[ed_getka]

Are there any interesting golf courses or golf communities in this area?

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Ed 1.5 hours south is Pinehurst and one hour south is tobacco road.

[Chris_Blakely]

If you are not lookint to travel, Duke University's golf club is decent.

[Brian Cenci]

For the cost, Duke isn't worth it but I don't think there's that much around that is remarkably better.  I played Heritage GC, about half hour away, which isn't too bad but not worth more than a twenty minute drive to get there.

-Brian

[Chris_Blakely]

For the cost, Duke isn't worth it but I don't think there's that much around that is remarkably better.  I played Heritage GC, about half hour away, which isn't too bad but not worth more than a twenty minute drive to get there.

-Brian

When I played with my buddy who was getting his MBA at Duke, I believe they had a twilight rate that made the cost not that bad.  I am not sure if that is still the case.

Chris

[rjsimper]

Ed,

What specifically are you looking for?

Tiger is correct re: Pinehurst, but as for Raleigh/Durham I've learned in my 4 months living here that there isn't anything public that will knock your socks off. 

Never heard anyone ask about "golf communities" unless you were planning to move here....

[cary lichtenstein]

Are there any interesting golf courses or golf communities in this area?

[ed_getka]

Ryan,
   That is exactly why I am asking. We will be there by September. Where are you at out there?

[CJ Carder]

I really enjoyed UNC Finley when I played there.  It's the University of North Carolina course (obviously) and I believe it's a Fazio design - pretty decent too.  Here's the link:

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/finley/unc-finley.html

[ed_getka]

I'm not worried about the larger geographic area, I will have plenty of time to explore the endless possibilities of golf in the region. I just want to focus within 30 miles of Durham/Chapel Hill. Thanks guys.
   My wife will be at Duke for the next 3 years, so hopefully she will sponsor me for golf there.

[cary lichtenstein]

Ed:

About an hour North of Tobacco Road is Tot Hill Farm, if you haven't played it, it is alot of fun, a Michael Strantz course, public and very inexpersive to play.

I played that, and the next day Tobacco Road, and that is the correct order and you will enjoy both days.

Cary

[ed_getka]

I really enjoyed UNC Finley when I played there.  It's the University of North Carolina course (obviously) and I believe it's a Fazio design - pretty decent too.  Here's the link:

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/finley/unc-finley.html

CJ,
    Thanks, I had forgotten about that one. Just the sort of thing I'm looking for.

[Chip Gaskins]

there is a private course just built call Old Chatam

Dook isn't a very good (but I am biased as a UNC Alum), golf course, basketball team, etc... 

[Lynn_Shackelford]

Ed, looking for a Fazio design?  Please explain.

[rjsimper]

Ed - Excellent!  I am in Southwest Durham - have you visited the area yet?  We're house shopping and the fiancee just got a job in North Durham.  I work in southern RTP.

Community-wise on this side of town, there's not much within a convenient skip/jump to Duke.  There are a few within a half hour.

Chapel Ridge is a newer course that gets decent press with a residential community - membership there is about 5k to join and 175/month

I joined a semi-private course about a half hour away called Mill Creek - I like it.

Most of the golf/live communities are in the outlying suburbs - Clayton, Apex, etc, which would be stupid for a commute to Duke. 

Chapel Hill also has the Preserve at Jordan Lake, but I've heard it's not a great course...same price as Chapel Ridge more or less. 

Duke golf course is respectable though not great.  I hear that and Finley have each of their share of proponents, though I've not played Finley.

Croasdaile CC in Durham was recommended to me by and is private with a relatively reasonable initiation...high monthlys though - PM me if you want specifics on that one.

Other than that, there is Falls Village which I hear is okay - about 2k to join and 180/month - maybe 20 minutes from Duke?

Governors Club and Chapel Hill CC are private and much more $$.  Don't even think about Hope Valley CC.

The Crossings golf course in Durham I've heard is so-so - its near Falls Village and I've heard that is better.

There's a course out in Graham called the Challenge which is again, fine, but not great.  Out that way Mill Creek is better and closer, but it's cheap to play.

Hillandale, the muni, actually has a number of people who like it but It's no George Wright or Harding and that may be an understatement.

Lakeshore is in SE Durham and is not good

OH, the major one I forgot is Treyburn - well north of Durham, but with a Duke job it would work - more rural and supposed to be a decent course - drove by a few weeks ago, private, but not crazy membership, but a popular golf/live community.

[michael j fay]

Treyburn CC in Durham is an earlier Tom Fazio design and has some very good holes.

[ed_getka]

Excellent. Keep the advice coming guys. Just what I am looking for.

Ryan,
   I'll get in touch. We plan to fly out in the next month or so to check out the area.

[Scott_Burroughs]

   My wife will be at Duke for the next 3 years, so hopefully she will sponsor me for golf there.

Will you be working at UNC hospital, perhaps?  If so, you'd probably have discounted fees at Finley.

Private courses, all of which are communities of some sort:

Chapel Hill:

Chapel Hill CC (Gene Hamm)
Governor's Club (27 Nicklaus)

Durham:

Hope Valley (Ross -recently restored by Silva)
Croasdaile (not sure - but affordable and close to town)
Treyburn (Fazio) - membership here would also get you membership at Raleigh CC (Ross), The Cardinal (old Dye recently renovated by Dye in Greensboro), and Musgrove Mill in SC (Turboe and Tommy W's club).

there is a private course just built call Old Chatam

'Just built'/opened in 2001.  $65K initiation, though, last I heard.

[mark chalfant]

Ed

Hope Valley CC , near Dover road in  Durham, is a  hilly Ross routing that will keep you on your toes. It was restored by  Brian  Silva c.  2003.  Maybe Adam   Messix knows this  one....


ps.   I'm not familiar with Ellis Maples work but perhaps he designed some near Raleigh  Durham

[ed_getka]

Ed

Hope Valley CC , near Dover road in  Durham, is a  hilly Ross routing that will keep you on your toes. It was restored by  Brian  Silva c.  2003.  Maybe Adam   Messix knows this  one....


ps.   I'm not familiar with Ellis Maples work but perhaps he designed some near Raleigh  Durham

Mark,
    Is Hope any hillier than Stanford's back nine? Any more thoughts on Stanford and Cal Club since you've had some time to digest? It was nice to see you a couple of weeks ago.

[hhuffines]

Ed,

You're getting good advice, but for those of you who think the golf here is lackluster, you should have seen it 20 years ago!

Treyburn and Raleigh CC combined probably give you the best combo.  Hasentree is a brand new, high end club near Fall's Lake.  I love playing at Hope Valley when i can.

The only Maples I know of close by is Roxboro CC.   There is also MacGregor Downs (W. Byrd) which is a golf community in Cary.

Perhaps we should organize a Triangle golf outing sometime.

Hart

[Scott_Burroughs]

Private Brier Creek CC (Palmer, but not bad) is technically Raleigh, but is pretty close to Durham and is a community.  Right by the airport, too.

Not mentioned yet is public Willowhaven in Durham, which I think has housing also.  Never played.

Ellis Maples' closest design to Raleigh area would be Keith Hills' original course, I think.  (south of Raleigh)

What's with these Californian GCAers (2 now) moving to the Triangle recently?  Is Huckaby next?  I hear he goes through jobs pretty quickly.  

[A.G._Crockett]

Ed,
If you are going to be affiliated with Dook (correct spelling if you went to Carolina ) then that will be your most affordable option for a lot of golf without 5 hour rounds.  It's a good golf course if you get a membership of some sort, by as a daily fee it is way over-priced, IMO.

Hope Valley is, without question, the best course in the area, but it is NOT a club looking for transient members.  It is the "old money" club in Durham, as it were, and still relatively exclusive.  Regardless, be sure to find a way to play it at some point.

I grew up about 4 blocks from Hillandale, and still think of the place as home.  Weekend rounds can be endless at times, but on weekdays you can play pretty cheaply and pretty quickly.  Hillandale is the essence of public golf in terms of the clientele, but the greens are always in good condition, and it is a lot of fun to play.  Don't sell it short.

Finley is very comparable to Dook as a golf course, but will also cost too much as a daily fee, IMO.  I like Finley better when I'm home because I like giving money to a guy in a light blue shirt better than to a guy in a dark blue shirt.  If you don't have those loyalties, and the price is the same, it is a tossup.

If you are looking to join a club for the three years in the Durham area, Croasdaile might be the best option.  George Cobb course that John LaFoy redid a few years ago.  I really like the golf course, and it is a pretty convenient location.

There are lots of other options, especially toward Raleigh, that have been mentioned already and can be googled as well.  None are great, but none are terrible, and there is decent golf for a decent price in the area.

One course that I haven't seen mentioned yet is The Preserve at Jordan Lake outside Chapel Hill.  It is an affordable Davis Love course that has interesting holes despite not being on the best piece of land.

You'll love the area.  I grew up there, went to school there, and will retire back there in a very few more years.  Enjoy it.

[ChipRoyce]

Ryan,
   That is exactly why I am asking. We will be there by September. Where are you at out there?

Ed -
Too Funny - I just gave notice today and also moving to the triangle!
If you're interested, would enjoy synching up and sharing any info on Private courses and housing / schools.
Chip

[A.G._Crockett]

Not mentioned yet is public Willowhaven in Durham, which I think has housing also.  Never played.

I think Willowhaven is Joe Lee, and it is a lot of fun.  Very short, fairly tight, and redone a few years ago.  IMO, some of the new green contours are a little over the top, but they do add interest.  Willowhaven was always private, but struggled financially for years and then went first semiprivate, and now may be fully daily fee.  There is a very nice older subdivision by the same name, as well as a lot of nice new subdivisions out that way (slightly northwest of Durham proper)

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