Championship Course
Since the Championship course was opened in 1958, it has consistently ranked as
one of the top public courses in the nation. This Robert Trent Jones layout which
has ninety-nine bunkers was designed to test the best golfers in the world and fits
Jones’s design philosophy of “easy bogey, hard par.” He believed that the long iron
shot separated the championship golfer from the average golfer and created several
holes with that in mind. The seventh and twelfth holes, both par 3’s, play over
230 yards from the back tees. The par 4 eleventh hole is 490 yards. Fortunately
for the recreational golfer Jones built multiple teeing grounds to make the course
enjoyable for all skill levels.
The Championship course has a deep and rich tradition and has hosted some of the
most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. In 1974, Lee Trevino edged Jack
Nicklaus by one-shot to win the 56th PGA Championship. Sam Sneed who was 62 years
old at the time finished tied for third. The USGA Amateur Public Links Championship
was played in 1986 and won by current tour player Billy Mayfair. From 1987 to 2002
it was the home of the Senior PGA Tour’s Vantage Championship which was won by such
notable names as Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Hale Irwin and Larry Nelson. Jim Colbert
won a record three times. In 2002 Bruce Fleisher shot a 60 in the second round.
Come and enjoy the experience of playing the course that was voted the #1 public
course in the state by North Carolina Magazine and test your skills against
the legends of the game!
Championship Course Virtual Tour »