Moving to Raleigh - Cary, NC - golf suggestions

[Jerry Kluger]

I am moving to Cary, NC which is a suburb of Raleigh and was looking for suggestions for a club to join.  I know that Tobacco Road is fairly close as is Pinehurst but I am considering joining a club as I don't know anyone in the area and want to meet other golfers and my son wants to play in a junior program, etc.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Sam Morrow]

Cory Lewis is your expert on this.

[David_Madison]

Jerry,

Welcome to the area! I've lived in Chapel Hill for eleven years and am a member at Governors Club, a pretty decent Nicklaus course with 27 holes. We're about 30 minutes away, and currently have a pretty incredible membership drive under way, but the junior program is a best limited with not much participation, although they've tried. We do have a First Tee program here, so hearts are in the right place on this one. This wouldn't be my first choice living in Cary, but the place is beautiful and might be worth your seeing.

The best junior program anywhere in the area is the Carolina Country Club in Raleigh. Ted Kiegiel is the Director of Golf, and he's built an incredible program. Webb Simpson grew up there, and a number of seriously fine young players are there now. But it's not a mill for generating just top players. Go out there when there's no school and you're likely to see anywhere from 10 - 30+ kids of all ages on the range, putting green, and course, and everyone really digs them being out there. It's a great club in other respects as well. The big downside is that there's a waiting list, but that tells you something about the club in this type of economic environment.

Raleigh CC is worth checking out. A solid Donald Ross lay-out, and a very family oriented club that was the first club purchased by John McConnell. If I lived in Cary or Raleigh that's probably where I'd join.

Old Chatham might be worth investigating. It's purely a golf club, and they are developing a wonderful golf culture there. The recent past president of the USGA is a member there. I'm not so sure about junior element, but it might be something they are trying to build. Certainly worth asking.

Check out Prestonwood. It's in Cary, and it has three courses. It's a massive club, developed primarily for SAS employees but open for membership to non-employees. Given the nature of its membership, I'm sure there are kids all over the place there. They hold a pretty popular Senior Tour event there every fall.

There are some other clubs in the area, but this should get you started. Hope this helps.

[hhuffines]

I'm a Raleigh native and David has given you some good advice.   Ted teaches non members occasionally at CCC depending on age and ability.  How old is your son?  I think Brendon Todd grew up playing in Cary and had some battles against Webb.

We have lots of golf options that just weren't available when I was younger.   Raleigh CC is a nice Ross and the membership offers Treyburn, TPC at Wakefield, Old N. State, and Sedgefield  and the Cardinal in Greensboro as part of their package.   They have a nice corporate membership too.  12 Oaks is a new club in Holly Springs, Devil's Ridge and Bentwinds are close too.  Bentwinds was redone by Spence a few years ago.  Knights Play is a par 3 with lighted night play upto midnight.

Triangle Golf is a little periodical that has a great map of courses here.  Check their site at www.trianglegolf.com.

Let us know when you get here and if you have specific questions.   

Hart Huffines

[Cory Lewis]

David gave several great suggestions, one other I would recommend is Hope Valley.  Great old Ross course that is fun and interesting.  Joining any McConnell property like Raleigh or TPC Wakefield gives you access to all the courses in the portfolio, it's a pretty good deal if you like traveling around in the area to play.  He owns some of the best clubs in the Raleigh/Durham/Greensboro area.

[Scott Szabo]

I have a friend who lives in Raleigh and belongs to the Raleigh Country Club, a Donald Ross layout.  He speaks very highly of the club.

[David_Madison]

Jerry,

And now you know some people in the area! When you get here, please don't be shy about getting in touch with any of us. There are a bunch of GCA'ers living in the area.

Good advice on Wakefield. The McConnell network gives you access to a number of very good clubs within driving distance. As for Ted Keigiel and junior programs, he is a truly wonderful person and gifted teacher. I've worked with him for the past four years and last year sent a promising junior over to him and he's been working with him ever since. Depending upon your son's ability and even if you don't join Carolina CC, Ted or someone on his staff could certainly give you their thoughts about where some other good junior programs in the area.

Also, make sure to check out both UNC-Chapel Hill's course, Finley, and also Duke's course. Both are very good and have reasonable green fees.

[Jerry Kluger]

It all sounds really great.  We should be moving down around the end of June but I will sneak out and check out some of the venues when we come down to look for a house.

[Jeff Shelman]

Former Raleigh resident here checking in. I don't have a whole lot more to add.

I played at Raleigh CC and it is really cool. I was there before McConnell bought it, so I don't know how it has changed. It is really golf-focused. The downside is that it is on the other side of Raleigh from Cary.

The one thing I would really consider is location both in regards to home and to where you will be working. Depending on whether you are going east or west for work (or staying in RTP), I'd look that way.

Two other places in or close to Cary are Macgregor Downs and Briar's Creek. I played Macgregor Downs only once and it is pretty solid and located right in Cary. Lots of houses, but not awful. I haven't played Briar's Creek (a Palmer that is part of a housing development).

Hope Valley in Durham is fantastic. Croasdaile in Durham is a nice course and is available at a little lower price point (I believe). I have not played Governors Club nor Chapel Hill Country Club.

I think Raleigh CC is the best course in the Triangle with Hope Valley next (of what I've played). Both are very solid. After that there are plenty of good golf courses and nice clubs. All have pros and cons.

[Ronald Montesano]

No mention of that fine new course at NC State?

[Jim Franklin]

Are you retiring? Let's hook up before you leave town.

[Jerry Kluger]

Jim: 37 years with the Department of Justice is enough. I have retired but my wife is transferring to the United States Attorney's Office in Raleigh so she will be working and I will be golfing.  LIFE IS GOOD

I would love to get back to BCC before I go.

[Dan Kettler]

First of all, welcome to the area.  You are going to love it.  That is if you like great access to the coast, mountains and college basketball and can stand some heat in the summer.  I currently live and work and Cary and have made the move to the area 3 times so I have gone through the same analysis.  Currently I am a member of Raleigh CC and absolutely have no regrets.  There are clubs that are closer to or in Cary, MacGregor Downs and Prestonwood, but if you want quality golf at a golf club, RCC is it.  The membership and staff are top notch and the access to the other McConnell clubs is a great bonus.   There are several outstanding juniors that play out there and the practice area is conducive to working on your game.

The only other club I would consider if living in Cary would be Old Chatam.  Guessing not much of a junior program and the dues and initiation fee will be more, but has a nice remote setting with a golf minded membership and a championship course.

Again, welcome.

[Bill Brightly]

Good luck on the move Jerry!

Probably best for club entry if you become a Tar Heel fan, even though Duke is better.  

[Jerry Kluger]

Bill: We both have boys at Elon which regularly gets its butt kicked by both schools so I won't be offending anyone if I wear an Elon shirt.  BTW: NC State is right there as well.

[Andy Hughes]

Congrats Jerry.  Hope we get to tee it up again before you leave us.

[A.G._Crockett]

I'd second the earlier mention of the NCSU course.  It's the best of the three university courses IMO, marginally better than UNC-Finley, and better by a bigger margin that Duke.

As far as daily fees, one that hasn't been mentioned is The Preserve at Jordan Lake, a Love Design I believe Paul Cowley routed and is very good and very affordable; should be only about 25 minutes from the center of Cary.  There is lots of solid public golf in the Triangle area, so you shouldn't have much difficulty even if you don't opt for joining a private club.

Of course, you may already know that Cary is an acronym:
  "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees"

[Jerry Kluger]

A number of years ago I did a grand jury investigation in Tallahassee and after the indictment was returned the grand jury insisted on finding out where I was from - I told them I was from Washington, DC but that wasn't what they wanted to know. They finally said - where were you born! I told them New Jersey - they then called me a damn Yankee but they forgave me for that. 

[Greg Krueger]

Welcome to the Triangle Jerry! I have lived here 11 years and would echo most of the posts. Raleigh CC is fantastic and there are several decent public options. It's also great that we are only 90 minutes from Pinehurst!!!

[Jerry Kluger]

Greg: I look forward to meeting you.  It appears that my wife wants to live in Cary and I made up my mind that my home course will be just that - close to my home and not the distance my club is now.  The drawback to public courses is that my son plays golf so I have to pay 2 greens fees unless they have junior rates.  He wants to get really serious about his game this year so I want him to have access to good practice facilities and not hesitate about the cost if he wants to go out and play. I am keeping all my options open but it sure feels great having those options unlike the DC area where the club near my house had a $65K initiation fee.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Jerry,

If you're going to be living in Cary and you want a private course close to your house, then that limits it quite a bit, since there are only 2 private clubs in Cary, MacGregor Downs and Prestonwood.  IMO, Prestonwood is the way to go because they have 3 (regulation) 18-hole courses to choose from.  It has a big membership because of that (and its SAS ties), but then there will be a good-sized junior program, as well.  GCAer Chip Royce is a member there (he's posted it here, so I don't think I'm giving anything away).

Other notes:  Someone else mentioned Brier Creek, which is not far from northern Cary.  The course isn't bad, but you'd get the Toll Brothers benefit of being able to also play Hasentree in Wake Forest, a private Fazio design, one of the better courses around.

While Raleigh CC is a good, core Ross design, and it has the benefit of access to the other McConnell courses, they keep their green speeds 2 feet too fast for the severe slopes of their greens (another GCAer concurs with me).  I would not want to play it every day.  I bet the membership there travels very well.

[Scott_Park]

Jerry,

I live in Cary and play at 12 Oaks which is in Holly Springs (25-30 min drive to/from downtown).  The course is a nicklaus design with his son Michael being the actual architect who did a nice job.  The course is difficult, but not over the top.  Walkability is decent, but there are a few green to the next tee walks that are on the long side.  We are a new club with approx 140 golfing members. 

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Scott

[Jim Franklin]

Jim: 37 years with the Department of Justice is enough. I have retired but my wife is transferring to the United States Attorney's Office in Raleigh so she will be working and I will be golfing.  LIFE IS GOOD

I would love to get back to BCC before I go.

Let me know when.

[Morgan Stephenson]

I've been a member at Bentwinds in Fuquay-Varina for a few years now and have really enjoyed it. The course was renovated a while back by Kris Spence and has some really interesting greens complexes. Course is always in great shape and is not too difficult to walk. There are a fair amount of juniors who play and they're always doing clinics to encourage younger players. It's also one of the best deals around if you ask me.   Morgan

[rjsimper]

Don't fall into the trap of considering Lochmere for a second.

Eagle Ridge in Holly Springs is supposed to be okay and is affordable (and the membership includes a few other courses)

I thought Macgregor Downs was a decent enough place...fun 18th hole...and definitely had the most "family" vibe out of any of the clubs around here that I have played. Kids walking through the parking lot with kickboards and noodle floats, etc.

Chapel Ridge is a nice daily fee option - sister course to the Preserve and in my opinion, more fun. Too far to make it your regular game, though.

Welcome to the area.