A golfer’s paradise, Charlotte offers a trove of public courses with fantastic facilities. It also has a number of private clubs that are worth a visit.
The Queen City recently ranked 30th in Lawn Starter’s annual ranking of the best cities for golf, scoring high marks for premium courses. Here are some of the best Charlotte NC golf courses that both professionals and newbies can enjoy.
Rocky River Golf Club
Rocky River Golf Club is a beautiful course, with amazing Bermuda greens. Its decision to remain open during the summer while converting to Bermuda greens has provided novice golfers with a great opportunity to play a championship-caliber course without paying full fees. It also provides PGA professionals with an ideal setting for teaching and playing lessons.
The course was designed by Dan Maples and is situated in a scenic setting bordered by Rocky River and pristine natural wetlands. It features rock outcroppings and various species of native wetland grasses. The course is surrounded by no houses and offers golfers a truly serene environment to play golf.
The course recently completed a major renovation to its greens, switching from bentgrass to Mini Verde ultradwarf bermuda. This modern strand of grass thrives in hot weather and is resistant to many diseases that afflict bentgrass. The driving range is immaculate and offers a unique view of the Charlotte Motor Speedway on race days.
Eagle Chase Golf Club
Located within earshot of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Eagle Chase is one of the area’s most unique golf courses. This Dan Maples design has a great layout and is challenging for everyone. The fairways are all zoysia grass, making them difficult to hit, and the greens are often tough to read. The course features lots of elevation changes and a variety of doglegs.
It’s no wonder that this is the number 3 public course in Charlotte. The club offers a wide range of amenities, including a driving range and practice putting green. The staff at this course is very helpful and friendly.
Built in 1994, this unique golf course is situated in northern Union County. The drastic elevation changes on several holes offer a mountain golfing experience, even though this area is a few hours east of the Appalachian Mountains. Complex greens sit down in valleys and atop hills, while elevated tee boxes offer scenic views of the Uwharries.
Charlotte Country Club
The Charlotte Country Club is a private club that offers members a luxurious golf experience and a wide range of other amenities. Its golf course is one of the best in the state and has hosted a number of prestigious events, including the Wells Fargo Championship. The club also hosts a variety of social and charitable events throughout the year.
The 18-hole Charlotte Country Club course features a challenging design that can challenge players of all skill levels. The clubhouse is beautifully appointed and offers a variety of dining options for members and their guests. Members can also enjoy the club’s tennis facilities, swimming pool, and other recreational activities.
Unlike Ross’s other courses, this golf course is not routed over a series of peaks and valleys but rather over a flat, open landscape. This creates a more visually appealing course, but it also provides some difficulty for top level players. The pushed up green pads are typical of Ross’s work on clay and help him maximize drainage on the greens.
Quail Hollow Golf Club
In addition to the championship golf course, Quail Hollow offers a variety of other facilities for members and their guests. These include a clubhouse, practice range, and 150-seat function room. The club also hosts a number of events throughout the year. The event calendar is updated regularly to reflect new activities and events.
The course was originally designed by George Cobb and opened in 1961. In 1969, it began hosting the Kemper Open, a second-year PGA Tour event that featured players like Dale Douglass and Tom Weiskopf. It would continue to host the event until 1980 when it moved to Congressional C.C. in Washington, D.C. Tom Fazio made significant changes to the course in 1997 and the course has since been a favorite of big-name champions, including Rory McIlroy.
The golf course features an 18-hole, 7,000-yard layout that offers challenging holes with dense Bermuda rough and narrow fairways. The signature 17th hole is a long par-4 that has been dubbed the Green Mile, and the finishing hole requires an accurate approach over water to a large, multi-tiered green.
Providence Country Club
The pristine golf course at Providence Country Club is an exciting challenge for even the most skilled players. The Dan Maples layout features five par-5 holes and eight par-3 holes, offering a varied and interesting layout. The club also offers first-class practice greens and a driving range.
McConnell Golf’s purchase of Providence Country Club in February brings the renowned golf company into two new markets and connects its membership network in the Carolinas and Tennessee. The Queen City is a vibrant community with plenty to offer golfers, and Providence has been recognized as one of Charlotte’s premier family country clubs.
The neighborhood’s elegant Georgian clubhouse combines traditional warmth with modern elegance, and its versatile event spaces are a top choice for weddings large and small. Its tenured event team and culinary staff help create seamlessly orchestrated celebrations. Residents can enjoy a 10-lane competition pool, a family slide pool, a zero-entry children’s pool and shady lounge areas.
Renaissance Park Golf Course
Renaissance Park Golf Course offers the golfer a truly unique and challenging course. Located in southwest Charlotte, this 18-hole layout was built on land that was once reserved for landfills. This Michael Hurdzan design features a variety of holes and expansive bent grass greens that are always in top condition. The front nine has a more open links feel while the back nine requires more accuracy as it winds through a large conservation area. Six sets of tees ensure that golfers of all skill levels can enjoy the challenge this golf course offers.
The clubhouse at Renaissance Golf Course is spectacular, offering a full range of amenities to its members. A full service pro shop, restaurant, bar and grill are all available at this exclusive golf community. The clubhouse also houses the club’s full-service tennis facility, pool, spa, fitness center and a state-of-the-art gym.
