Pinehurst No.2 Ranks as North Carolina’s Best – again!

The 135 +/- member group, comprised of golf media, (including some of the top daily newspapers in the state), and a number of golf club pros and general managers, and some college golf coaches and others provides a great list of the top golf courses in the state each year.

The members of the North Carolina Golf Panel vote to determine up-to-date rankings of North Carolina’s top 100 courses. They provide some regional rankings as well as some special categories such as “Most Difficult Courses”, “Best Bang for the Buck” and more.

The North Carolina Golf Panel’s rankings are published annually in the April issue of Business North Carolina magazine, plus are detailed on their website at www.NCGolfPanel.com

Without further fanfare, here are the latest findings by this group. For a complete list of all categories, etc – we invite you to visit their website at the link above.

TOP 100 For 2009

Pinehurst No. 2 Again Ranks as N.C.’s Best

Since the N.C. Golf Panel was founded in 1995, Pinehurst No. 2 has retained the No. 1 spot. The panel recognizes that the two-time U.S. Open site – and one of Donald Ross’s most acclaimed works – is among the best courses in the nation.

As expected, the Pinehurst area dominated the top 100 with 13 courses ranked within the state’s best.

Top 100 Courses for 2009

1. Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst
2. Old North State Club, New London
3. Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville
4. Pine Needles, Southern Pines
5. The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood), Pinehurst
6. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
7. Forest Creek Golf Club (South), Pinehurst
8. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
9. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
10. Pinehurst No. 4, Pinehurst
11. Linville Golf Club, Linville
12. Biltmore Forest Country Club, Asheville
13. Pinehurst No. 8, Pinehurst
14. Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers
15. Forest Creek Golf Club (North), Pinehurst
16. Cape Fear Country Club, Wilmington
17. Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington
18. Rock Barn Golf and Spa (Jones), Conover
19. The Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal), Pinehurst
20. Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro
21. Bright’s Creek Golf Club, Mill Spring
22. National Golf Club, Pinehurst
23. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem
24. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva
25. Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh
26. The Club at Longview, Weddington
27. River Landing (River), Wallace
28. The Hasentree Club, Wake Forest
29. Duke University Golf Club, Durham
30. Willow Creek Country Club, High Point
31. The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Arden
32. Tiger’s Eye Golf Links, Sunset Beach
33. Treyburn Country Club, Durham
34. Leopard’s Chase, Sunset Beach
35. Finley Golf Course, Chapel Hill
36. Governors Club, Chapel Hill
37. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst
38. Bald Head Island Club, Bald Head Island
39. Linville Ridge Country Club, Linville
40. St. James Plantation (Reserve), Southport
41. Forsyth Country Club, Winston-Salem
42. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte
43. Innsbrook Golf & Boat Club, Merry Hill
44. Gaston Country Club, Gastonia
45. The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis
46. Mid South Club, Pinehurst
47. Grandover (East), Greensboro
48. Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro
49. Alamance Country Club, Burlington
50. Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia), Pinehurst
51. Tanglewood Park (Championship), Clemmons
52. Old Chatham Golf Club, Durham
53. Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, Southern Pines
54. Hope Valley Country Club, Durham
55. River Landing (Landing), Wallace
56. Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh
57. Country Club of Landfall (Dye), Wilmington
58. Porters Neck Country Club, Wilmington
59. Lake Toxaway Country Club, Lake Toxaway
60. Grove Park Inn Golf Course, Asheville
61. MacGregor Downs Country Club, Cary
62. The Cardinal Golf and Country Club, Greensboro
63. Tobacco Road Golf Club, Sanford
64. Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center (Champions), Browns Summit
65. Grandover (West), Greensboro
66. Wilson Country Club, Wilson
67. Mount Mitchell Golf Club, Burnsville
68. Bermuda Run Country Club, Advance
69. Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club, Morganton
70. The Heritage Club, Wake Forest
71. Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro
72. Crow Creek Golf Club, Calabash
73. Jefferson Landing, Jefferson
74. Anderson Creek Golf Club, Spring Lake
75. Country Club of Salisbury, Salisbury
76. River Run Country Club, Davidson
77. Rivers Edge Golf Club, Shallotte
78. The Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort, Charlotte
79. Starmount Forest Country Club, Greensboro
80. Carmel Country Club (South), Charlotte
81. The Point Lake & Golf Club, Mooresville
82. Providence Country Club, Charlotte
83. Tournament Players Club at Wakefield Plantation, Raleigh
84. Sea Trail (Jones), Sunset Beach
85. Hound Ears Club, Blowing Rock
86. Catawba Country Club, Newton
87. The Peninsula Club, Lake Norman
88. Legacy Golf Links, Aberdeen
89. Seven Lakes Country Club, Seven Lakes
90. Tournament Players Club at Piper Glen, Charlotte
91. Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus), Wilmington
92. Cross Creek Country Club, Mount Airy
93. Mill Creek Golf Club, Mebane
94. Boone Golf Club, Boone
95. Pinehurst No. 6, Pinehurst
96. Pinewild Country Club (Holly), Pinehurst
97. Rocky River Golf Club, Concord
98. Trillium Golf Links, Cashiers
99. Little River Golf Club, Carthage
100. The Country Club of Whispering Pines (East), Southern Pines

Regional Rankings Of the State’s Best Golf Courses in 2009

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

Charlotte Metro
1. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
2. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
3. The Club at Longview, Weddington
4. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte
5. Gaston Country Club, Gastonia
6. The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis
7. River Run Country Club, Davidson
8. The Golf Club at Ballantyne Resort, Charlotte
9. Carmel Country Club (South), Charlotte
10. The Point Lake & Golf Club, Mooresville
11. Providence Country Club, Charlotte
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. Grandover Resort (East), Greensboro
7. Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro
8. Alamance Country Club, Burlington
9. Tanglewood Park (Championship), Clemmons
10. The Cardinal Golf and Country Club, Greensboro
11. Bryan Park Golf Club (Champions), Browns Summit
12. Grandover Resort (West), Greensboro

Triangle
1. Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh
2. The Hasentree Club, Wake Forest
3. Duke University Golf Club, Durham
4. Treyburn Country 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. The Heritage Club, Wake Forest
12. Tournament Players Club at Wakefield Plantation, Raleigh

Sandhills
1. Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst
2. Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, Southern Pines
3. 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. Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal), Pinehurst
9. National Golf Club, Pinehurst
10. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst
11. Mid South Club, Pinehurst
12. Mid Pines Golf Club, Southern Pines

Eastern
1. River Landing (River), Wallace
2. Innsbrook Golf and Boat Club, Merry Hill
3. River Landing (Landing), Wallace
4. Wilson Country Club, Wilson
5. Keith Hills Country Club (Creek), Buies Creek
6. Cypress Landing Golf Club, Chocowinity
7. Benvenue Country Club, Rocky Mount
8. Highland Country Club, Fayetteville
9. Keith Hills Country Club (River), Buies Creek
10. Gates Four Country Club, Fayetteville
11. Greenville Country Club, Greenville
12. Walnut Creek Country Club, Goldsboro

Coastal
1. Cape Fear Country Club, Wilmington
2. Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington
3. Tiger’s Eye, Sunset Beach
4. Leopard’s Chase, Sunset Beach
5. Bald Head Golf Club, Bald Head Island
6. St. James Plantation (Reserve), St. James
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

Most Difficult Courses for 2009

Western
1. Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville
2. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva
3. Elk River Club, Banner Elk
4. The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Arden
5. Bright’s Creek Golf Club, Mill Spring

Charlotte Metro
1. Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte
2. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte
3. The Club at Longview, Weddington
4. The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis
5. TPC at Piper Glen, Charlotte

Piedmont Triad
1. The Cardinal Golf and Country Club, Greensboro
2. Old North State Club, New London
3. Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro
4. Tanglewood Park (Championship), Clemmons
5. Tot Hill Farm, Asheboro

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

Sandhills
1. Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst
2. National Golf Club, Pinehurst
3. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst
4. Tobacco Road Golf Club, Sanford
5. Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood), Pinehurst

Eastern
1. River Landing (River), Wallace
2. Innsbrook Golf and Boat Club, Merry Hill
3. Keith Hills Country Club (Creek), Buies Creek
4. River Landing (Landing), Wallace
5. Cypress Landing Golf Club, Chocowinity

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

Best Bang for the Buck for 2009

Western
1. Boone Golf Club, Boone
2. Mount Mitchell Golf Club, Burnsville
3. Rock Barn Golf Club and Spa (Jackson), Conover
4. Mimosa Hills Golf & Country Club, Morganton
5. Sapphire National Golf Club, Sapphire

Charlotte Metro
1. Rocky River Golf Club, Concord
2. Stonebridge Golf Club, Monroe
3. Highland Creek Golf Club, Charlotte
4. Deer Brook Golf Club, Shelby
5. Birkdale Golf Club, Huntersville

Piedmont Triad
1. Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center (Champions), Browns Summit
2. Tanglewood Park (Championship), Clemmons
3. Mill Creek Golf Club, Mebane
4. Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center (Players), Browns Summit
5. The Challenge at Hideaway Farm, Graham

Triangle
1. Duke University Golf Club, Durham
2. Finley Golf Club, Chapel Hill
3. The Heritage Club, Wake Forest
4. Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Garner
5. The Neuse Golf Club, Clayton

Sandhills
1. Southern Pines Golf Club (Elks), Southern Pines
2. Seven Lakes Country Club, Seven Lakes
3. Anderson Creek Golf Club, Spring Lake
4. Tobacco Road Golf Club, Sanford
5. Legacy Golf Links, Aberdeen

Eastern
1. Keith Hills Country Club (Creek), Buies Creek
2. Keith Hills Country Club (River), Buies Creek
3. Innsbrook Golf and Boat Club, Merry Hill
4. Cypress Landing Golf Club, Chocowinity
5. River Landing, Wallace

Coastal
1. Wilmington Municipal Golf Club, Wilmington
2. Crow Creek Golf Club, Calabash
3. Oak Island Golf Club, Oak Island
4. Sea Trail (Maples), Sunset Beach
5. Panther’s Run, Sunset Beach

The North Carolina Golf Panel was founded in 1995 by noted Charlotte public relations executive Bill Hensley, a longtime golf writer and promoter of the game. The Golf Panel began as a free-standing, self-supporting interest group under the aegis of North Carolina Magazine, a publication of the then-North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, the state chamber of commerce. Today, the North Carolina Golf Panel operates as a freestanding entity.

Story posted from The Golf Panel’s website with permission from Bill Hensley, Founder and Chairman. Visit their website at www.NCGolfPanel.com 

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