Golf courses exist all over the world, in nearly every country, climate, and landscape imaginable. With so many choices available—each one offering new challenges as well as new sights to enjoy—golfers are often overwhelmed by options.  Since 1966, Golf Digest has been making things a little easier by publishing lists of the nation’s best courses. With the diversity of natural wonders in the Carolinas, it is no surprise that Golf Digest ranked four North Carolina Golf Courses among the top one hundred in the United States.

Wade Hampton Golf Club – Cashiers, North Carolina

The highest on the list at number seventeen, Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers NC is guaranteed to please even the most experienced players. The year it opened, Wade Hampton Golf Course was rated the “Best New Private Course in 1987”, and it continues to consistently rank among the best in the country. The 7,218-yard course, commonly referred to as “Fazio’s Masterpiece” by club members, boasts beautiful mountain views and is sure to challenge players of all skill levels.

Pinehurst Resort and Country Club – Pinehurst, North Carolina

For generations, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst NC has been captivating players of all levels. Course No. 2 of the resort’s eight courses has been ranked number thirty-two on Golf Digest’s Top 100 Golf Courses of 2009-2010. Course No. 2, designed by Donald Ross in 1907, is one of the most challenging courses in the game. Perhaps this is why the course has been the preferred site for more championships than any of its American counterparts. The format of the course is perfect for both long and short games, and the careful design is sure to take each player on an emotional rollercoaster ride as he or she faces each of its strategic challenges. U.S. Open is slated to return to the site in 2014, after the course was initially used for the prestigious tournament in 2005.

The Eagle Point Golf Club – Wilmington, North Carolina

The Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington NC comes in at number eighty-three. Designed by Tom Fazio, this private eighteen-hole course opened in 2000. Unlike many other courses, expensive homes and other types of development do not surround Eagle Point Golf Club.  Instead, the 72-par course is nestled amid acres of unspoiled wilderness. Players at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington NC will enjoy a challenging course in one of the best golf climates in the country.

Grandfather Golf & Country Club – Linville, North Carolina

Finally, at number ninety-eight, Grandfather Golf & Country Club in Linville NC is the last of the Carolina courses to make Golf Digest’s prestigious list of the Top 100 Golf Courses. This private club rests in the shadow of majestic Grandfather Mountain, the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Surrounded by land protected by the Nature Conservancy, Grandfather Golf & Country Club boasts beautiful mountain views, a 35-acre lake, and eighteen challenging holes.

As if it weren’t clear enough already, Golf Digest’s list of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the United States for 2009-2010 confirms that the Carolinas offer some of the best golf in the country. From the High Country NC to the Low Country, North Carolina Golf Courses promise to challenge golfers while appealing to their senses. Each of the courses in the North Carolina offers something unique. Die-hard golf fans won’t find a better place to enjoy their favorite pastime than North Carolina.