2 Rounds in Raleigh

[BearHammer]

Hey all, staying a couple days in Raleigh/Durham area as I make my way up north to see the folks. Looking for two public courses to play that are in reasonable shape under $100 per round. Course that allows my very well behaved caddie dog are a plus but not necessary. 

 

Thanks!

[charli]

Tobacco Road. 50 minutes away 

[CactusGolf]

I think Lonnie Poole was a lot of fun and a really good layout!  Pretty sure it is well under $100 (maybe $70 or so on weekends).  Tons of tees to pick from too.  Pretty sure the collegiate tees are 7,300 or so and a bunch of options under that.

[BearHammer]

1 hour ago, CactusGolf said:

I think Lonnie Poole was a lot of fun and a really good layout!  Pretty sure it is well under $100 (maybe $70 or so on weekends).  Tons of tees to pick from too.  Pretty sure the collegiate tees are 7,300 or so and a bunch of options under that.

I saw this as an option. Looks like a great campus resource too! 

[Tim_Gavrich]

As a die-hard UConn basketball fan, it's with mixed feelings that I admit Duke's golf course is enjoyable. Likewise with Finley GC, which is UNC's home track.

[BearHammer]

1 hour ago, charli said:

Tobacco Road. 50 minutes away 

One of my favorite tracks I've ever played. Girlfriend may kill me if I go without her though 😂 Any other recs in the area? 

[BearHammer]

4 minutes ago, Tim_Gavrich said:

As a die-hard UConn basketball fan, it's with mixed feelings that I admit Duke's golf course is enjoyable. Likewise with Finley GC, which is UNC's home track.

Perhaps a Research Triangle Trifecta play day then. Duke, UNC, NC State. 

[PGood]

You would be hard pressed to find better public courses than those 3. You can't go wrong with any of them. 

 

Another fun option just north of Durham is https://umsteadpines.com/

Edited April 21, 2021 by PGood

[CactusGolf]

9 minutes ago, justinmartel77 said:

I saw this as an option. Looks like a great campus resource too! 

Yep!  When we were still in the Greensboro area, we played Lonnie Poole a fair amount and always were paired with local college students.

[CJW0911]

The 3 university courses are the best public tracks around (as everyone has said)

 

Without going to Tobacco Road or the Southern Pines/Pinehurst area, here is the next tier of Raleigh tracks:

• The Preserve at Jordan Lake: Interesting layout with unique holes that requires strategy off of the tees. I played here this week and the greens are running REALLY well
• Pine Hollow: Not that long or overwhelming of a course, but easily the best greens around
• Heritage: VERY solid track and the greens are running well
• River Ridge: Good track, great greens

 

These 4 don't really compete with the 3 university courses. But if you expand your radius: Tobacco Road, Pine Needles, Mid Pines, are all just a short drive (although a little higher than your $100 budget)

[ewe8523]

I would go with Lonnie Poole and Finley. Two very different courses, but great vibes at each. 

[putterboy75]

Grew up in Raleigh area and it took me 20 years to discover Umstead Pines over in Durham (if you wanted to stay closer to the Raleigh area instead of heading south towards Pinehurst)... UP is a classic 1960s George Cobb design, not overly long, very easy walk, won't be too busy, probably will cost < $30 to walk. I've walked in under 3 hours easily and I think the course has good variety and is challenging (enough..) The par 3 3rd hole is one of my favorite par 3's anywhere. However, course doesn't drain very well so might be best to look elsewhere if there's been any rain in the last few days. Good luck!

[golfday]

Heritage and Duke get my vote, pains me to say as a UNC fan. Note that they are pretty far apart though.