This state is home to some of the finest golfing in the United States. From the Appalachian Mountain Range on the western edge of the state to the Brunswick Islands in the east, this state features more than 500 courses on spectacular natural terrain. It frequently hosts PGA, Nationwide, Champions and LPGA events.
Elite course designer Tom Fazio has put more than a dozen of his creations in the state. "There's no easier place to design golf courses than North Carolina," he said, according to their website GolfvisitNC (see Resources below). "In other areas of the country, you have to create features. In North Carolina, they come naturally."
The Facts:
Within one spectacular 15-mile radius in the Pinehurst-Southern Pines-Aberdeen area, there are 43 courses—including 22 that earned four-star ratings from Golf Digest. Pinehurst No. 2 got a five-star rating. In 2008, Travel + Leisure Golf named Pinehurst Resort the No. 1 golf resort in the country for the third time. Pinehurst No. 2 has been host to major events such as the U.S Open, PGA Championship and Ryder Cup. There are many other championship-level courses in the state; Pine Needles has hosted the U.S. Women's Championships and Tanglewood Park has hosted a PGA Championship.
Benefits:
A plethora of first-class resorts makes the area a popular destination for corporate outings and golf vacations. The region is known for its moderate golfer-friendly weather and wide array of other outdoor activities. You can whitewater raft in the mountains, fish the lakes in the middle of the state and hang-glide along the coastal beaches.
Time Frame:
The golf season varies according to topography, which ranges from 6,700 in the mountains to sea level along the shore. Year-round golf is possible in the coastal plain, where midday winter temperatures typically reach the mid-60s. But the Piedmont region through the middle of the state sees occasional snowfall, frequent sleet and sub-freezing temperatures at night. And the mountains are, well, the mountains. Plan your golf outings accordingly.
Risk Factors:
Hurricane season doesn't bring an ever-present threat to this state, but it is a factor — especially for golf courses along the Atlantic Ocean. You need to be aware of the tropical storm threat in the summer. Hot and humid temperatures are the summer norm in the Piedmont region.
Geography:
The state, which stretches more than 500 miles east to west, is bordered by South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. It is a day's drive from New York, Chicago and Florida. It features major airports in Charlotte (Douglas International Airport) at the southern edge of the state, Raleigh-Durham in the center, Greensboro/Winston-Salem (Piedmont Triad International) to the west and Wilmington to the southeast near the Atlantic Coast. The state is easily navigated by car, thanks to 78,600 miles of highways.
Types:
In North Carolina, golfers can play both Blue Ridge Mountain courses, island courses along the Atlantic Ocean and those in the rolling countryside between. The rich soil in the Pinehurst area has allowed designers to create spectacular golf venues. Courses range from private (like the Old State North Golf Club) to semi-private (the various Pinehurst course) to public (Grove Park Inn Course). In this state you can play the best courses in the world and you can play fun local courses, too.
Resources:
- — Good resource for N.C. golf info.
- — Comprehensive guide to N.C. Golf.
- — Site dedicated to the Pinehurst area.
