Golf Your Way Through North Carolina

Calling all golfers! With 600+ courses and beautiful weather (and thanks to Daylight Saving Time), now is the perfect time to get back on the course and into the swing of things. To help you narrow down your endless options, we’ve collected our top ten courses less than two hours from campus: two in the Elon area, two college courses, four splurges, and two hidden gems. Let’s get into it!

Elon Area #1) Bryan Park, The Champions Course

Bryan Park, located in Greensboro North Carolina, is a 30-minute drive from campus featuring two public golf courses, The Champions course and The Players course. We recommend The Champions course – it’s one of the best public courses in the area, features seven holes with Lake Townsend views, and is considered a Rees Jones masterpiece.

Elon Area #2) Alamance Country Club

Alamance Country Club, an 8-minute drive from campus, is a private golf course designed by Donald Ross. Ross is considered one of the best golf course architects (of all time), and lucky for us, one of his designs is in our backyard! Alamance has a clean design with classic (yet humbling) Ross greens making this course suitable for all ages and abilities. Alamance is a private club, but if you get the opportunity to play through reciprocal playing or a friend who is a member, we recommend it!

College Course #1) UNC Finley

An hour from campus, UNC Finley is a public collegiate golf course. We recommend making a day out of it and having dinner downtown before returning to campus. The newly renovated course sticks true to the original layout, incorporating a new practice facility and infusing some new “old school” elements.

College Course #2) NC State Loonie Poole

The only collegiate golf course designed by Arnold Palmer, Loonie Poole is a must-visit. An hour and 10 minutes from campus, NC-State’s home course is open to the public and known for its views of the Raleigh skyline and fun layout. We recommend making a day out of it and hitting Morgan Street Food Hall for dinner and ax throwing after your round.

Splurge #1) Pinehurst

The rumors are true. Pinehurst. Is. Iconic. Home to, arguably, the most famous golf course in the world, Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst is an hour and a half from campus, home to nine 18-hole courses and a 9-hole short game course. Pinehurst is a must-visit golf destination, well-known for dramatic courses that will challenge you, wow you, and keep you coming back for more. A true bucket-list-visit for golf fanatics, Pinehurst is a splurge we couldn’t leave out.

Splurge #2, 3 & 4) Mid Pines, Pine Needles and Southern Pines

An hour and a half from campus, located in Southern Pines, North Carolina, these courses are all equally worth visiting. These Ross originals have legendary layouts, are impeccably maintained, and remain unchanged since they were unveiled in the mid-1920s. If you play any of these courses you’re in store for endless pine trees, tricky greens, and the tranquil energy that surrounds the area. We recommend making a weekend out of Southern Pines and playing 2 to 3 of these courses in the area with some pals.

Hidden Gem #1) Tot Hill Farm

…Beware of rocks y’all. Newly restored Tot Hill Farm, located an hour south of campus, is a hidden gem. This Strantz design is unlike anything else, with rock formations and water hazards littered across the course. If you’re willing to go the distance, “The Hill” should be on your list.

Hidden Gem #2) Tobacco Road

We couldn’t round up our favorite courses “near campus” without mentioning Tobacco Road. Tobacco Road, an hour and 20 minutes from campus, is not for the weak. It’s a big, wild, beautiful course. If you are an experienced player looking for a course that is larger than life, with lots of challenges and change, visit Tobacco Road.

There are hundreds of golf courses to explore in North Carolina. The next time you play, tag @theedgemag on Instagram so we can play vicariously through you.