The Sandhills Highlight

Caption: Pinehurst No. 10

Top 100 Golf Courses in N.C.

Long regarded as the Home of American Golf, the Pinehurst and Sandhills region has once again reinforced its standing as the state’s premier golf destination. In 2026, for the first time ever, a record number of 20 golf courses in the Sandhills region are ranked among the Top 100 in the state by the North Carolina Golf Panel. A total of 14 courses from the Sandhills area are listed among the Top 50.

The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen region is home to four of the Top 10 golf courses in North Carolina, and eight of the Top 25, as indicated below:

1. Pinehurst No. 2

Of the more than 400 courses Donald Ross designed, Pinehurst No. 2 was where he made his home, continuing to tweak and perfect the course throughout his life. After an extensive restoration by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw, the course has returned to the way Ross originally intended.

View Course

3. Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club

For three generations, Peggy Kirk Bell & her family have been welcoming guests to Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. This Donald Ross course was restored by Kyle Franz in 2017 & has hosted the 1996, 2001, 2007 and 2022 U.S. Women’s Open Championship.

View Course

5. The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood

CCNC is best known for its outstanding golf courses. The Dogwood course opened in 1963 and has been the venue for many championship events including three Carolinas Amateurs, six Southern Amateurs and the 1980 USGA Amateur.

View Course

Caption: CCNC Dogwood Course

10. Pinehurst No. 4

While No. 4 has been through a number of iterations since it was first built by Donald Ross in 1919, Hanse’s version is the most stunning. With the most interesting topography on the entire Pinehurst property, a shimmering lake as a centerpiece and natural ridgelines defining corridors, golfers are treated to a brazen blend of sand, native wire grasses and shimmering water.

View Course

13. The Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal)

Nine holes of the Cardinal course opened in 1970, with the second nine completed in 1981 offering 10 sets of USGA rated tees, . The course is characterized by its gently rolling fairways, mature pine trees, and strategically placed bunkers that test golfers’ skills and strategic thinking. Both CCNC golf courses are ranked in the top 20 in North Carolina.

View Course

14. Pinehurst No. 10

No. 10 is Pinehurst’s first new course in nearly three decades, but in truth it’s been centuries, even millennia, in the making. The landscape underlying Doak’s design features native wiregrass, sweeping landscape and rolling hills formed by geology. Midway through the course, it also takes advantage of rugged dunes carved out by mining operations around the turn of the 20th century.

View Course

Caption: Pinehurst No. 10

18. Pinehurst No. 8

No. 8 opened in 1996 to commemorate Pinehurst’s centennial year. Tom Fazio took full advantage of the 420 acres of rolling terrain and natural wetlands to fashion a course that’s visually enthralling and challenging yet fun to play. The greens and tees are close together, making it a pleasure to walk.

View Course

Caption: Pinehurst No. 8

24. Mid Pines Golf Club

rarity among Donald Ross courses, Mid Pines Golf Course remains exactly as the renowned architect built it in 1921 & restored by Kyle Franz in 2013. Known for its pristine conditions & meticulous maintenance, this design offers a true test of golfing prowess while immersing players in the history of the game.

View Course

Read more on the 2026 N.C. Golf Panel Rankings here!

Other Blogs