How to Play the Best Golf in North Carolina
North Carolina is one of the great golf states in America, the adopted home of Donald Ross and the cradle of US Open history at Pinehurst. From the pine scented Sandhills to the cool Blue Ridge mountains and the breezy Atlantic coast, here is how to play it: the three regions, the courses that matter, how to get on and what it costs in 2026.
Photograph: Pinehurst No 2, via Google
Why North Carolina
No state outside the marquee names of the northeast and California carries the depth of golf that North Carolina does, and most of it traces back to one man. Donald Ross, the Scottish architect who emigrated and made Pinehurst his home, designed many of the state's finest early courses and left a strategic, ground game sensibility that still defines the place. The result is a golf culture that runs from championship history in the Sandhills to mountain resorts and coastal links style turf, all within a few hours of one another.
The smart way to play North Carolina is to choose the Sandhills as your anchor, then decide whether to pair it with the mountains or the coast depending on the season and the kind of trip you want. The Sandhills alone can fill a long weekend with world class golf; add a second region and you have a full week with real variety. Below is how each region plays and the courses to build around.
The three golf regions
The Sandhills: Pinehurst and Southern Pines
This is the heartland and the one region every visiting golfer should play. Pinehurst Resort alone runs ten courses, led by the legendary No 2, the Donald Ross design restored by Coore and Crenshaw that hosted the US Open in 2014 and again in 2024 and is now a permanent anchor site for the championship. No 4, reworked by Gil Hanse in 2018, and the new Tom Doak No 10, opened in 2024, give the resort two more must plays. Beyond the resort, the wild, dune framed Tobacco Road by Mike Strantz is one of the most talked about courses in the country, and a record number of Sandhills layouts now rank among the state's best. Base in the village of Pinehurst or Southern Pines and you can walk from history to history.
The mountains: Asheville and the Blue Ridge
When the rest of the southeast bakes in summer, the mountains around Asheville stay cool, sitting above two thousand feet with a golf season that runs roughly April through November. The golf here leans on classic Donald Ross designs, with the course at the Omni Grove Park Inn a gorgeous old Ross laid against the mountains, and the scenery is the headline as much as the architecture. This is the region for a summer trip or for pairing golf with the breweries, food and Blue Ridge Parkway drives Asheville is known for.
The coast: Wilmington and Calabash
The southeastern coast around Wilmington and the Calabash area near the South Carolina border offers relaxed resort golf on sandy soil that plays firm and fast, with ocean breezes as the defense and a links style feel on the best layouts. It is the value and vacation end of North Carolina golf, easy to combine with beach time, and a natural extension if you are already playing the Myrtle Beach courses just across the state line. Spring, fall and even winter all play well on the coast.
The courses to build around
| Course | Region and access | Why play it |
|---|---|---|
| Pinehurst No 2 | Sandhills, resort guests; indicative from around 470 dollars in 2026 | Donald Ross masterpiece, US Open anchor site, the best course in the state |
| Pinehurst No 4 | Sandhills, resort guests | Gil Hanse 2018 redesign with rugged waste areas and dramatic risk reward |
| Pinehurst No 10 | Sandhills, resort guests | Tom Doak's 2024 course, a wilder modern counterpoint a short drive from the village |
| Tobacco Road | Sandhills, public; strong value | Mike Strantz's bold, dune framed original, the most distinctive round in the state |
| Omni Grove Park Inn | Mountains, resort and public; seasonal | Classic Donald Ross design with Blue Ridge views, the pick of Asheville golf |
Designers, hosting history and access verified June 2026 from resort and North Carolina golf panel sources. Fees are indicative for 2026 and move with season and demand. We do not quote our own pricing, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
How to get on and where to stay
The marquee Pinehurst courses, above all No 2, are generally tied to a Pinehurst Resort stay, so the simplest route onto them is to book a package at the resort, which bundles rooms, rounds and access. Tobacco Road and most Sandhills courses are straightforward public play, and the mountain and coastal courses are largely resort or daily fee, so they are easy to add. Book No 2 and the resort well ahead for the spring and fall peaks, when the Sandhills are busiest and dearest.
For where to stay, the village of Pinehurst and neighbouring Southern Pines put you in the middle of the Sandhills with the resort, the courses and a charming small town on your doorstep. Asheville is the obvious mountain base, and Wilmington the coastal one. Getting there is easy: Raleigh Durham airport is around ninety minutes from Pinehurst, with Charlotte and the regional airports serving the mountains and coast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts across the Sandhills, mountains and coast.
Plan your North Carolina golf trip
Tell us whether you want the Sandhills alone or paired with the mountains or coast, and roughly when, and one concierge books the courses, holds the Pinehurst package and costs the trip to the head. Spring and fall tee times go early, so the sooner we start the better. No obligation.
North Carolina golf questions
What is the best golf course in North Carolina?
Pinehurst No 2, the Donald Ross masterpiece in the Sandhills restored by Coore and Crenshaw, is consistently ranked the best course in the state. It has hosted multiple US Opens, including 2014 and 2024, and is an anchor site that will stage the championship repeatedly in the coming decades. Pinehurst Resort surrounds it with nine more courses, so it headlines the single best golf destination in North Carolina.
Where should you play golf in North Carolina?
North Carolina splits into three golf regions. The Sandhills around Pinehurst and Southern Pines is the heartland and the must visit, led by Pinehurst No 2, No 4 and No 10 and the wild Tobacco Road. The mountains around Asheville offer cooler summer golf on classic Donald Ross designs. The coast around Wilmington and Calabash gives relaxed resort golf with ocean breezes. A great trip can combine the Sandhills with one of the other two regions.
How much does it cost to play Pinehurst No 2?
Green fees at Pinehurst No 2 are indicative from around 470 dollars and up per round in 2026 for resort guests, with the highest rates in the spring and fall peak seasons, and access is generally tied to a Pinehurst Resort stay. Other Sandhills courses are far cheaper, and the mountain and coastal regions offer strong value public golf. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in North Carolina?
Spring and fall are the prime seasons across the state, with the most comfortable temperatures and firmest conditions in the Sandhills and on the coast, both of which also play well in winter. The mountain courses around Asheville are seasonal, typically open from April through November, with peak conditions in late spring and early fall. Always confirm course conditions and tee times before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, hosting history and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.