Formula 18 Golf

Formula 18 Golf

Courses / Best in state

Best Public Golf Courses in North Carolina

Experts + Golfers + Story + Architect + Challenge + Access = the Total Score

Top 10Top 50Top 100
  1. 1Pinehurst No. 4Pinehurst · Resort · Est. 1919Donald Ross (original, c.1919); redesigned by Gil Hanse (2018)95ScoreSlope 138
  2. 2Pine NeedlesSouthern Pines · Resort · Est. 1928Donald Ross (restored by Kyle Franz, 2017)91ScoreSlope 134
  3. 3Southern Pines Golf ClubSouthern Pines · Public · Est. 1906Donald Ross; restored by Kyle Franz (2021)90ScoreSlope 135
  4. 4Pinehurst No. 2Pinehurst · Resort · Est. 1907Donald Ross (2011 restoration by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw)89ScoreSlope 138
  5. 5Tobacco Road Golf ClubSanford · Public · Est. 1998Mike Strantz86ScoreSlope 145
  6. 6Pinehurst No. 8Pinehurst · Resort · Est. 1996Tom Fazio86ScoreSlope 139
  7. 7Pinehurst No. 10Pinehurst · Resort · Est. 2024Tom Doak83ScoreSlope 142
  8. 8Tot Hill FarmAsheboro · Public · Est. 2000Mike Strantz82ScoreSlope 146
  9. 9Mid PinesSouthern Pines · Resort · Est. 1921Donald Ross (1921); restored by Kyle Franz (2013)80ScoreSlope 130
  10. 10Pinehurst No. 9Pinehurst · Resort · Est. 1989Jack Nicklaus76ScoreSlope 143
  11. 11Duke University Golf ClubDurham · University · Est. 1957Robert Trent Jones Sr. (restored by Rees Jones)74ScoreSlope 142
  12. 12Finley Golf CourseChapel Hill · Public · Est. 1949George Cobb (1949); Tom Fazio (1999 rebuild); Davis Love III (2023 renovation)70ScoreSlope 141
  13. 13Cardinal By Pete DyeGreensboro · Semi-private · Est. 1974Pete Dye69ScoreSlope 142
  14. 14Mid South ClubSouthern Pines · Semi-private · Est. 1995Arnold Palmer67ScoreSlope 146
  15. 15Ocean Ridge Plantation - Leopard's ChaseOcean Isle Beach · Public · Est. 2007Tim Cate67ScoreSlope 145
  16. 16Woodlake Country Club - Maples CourseVass · Semi-private · Est. 1971Ellis Maples & Ed Seay67ScoreSlope 139
  17. 17Pinehurst No. 7Pinehurst · Resort · Est. 1986Rees Jones66ScoreSlope 142
  18. 18Bald Head Island Country ClubBald Head Island · Semi-private · Est. 1974George Cobb (renovated by Tim Cate, 2011)63ScoreSlope 146
  19. 19Sequoyah National Golf ClubCherokee · Public · Est. 2009Robert Trent Jones II63ScoreSlope 143
  20. 20Lonnie Poole Golf CourseRaleigh · Public · Est. 2009Arnold Palmer / Arnold Palmer Design Company63ScoreSlope 142
  21. 21Ocean Ridge Plantation - Tiger's EyeSunset Beach · Public · Est. 2000Tim Cate61ScoreSlope 144
  22. 22Tanglewood Championship CourseClemmons · County · Est. 1958Robert Trent Jones Sr.61ScoreSlope 139
  23. 23Wilmington Municipal Golf CourseWilmington · Municipal · Est. 1926Donald Ross61ScoreSlope 130
  24. 24The Currituck ClubCorolla · Semi-private · Est. 1996Rees Jones60ScoreSlope 138
  25. 25Pinehurst No. 6Pinehurst · Resort · Est. 1979George Fazio & Tom Fazio57ScoreSlope 140
  26. 26Cape Fear National at Brunswick ForestLeland · Public · Est. 2010Tim Cate57ScoreSlope 136
  27. 27Birkdale Golf ClubHuntersville · Public · Est. 1997Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay50ScoreSlope 144
  28. 28Thistle Golf ClubSunset Beach · Public · Est. 1999Tim Cate50ScoreSlope 141
  29. 29High Hampton Golf ClubCashiers · Resort50ScoreSlope 140
  30. 30Kilmarlic Golf ClubPowells Point · Public · Est. 2002Tom Steele50ScoreSlope 140
  31. 31Grandover Resort - East CourseGreensboro · Resort · Est. 1996Gary Panks & David Graham48ScoreSlope 141
  32. 32Monroe Country ClubMonroe · Municipal · Est. 1936Donald Ross (front nine); Tom Jackson (back nine)48ScoreSlope 132
  33. 33Waynesville Inn & Golf ClubWaynesville · Resort · Est. 1926Donald Ross (original 1926 nine); consolidated/redesigned by Bobby Weed (2021-2023)48ScoreSlope 129
  34. 34Legacy Golf LinksAberdeen · Public · Est. 1991Jack Nicklaus II46ScoreSlope 137
  35. 35Bayonet at Puppy CreekRaeford · Public · Est. 1995Willard Byrd45ScoreSlope 145
  36. 36Talamore Golf ClubSouthern Pines · Resort · Est. 1991Rees Jones45ScoreSlope 138
  37. 37The Emerald Golf ClubNew Bern · Semi-private · Est. 1988Rees Jones (with Greg Muirhead)45ScoreSlope 136
  38. 38Mooresville Golf ClubMooresville · Municipal · Est. 1948Donald Ross (original front nine); Porter Gibson (back nine); Kris Spence (2014 front-nine redesign)45ScoreSlope 135
  39. 39The Valley Golf CourseBurlington · Municipal · Est. 1968Ellis Maples44ScoreSlope 131
  40. 40Sanford Golf ClubSanford · Municipal · Est. 1934Donald Ross44ScoreSlope 130
  41. 41Umstead Pines Golf & Swim ClubDurham · Public · Est. 1957George Cobb (as Willowhaven)44ScoreSlope 130
  42. 42Bryan Park - Champions CourseBrowns Summit · Municipal · Est. 1990Rees Jones43ScoreSlope 141
  43. 43Salem Glen Country ClubClemmons · Semi-private · Est. 1997Jack Nicklaus (Nicklaus Signature Design)43ScoreSlope 138
  44. 44Jefferson LandingJefferson · Public · Est. 1991Larry Nelson43ScoreSlope 137
  45. 45Hillandale Golf CourseDurham · Municipal · Est. 1911Donald Ross (original nine) & Perry Maxwell; George Cobb (1960 relocation/redesign)43ScoreSlope 126
  46. 46Oak Valley Golf ClubAdvance · Public · Est. 1995Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay (Palmer Course Design)42ScoreSlope 142
  47. 47Siler City Country ClubSiler City · Semi-private · Est. 1954Ellis Maples42ScoreSlope 138
  48. 48River Bend YMCA Golf ClubShelby · Public · Est. 1966Russell Breeden42ScoreSlope 132
  49. 49Rocky River Golf ClubConcord · Public · Est. 1997Dan Maples41ScoreSlope 142
  50. 50Keith Hills Golf Club - Orange/BlackLillington · University · Est. 1974Ellis Maples41ScoreSlope 133

How we rank

Public courses only — anyone can book a tee time (public, municipal, resort, semi-private, university). Each course gets a Formula 18 Golf Total Score out of 100, cited on its page. Expert lists, golfer stars, challenge, access and threads make the score. A notable architect and a real story add bonus points, and missing ones never count against a course. See the full formula →
Editor’s picks are placed by the Formula 18 Golf team. Played one that belongs higher? Tell us.