidson
  3. Rolling Hills Country Club, Monroe
  4. Providence Country Club, Charlotte
  5. Cabarrus Country Club, Concord

Piedmont Triad

  1. Alamance Country Club, Burlington
  2. Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro
  3. Oak Valley Golf Club, Clemmons
  4. The Challenge at Hideaway Farm, Graham
  5. Sapona Country Club, Lexington

Triangle

  1. Croasdaile Country Club, Durham
  2. The Neuse Golf Club, Clayton
  3. Crooked Creek Golf Club, Fuquay-Varina
  4. River Ridge Golf Club, Raleigh
  5. Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Garner

Sandhills

  1. Southern Pines Golf Club (Elks), Southern Pines
  2. Mid South Club, Pinehurst
  3. Anderson Creek Golf Club, Spring Lake
  4. Legacy Golf Links, Aberdeen
  5. Talamore Golf Resort, Southern Pines

Eastern

  1. Walnut Creek Country Club, Goldsboro
  2. Benvenue Country Club, Rocky Mount
  3. The Links at Cotton Valley, Tarboro
  4. Kinston Country Club, Kinston
  5. Highland Country Club, Fayetteville

Coastal

  1. Wilmington Municipal, Wilmington
  2. Sea Trail (Maples), Sunset Beach
  3. Panther’s Run, Sunset Beach
  4. Oak Island Golf Club, St. James
  5. Sandpiper Bay Golf Club, Sunset Beach
Top
 
Best Remodeled Courses (Since 2000)

Private

  1. The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis
  2. Cape Fear Country Club, Wilmington
  3. Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro
  4. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
  5. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte
  6. Lake Toxaway Country Club, Lake Toxaway
  7. Forsyth Country Club, Winston-Salem
  8. Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh
  9. Hope Valley Country Club, Durham
 

10. Linville Ridge, Linville


Daily Fee

  1. Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines
  2. Finley Golf Course, Chapel Hill
  3. Pinehurst No. 6, Pinehurst
  4. Duke University Golf Club, Durham
  5. Little River Golf & Resort, Carthage
  6. Seven Lakes Country Club, Seven Lakes
  7. Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center (Champions), Browns Summit
  8. Grove Park Inn Golf Course, Asheville
  9. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst
  10. Mill Creek Golf Club, Mebane
Top
 

Courses You'd Like to Play Every Day

  1. Old North State Club, New London
  2. Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, Southern Pines
  3. Grandfather Golf & Country Club, Linville
  4. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte
  5. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
  6. Gaston Country Club, Gastonia
  7. Pinehurst No. 8, Pinehurst
  8. Wilson Country Club, Wilson
  9. Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro
  10. Hope Valley Country Club, Durham
Top
 
Most Coveted Club Memberships

 

  1. Country Club of North Carolina
  2. Grandfather Golf & Country Club, Linville
  3. Forest Creek Golf Club, Pinehurst
  4. Diamond Creek Golf Club, Banner Elk
  5. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
  6. Eagle Point Golf Club, Wimington
  7. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
  8. Wade Hampton Club, Cashiers
  9. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
 

10. Old North State Club, New London

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