With Pinehurst, Pine Needles and Talamore, North Carolina golf resorts are among the finest in the country—but the Carolinas are the heartland of American golf, and there are a ton of fantastic public courses throughout N.C. that are not part of a resort property.

If you’re looking for great golf without breaking the bank at a high-end resort, take a look at the Top 40 courses below–keeping in mind there are plenty of nice hotels and restaurants to choose from throughout North Carolina.

While each of the Top 40 has a GolfDay Rating above 90, North Carolina offers 91 independent public courses with a rating of 85 or higher (premium) and 141 with a rating of 80 or more (well above average).

Dan Maples leads the list for premier public course design in North Carolina with original work or updating at 6 of the Top 40 public courses, including The Pearl Golf links in Calabash (No. 11), Keith Hills at Cambell University (with father Ellis—No. 23) and Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines (No. 28).

Rees Jones is close behind with design at 4 of the leading public courses in N.C., including original work at Bryan Park (Champions) in Browns Summit (No. 13) and The Currituck Club in Carolla (No. 18). Rees also updated the wonderful Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design at Duke University (No. 4)

Although Mike Strantz passed away tragically at only fifty years of age, he left us with some of the greatest courses in the world, including two among the N.C. Top 40–Tobacco Road in Sanford (No.2), and Tot Hill Farm in Asheboro (No. 14). In 2000 Mike was named one of the “Top 10 Greatest Architects of All Time” by Golfweek Magazine.

The King made his presence felt in N.C with Palmer designs at Occano in Merry Hill (No. 9), Oak Valley (No. 22), and Lonnie Poole at N.C. State University (No. 24). 

The GolfDay rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews.

Select Top 40 North Carolina Public Courses for a map view of locations (click a flag for course name and details).   

Still thinking a resort is the best bet? Check Top N.C. Resorts for a listing by GolfDay Rating.  

1. Forest Oaks Country Club/Greensboro

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Ellis Maples/Clyde Johnston/Fuzzy Zoeller/Davis Love III
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.0/142
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Expansive Putting Green, Chipping Green with Bunker and Indoor Golf Simulator.
  • Golf Academy
  • Indoor Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 99.7
  • Location

2. Tobacco Road Golf Club/Sanford
3. Troon Golf

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Mike Strantz
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.5/145
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations/Golf Packages
  • GolfDay Rating: 98.2
  • Location

3. Tanglewood Park/Clemmons
4. Forsyth County/Brown Management

• • Holes: 54 (Two Eighteen-Hole Regulation Courses and Eighteen-Hole Par 3)
  • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich/Allan MacCurrach/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Richard Mandell
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Championship:  74.5/139
  • Reynolds:           73.2/136     
  • Practice Facilities: Lighted Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Photos
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 97.8
  • Location

4. Duke University Golf Club/Durham

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Rees Jones
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.2/145
  • Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (Unlimited Callaway Balls included with Greens Fee).
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 96.7
  • Location

5. Monroe Country Club/Monroe
6. City of Monroe

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Tom Jackson/Richard Mandell/Tyler Rae
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.6/133
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 96.0
  • Location

6. Rock Barn Golf and Spa/Conover

• • Holes: 36 (Two Eighteen-Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Tom Jackson/Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Jones:              75.2/146
  • Jackson:          71.9/135
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Expansive Putting Green and Chipping Green with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.6
  • Location

7. Mill Creek Golf Club/Mebane

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Rick Robbins/Brian Lussier/Gary Koch
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.2/142
  • Practice Facilities: Two Tier Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Photos
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.7
  • Location

8. Riverwood Golf Club/ Clayton
9. Fred Smith Company

• • Holes: 27 (Three Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: David Postlethwait
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Deer Run:       37.6/138
  • Riverview:      36.2/133
  • Meadowlands: 36.8/135
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Photos
  • Golf Academy
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.6
  • Location

9. Occano/Merry Hill

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Arnold Palmer
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.2/143
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.5
  • Location

10. Eagle Ridge Golf Club/Raleigh
11. Fred Smith Company

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Tom Kite/Bob Cupp  
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.2/138
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.4
  • Location

11. The Pearl Golf Links/Calabash
12. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail

• • Holes: 27 (Three Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Dan Maples
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • East:    36.2/133
  • West:   37.0/141
  • North:  35.9/127
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Green.
  • Course Description
  • Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.3
  • Location

12. Southern Pines Golf Club/Southern Pines

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/William Mitchell/John LaFoy/Kyle Franz
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.0/135
  • Practice Facilities:
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.3
  • Location

13. Bryan Park Golf Club/Browns Summit
14. City of Greensboro/Pinnacle Golf Management

• • Holes: 36 (Two Eighteen-Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Rees Jones/George Cobb/John LaFoy
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Champions:     75.8/142
  • Players:           73.3/133
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers
  • Course Description-Champions
  • Course Description-Players
  • Golf Academy
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.2
  • Location

14. Tot Hill Farm Golf Club/Asheboro

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Mike Strantz
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.8/146
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Mike Strantz
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.1
  • Location

15. Thistle Golf Club/Sunset Beach

• • Holes: 27 (Three Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architect: Tim Cate
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Cameron:        37.0/142
  • MacKay:         37.4/140
  • Stewart:           36.6/140         
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.9
  • Location

16. Mooresville Golf Club/Mooresville
17. Town of Mooresville

• Holes: 18
• Course Architects: Donald Ross/J. Porter Gibson/Kris Spence
• USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.0/135
• Practice Facilities:
• Course Description
• Junior Golf
• GolfDay Rating: 93.9
• Location

17. Skybrook Golf Club/Huntersville
18. Pinnacle Golf Properties

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: John LaFoy
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.9/139
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2).
  • Course Description
  • Golf Academy
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.6
  • Location

18. The Currituck Club/Corolla
19. Invited Club Management

• Holes: 18
• Course Architects: Rees Jones
• USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.3/143
• Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
• Course Description
• GolfDay Rating: 93.5
• Location

19. Brunswick Plantation/Calabash
20. Heritage Golf Group

• Holes: 27 (3 Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
• Course Architects: Willard Byrd/Clyde Johnston
• USGA Course/Slope Rating:
• Magnolia:       36.4/133
• Dogwood:       36.8/137
• Azalea:           36.7/131
• Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
• Course Description
• Accommodations
• GolfDay Rating: 93.3
• Location

20. Salem Glen Country Club/Clemmons

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Glen Day
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.1/139
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.2
  • Location

21. The Preserve At Jordan Lake Golf Club/Chapel Hill
22. GreatLife Golf

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Davis Love III/Paul Cowley
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0/145
  • Practice Facilities: Two-Tiered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.0
  • Location

22. Oak Valley Golf Club/Advance

• Holes: 18
• Course Architects: Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay
• USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.5/139
• Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2).
• Video Tour
• Photos
• GolfDay Rating: 93.0
• Location

23. Keith Hills Golf Club/Lillington
24. Cambell University

• • Holes: 27 (3 Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Ellis Maples/Dan Maples
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Black:             36.1/136
  • Orange:           36.3/132
  • White:             34.5/128
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Golf Academy/Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.9
  • Location

24. Lonnie Poole Golf Course/Raleigh
25. N.C. State University

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Arnold Palmer/Eric Larson/Brandon Johnson
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.7/142
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range (Grass: Friday-Sunday/Mats: Monday-Thursday) and Putting Green. Short Game Facility with Bunker–Members and Golf Team Only.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.8
  • Location

25. Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club/Denver

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Ed Schweitzer
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.8/149
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Video Tour
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.7
  • Location

26. Finley Golf Club/Chapel Hill
27. University of North Carolina

• • • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: George Cobb/Tom Fazio/Tom Marzolf/Davis Love III
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6/141
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets (Grass Open Friday-Sunday, Mats Monday-Thursday) and Putting Green.
    • Men’s Golf
    • Women’s Golf
    • GolfDay Rating: 92.5
    • Location

27. Stoney Creek/Whitsett
28. Pinnacle Golf Properties

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Tom Jackson
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0/141
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.4
  • Location

28. Longleaf Golf & Family Club/Southern Pines

• Holes: 24 (Eighteen-Hole Regulation Course and Six-Hole Par 3)
• Course Architects: Dan Maples/Bill Bergin
• USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.4/132
• Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Expansive Putting Green, Chipping Green with Bunker. Golf Academy with TrackMan Technology.
• Photos
• Junior Golf
• GolfDay Rating: 92.4
• Location

29. Cross Creek Country Club/Mount Airy

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Joe Lee/Rocky Roquemore/Kris Spence
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.3/136
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Golf School
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.3
  • Location

30. The Emerald Golf Club/New Bern

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Rees Jones
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.8/134
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.2
  • Location

31. Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club/Sunset Beach
32. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail

• • Holes: 27 (3 Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Dan Maples
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Sand:   34.8/131
  • Piper:  36.1/131
  • Bay:    36.4/142
  • Practice Facilities: Three Level Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Photos
  • Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.0
  • Location

32. Rocky River Golf Club/Concord

• Holes: 18
• Course Architects: Dan Maples  
• USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.1/142
• Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Green.
• Photos
• GolfDay Rating: 91.8
• Location

33. Legacy Golf Links/Aberdeen

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus II
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0/137
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.8
  • Location

34. Pilot Knob Park Golf Course/Pilot Mountain

• Holes: 18
• Course Architects: Gene Hamm/Chris Lutzke  
• USGA Course/Slope Rating: 69.8/133
• Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2).
• Course Description
• Junior Golf
• GolfDay Rating: 91.6
• Location

35. River Ridge Golf Club/Raleigh

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Chuck Smith
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.6/141
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.5
  • Location

36. Sound Golf Links/Hertford
37. Albemarle Plantation

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Dan Maples  
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.6/138
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Marina
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.4
  • Location

37. Carolina Trace Country Club/Sanford
38. Escalante Golf

• • Holes: 36 (Two Eighteen-Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich/David Whelchel
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Lake:               76.0/143
  • Creek:             73.7/136
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Course Description/Lake
  • Course Description/Creek
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.3
  • Location

38. The Cardinal/Greensboro
39. McConnell Golf

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Pete Dye/Rick Robbins
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.1/142
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.2
  • Location

39. Jefferson Landing/Jefferson
40. Vannoy Properties

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Larry Nelson/Dennis Lehmann/Kris Spence
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.4/137
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 90.8
  • Location

40. Lockwood Folly Country Club/Holden Beach
41. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Willard Byrd
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.9/137
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Green.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 90.6
  • Location

• Top 40 Public Courses-North Carolina
• Top 40 Public Courses-North Carolina