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Top 100 Golf Courses in North Carolina for 2011

Top 100 Golf Courses in North Carolina for 2011

The North Carolina Golf Panel has released their Rankings for the Top 100 Golf Courses in the State – again – and AGAIN Pinehurst No. 2 Tops the Rankings. Thanks to Bill Hensley for allowing us to share the rankings with our readers!

Pinehurst No. 2 Again Top Rankings; Elk River Up Two Spots

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. Thanks to a voting process that’s now completed and tabulated online, we’re able to provide a greater array of specialty category rankings that we hope you enjoy.

Once again, Pinehurst No. 2, which re-opened in March following an extensive restoration by designers Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, remains No. 1 in the top 100 – as has been the case since the panel was founded in 1995. There was some shifting among the top 10 as Charlotte Country Club improved one position to sixth and the Elk River Club in Banner Elk two positions to seventh.

Greensboro Country Club’s Farm course, previously unranked, received a complete makeover from British designer Donald Steel, won Best New Course honors and leapt into the top 100 at No. 37. Also making an impressive debut is Carolina Golf Club in Charlotte, a 1929 Donald Ross layout reinvigorated by Kris Spence.

Panelists had fun with a new rankings category this year: Our Dream 18, a collection of our favorite holes in the state. If you’re an avid golfer, it’ll capture your attention – and maybe even lead you to compile a list of your own.

Top 100 Courses for 2011

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. Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte 71 7,335 75.9/146
7. Elk River Club, Banner Elk 72 6,826 73.4/141
8. The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood), Pinehurst 72 7,204 75.5/140
9. Forest Creek Golf Club (South), Pinehurst 72 7,067 74.6/143
10. Pinehurst No. 4, Pinehurst 72 7,117 74.5/136
11. Biltmore Forest Country Club, Asheville 70 6,606 71.5/127
12. Pinehurst No. 8, Pinehurst 72 7,092 74.2/135
13. Linville Golf Club, Linville 72 6,946 73.4/139
14. Cape Fear Country Club, Wilmington 72 6,856 73.4/135
15. Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington 72 7,170 74.5/137
16. Forest Creek Golf Club (North), Pinehurst 72 7,139 74.7/144
17. Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers 72 7,154 74.0/144
18. Rock Barn Golf and Spa (Jones), Conover 72 7,126 74.4/141
19. Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro 71 7,117 72.9/130
20. The Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal), Pinehurst 72 7,212 75.1/137
21. Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh 71 6,816 73.4/134
22. National Golf Club, Pinehurst 72 7,125 75.1/143
23. Bright’s Creek Golf Club, Mill Spring 72 7,392 76.1/143
24. Old Town Club, Winston-Salem 71 6,825 73.2/132
25. Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte 72 6,926 73.0/132
26. River Landing (River), Wallace 72 7,009 73.5/141
27. Old Chatham Golf Club, Durham 72 7,210 74.0/131
28. The Hasentree Club, Wake Forest 71 7,074 73.9/139
29. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva 70 6,859 73.0/145
30. Willow Creek Country Club, High Point 72 6,972 73.9/139
31. Treyburn Country Club, Durham 72 7,070 74.5/140
32. Duke University Golf Club, Durham 72 7,105 73.9/141
33. Forsyth Country Club, Winston-Salem 71 6,555 71.7/130
34. The Club at Longview, Weddington 72 7,068 74.5/140
35. Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, Southern Pines 72 6,528 71.3/127
36. The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Arden 72 7,278 74.7/138
37. Greensboro Country Club (Farm), Greensboro 72 7,302 75.1/140
38. The Club at Irish Creek, Kannapolis 72 7,099 74.3/137
39. Leopard’s Chase, Sunset Beach 72 7,055 74.3/140
40. Finley Golf Course, Chapel Hill 72 7,119 75.2/141
41. Tiger’s Eye Golf Links, Sunset Beach 72 6,849 73.3/141
42. Linville Ridge, Linville 72 6,775 72.8/136
43. St. James Plantation (Reserve), Southport 72 7,212 75.2/140
44. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst 72 7,216 75.5/149
45. Governors Club, Chapel Hill 72 7,062 75.1/144
46. Gaston Country Club, Gastonia 72 7,042 74.2/135
47. Bald Head Island Club, Bald Head Island 72 6,855 73.8/137
48. Alamance Country Club, Burlington 71 6,900 72.8/128
49. River Landing (Landing), Wallace 72 7,112 74.0/132
50. Grandover (West), Greensboro 72 6,800 72.5/136
51. Grandover (East), Greensboro 72 7,100 74.3/140
52. Scotch Hall Preserve, Merry Hill 72 7,257 76.3/139
53. Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia), Pinehurst 72 7,446 76.4/139
54. Hope Valley Country Club, Durham 70 6,671 73.1/133
55. Lake Toxaway Country Club, Lake Toxaway 71 6,500 70.9/134
56. MacGregor Downs Country Club, Cary 72 6,812 72.9/134
57. Carolina Golf Club, Charlotte 71 7,011 73.2/138
58. Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro 72 7,197 75.9/145
59. Tanglewood Park (Championship), Clemmons 70 7,018 75.4/142
60. Mid South Club, Pinehurst 71 6,988 73.9/140
61. Country Club of Landfall (Dye), Wilmington 72 7,026 74.5/135
62. Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh 72 6,885 73.6/139
63. The Golf Club at Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, Charlotte 71 6,710 71.5/133
64. The Cardinal Golf and Country Club, Greensboro 70 6,821 74.2/139
65. Bryan Park Golf and Conference Center (Champions), Browns Summit 72 7,097 74.5/135
66. Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro 72 6,830 73.5/134
67. Porters Neck Country Club, Wilmington 72 7,112 74.8/138
68. Tobacco Road Golf Club, Sanford 71 6,554 73.2/150
69. Jefferson Landing, Jefferson 72 7,111 73.1/134
70. River Run Country Club, Davidson 72 6,947 74.2/138
71. Cutter Creek Golf Club, Snow Hill 72 7,270 75.3/144
72. Prestonwood Country Club (Meadows), Cary 72 7,108 74.6/138
73. Ballyantyne Country Club, Charlotte 72 7,034 74.1/136
74. Wilson Country Club, Wilson 72 6,851 73.1/136
75. Crow Creek Golf Club, Calabash 72 7,101 73.9/130
76. Lonnie Poole Golf Course, Raleigh 71 7,358 74.9/144
77. Mount Mitchell Golf Club, Burnsville 72 6,495 70.0/121
78. Cape Fear National Golf Club, Leland 72 7,217 74.5/143
79. Grove Park Inn Golf Course, Asheville 70 6,162 70.0/126
80. Bermuda Run Country Club, Advance 72 7,082 74.3/136
81. Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club, Morganton 72 6,664 72.4/135
82. The Heritage Club, Wake Forest 72 6,929 73.2/135
83. Carmel Country Club (South), Charlotte 72 7,008 73.8/133
84. Rivers Edge Golf Club, Shallotte 72 6,909 74.0/144
85. Country Club of Salisbury, Salisbury 71 6,665 72.0/128
86. Anderson Creek Golf Club, Spring Lake 72 7,180 75.0/140
87. Starmount Forest Country Club, Spring Lake 72 6,518 72.0/136
88. Providence Country Club, Charlotte 72 7,021 73.9/138
89. The Point Lake & Golf Club, Mooresville 72 7,037 74.2/140
90. Tournament Players Club at Wakefield Plantation, Raleigh 72 7,257 75.2/137
91. Mill Creek Golf Club, Mebane 72 7,004 73.5/144
92. Seven Lakes Country Club, Seven Lakes 72 6,943 74.4/140
93. Hound Ears Club, Blowing Rock 72 6,327 69.9/129
94. Blowing Rock Country Club, Blowing Rock 72 6,162 69.9/130
95. Pinehurst No. 6, Pinehurst 71 6,990 74.4/139
96. The Challenge Golf Club, Graham 72 6,828 73.7/139
97. The Peninsula Club, Lake Norman 72 7,075 74.6/130
98. Southern Pines Golf Club, Southern Pines 71 6,268 70.3/130
99. Little River Golf Club, Carthage 72 6,907 73.4/135
100. Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus), Wilmington 72 7,019 74.0/140

(Note: Rankings are determined by averaging point totals based on the number of panelists who voted for a course. This year, a minimum of 40 panelists had to vote for a course in order for it to qualify. Panelists can only vote for courses they’ve played.)

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. Biltmore Forest Country Club, Asheville
4. Linville Golf Club, Linville
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. Jefferson Landing, Jefferson

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. Carolina Golf Club, Charlotte
8. The Golf Club at Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, Charlotte
9. River Run Country Club, Davidson
10. Ballantyne Country Club, Charlotte
11. Carmel Country Club (South), Charlotte
12. Providence Country Club, Charlotte

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. Greensboro Country Club (Farm), Greensboro
7. Alamance Country Club, Burlington
8. Grandover Resort (West), Greensboro
9. Grandover Resort (East), Greensboro
10. Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro
11. Tanglewood Park (Championship), Clemmons
12. The Cardinal Golf and Country Club, Greensboro

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

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. Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, Southern Pines
11. Pinehurst No. 7, Pinehurst
12. Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia), Pinehurst

Eastern
1. River Landing (River), Wallace
2. River Landing (Landing), Wallace
3. Scotch Hall Preserve, Merry Hill
4. Cutter Creek Golf Club, Snow Hill
5. Wilson Country Club, Wilson
6. The Tradition Golf Club at Rocky Mount, Rocky Mount
7. Cypress Landing Golf Club, Chocowinity
8. Keith Hills Country Club (Creek), Buies Creek
9. Walnut Creek Country Club, Goldsboro
10. Greenville Country Club, Greenville
11. Gates Four Country Club, Fayetteville
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. Cape Fear National Golf Club, Wilmington
11. Rivers Edge Golf Club, Shallotte
12. Country Club of Landfall (Nicklaus), Wilmington
Our Dream 18

Members of the North Carolina Golf Panel were asked to pick their favorite holes in the state (a first hole, second hole, third hole, etc.) as if they were playing a round – and based on the tees they normally play. There were no voting restrictions, meaning that they weren’t required to finish with an 18-hole “course” of a specific par or yardage.

And while panelists weren’t reminded no to equate “favorite” with “difficult,” it seems they’re a sadistic bunch after all; the Our Dream 18 listed below rank among the most challenging holes in the state. Please note that all yardages listed below are from the championship tees. If we’re going to be sadistic, why not go all of the way?

No. 1
Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club Par 5, 504
Elk River Club Par 4, 472
Grandfather Golf & Country Club Par 5, 541
Tobacco Road Golf Club Par 5, 558

No. 2
Biltmore Forest Country Club Par 4, 440
Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club Par 4, 481
Raleigh Country Club Par 4, 411
Pinehurst No. 7 Par 4, 462

No. 3
Linville Golf Club Par 4, 472
Raleigh Country Club Par 3, 195
CCNC (Dogwood) Par 3, 158
Rock Barn Golf & Spa (Jones) Par 3, 210

No. 4
Cape Fear Country Club Par 4, 460
Linville Golf Club Par 5, 570
Rock Barn Golf & Spa (Jones) Par 5, 568
Old Chatham Golf Club Par 4, 447

No. 5
Pinehurst No. 2 Par 4, 476
Grandfather Golf & Country Club Par 3, 208
Charlotte Country Club Par 4, 351
Forest Creek Golf Club (South) Par 4, 348

No. 6
Rock Barn Golf & Spa (Jones) Par 4, 451
Sedgefield Country Club Par 4, 425
Grandfather Golf & Country Club Par 5, 569
Blowing Rock Country Club Par 3, 197

No. 7
River Landing (River) Par 5, 543
Quail Hollow Club Par 5, 532
Sedgefield Country Club Par 3, 225
River Run Country Club Par 4, 455

No. 8
Grandfather Golf & Country Club Par 4, 374
Charlotte Country Club Par 4, 437
Old North State Club Par 4, 406
Willow Creek Country Club Par 3, 190


No. 9

Elk River Club Par 4, 418
Eagle Point Golf Club Par 4, 431
Pinehurst No. 8 Par 4, 441
Bald Head Club Par 4, 430

No. 10
National Golf Club Par 5, 510
Charlotte Country Club Par 4, 404
Greensboro Country Club (Farm) Par 5, 604
Pinehurst No. 2 Par 5, 611

No. 11
Elk River Club Par 4, 402
Lonnie Poole Golf Course Par 5, 665
Pinehurst No. 2 Par 4, 478
Tiger’s Eye Golf Links Par 3, 165

No. 12
Eagle Point Golf Club Par 5, 562
Linville Ridge Par 4, 435
Old Town Club Par 4, 451
Starmount Country Club Par 4, 388

No. 13
Charlotte Country Club Par 4, 475
Greensboro Country Club (Farm) Par 5, 549
Pinehurst No. 2 Par 4, 380
Bryan Park (Champions) Par 4, 472

No. 14
Pinehurst No. 8 Par 4, 402
Pinehurst No. 4 Par 3, 229
Treyburn Country Club Par 4, 427
Quail Hollow Club Par 4, 345

No. 15
Sedgefield Country Club Par 5, 522
CCNC (Dogwood) Par 4, 441
Elk River Club Par 3, 171
Hound Ears Club Par 3, 110

No. 16
Old North State Club Par 4, 427
River Landing (River) Par 4, 400
Quail Hollow Club Par 4, 480
Mid South Club Par 4, 398

No. 17
Quail Hollow Club Par 3, 217
Old North State Club Par 3, 197
Bright’s Creek Par 4, 437
Pine Needles Par 4, 461


No. 18

Old North State Club Par 5, 568
Pinehurst No. 2 Par 4, 445
Quail Hollow Club Par 4, 478
River Landing (River) Par 4, 417

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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