CCNC Dogwood Course
Ellis Maples and Willard Byrd laid out the Dogwood Course at the Country Club of North Carolina in 1963, threading par 72 golf through the longleaf pines and gentle sandhills just east of the village of Pinehurst. A private members course of about 7,150 yards, sensitively restored by Kris Spence, it hosted the 1980 U.S. Amateur and sits firmly among the finest tracks in a state thick with them.
Photo via Google, contributed by The Country Club of North Carolina.
The verdict
The Country Club of North Carolina sits a few minutes from the more famous fairways of Pinehurst, and that quiet privacy is part of its appeal. Ellis Maples, son of Pinehurst greenkeeper Frank Maples and a Donald Ross disciple, teamed with Willard Byrd in 1963 to route the Dogwood across rolling sandhills studded with longleaf pine and dotted with ponds. The result is a classic, fair, beautifully proportioned members course that has quietly outlasted trends.
Our verdict: the Dogwood is the kind of course low handicappers fall for slowly, a Maples design of clean lines and honest tests rather than tricks, kept current by Kris Spence without losing its 1960s soul. It earned a place in golf history as the host of the 1980 U.S. Amateur, won by a young Hal Sutton, and it remains a private retreat best reached through a member. For the wider area, see our guide to golf in North Carolina.
CCNC Dogwood Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1963
- Designer
- Maples & Byrd
- Type
- Private sandhills
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,150 yds
- Access
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the Country Club of North Carolina and leading course databases: Ellis Maples with Willard Byrd, opened 1963, par 72, about 7,150 yards from the championship tees, with a later restoration by Kris Spence. The Country Club of North Carolina is a private members club with no public green fee, so access comes through a member. Where a course or package figure appears, treat it as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Dogwood plays gently across the land in the Maples manner, the routing flowing with the natural fall of the sandhills rather than fighting it. Wide, pine framed corridors give the tee shot room, but the defense gathers at the green, where Spence's restoration recovered the bold contouring and tightened the bunkering so that approach play and the short game decide the card.
Water comes into focus on the closing stretch, where ponds press against several greens and ask a clear question of the player protecting a score. The par 3s are a strong and varied set, the par 5s tempt the long hitter to take on the corner, and the long par 4s reward the drive placed on the correct side of the fairway. It is championship golf without theatrics, the sort of test that rewarded the precision of the 1980 U.S. Amateur field.
On a Sandhills trip the Dogwood pairs naturally with the resort golf at Pinehurst No. 2 and the Donald Ross classics of nearby Southern Pines, among them Mid Pines and Pine Needles.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; play on the Dogwood is reserved for members and their accompanied guests, with no public tee sheet or open green fee |
| Guest play | Generally as the guest of a member, who books and hosts the round; unaccompanied visitor access is not offered |
| Handicap and dress | Members club etiquette and a smart, traditional dress code; soft spikes and collared shirts expected |
| On the day | Caddies and carts are available; ten sets of tees let the course flex from a forward family length to a full championship test |
| Getting there | A few minutes east of the village of Pinehurst, about 75 minutes from Raleigh Durham International and roughly an hour from Fayetteville |
| Best months | Spring and fall are prime in the Sandhills, with mild play through much of winter and warmer, busier summers |
Access details verified June 2026 from the Country Club of North Carolina and leading databases. The club is private, so confirm any visit arrangements directly; we do not quote or imply public access where none exists.
Where to stay nearby
The village of Pinehurst and neighboring Southern Pines hold the densest cluster of golf lodging in America, from the historic Carolina Hotel at Pinehurst Resort to the cozy inns of Southern Pines and a deep choice of rental cottages. Any of them puts the Sandhills classics within a short drive of breakfast.
The Sandhills reward an unhurried golf week, so anchor several nights in the Pinehurst area and build the days around the courses you can arrange. Pair the Dogwood, when a member can host you, with Pinehurst No. 2 and the restored Ross golf at Mid Pines and Pine Needles.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Pinehurst and Southern Pines.
Build a North Carolina golf trip
The Dogwood is private, but we plan the round when access allows and build the rest of the trip around the best of the Sandhills and beyond, with the lodging booked to match. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
CCNC Dogwood Course questions
Who designed the Dogwood Course at the Country Club of North Carolina?
The Dogwood Course was designed by Ellis Maples and Willard Byrd and opened in 1963 at Pinehurst. Architect Kris Spence later led a sympathetic restoration that updated the course while protecting the original Maples character.
What is the par and length of the Dogwood Course?
The Dogwood plays as a par 72 of about 7,150 yards from the championship tees, with ten sets of tees that let it suit a wide range of golfers.
Can the public play the Dogwood Course?
No. The Country Club of North Carolina is a private members club. Play on the Dogwood is reserved for members and their accompanied guests rather than a public tee sheet.
What championships has the Dogwood Course hosted?
The Dogwood hosted the 1980 U.S. Amateur, won by Hal Sutton, along with other USGA and regional championships, and is regularly ranked among the best courses in North Carolina.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026. The Country Club of North Carolina is a private members club; access details verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.