The Dogwood and Cardinal courses at The Country Club of North Carolina each held its position in the top 15 of the 2025 North Carolina Golf Panel rankings of the top 100 courses in the state. Additionally, CCNC – in Pinehurst – is the only private club in the state with this distinction.
The Dogwood Course, designed by Ellis Maples, holds third place, and the Cardinal Course, designed by Willard Byrd and Robert Trent Jones Sr. is 12th on in the list, which is recognized as the most authoritative statewide source of golf course rankings in a state that arguably has some of the nation’s best courses.
The courses were also ranked No. 2 and No. 5 in the Sandhills Region.
“The North Carolina Golf Panel has again selected both of our golf courses as among the very best in the state, and we are thankful for that,” said CCNC President Charlie Rivers. “We are extremely proud of our Dogwood and Cardinal courses. We are honored that the panelists have reaffirmed our belief in the high quality of the golf experiences at CCNC.”
CCNC Cardinal, No. 15 (Kevin Murray)
The North Carolina Golf Panel/Business North Carolina was founded in 1995 and consists of a 135-member panel that includes golf media, club professionals and general managers from many outstanding courses, accomplished amateur players and college golf coaches and others who play an active role in promoting golf in North Carolina.
The Country Club of North Carolina was established in 1963 and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023. It has hosted numerous large-scale golf events including three USGA championships: the 1980 U.S. Amateur won by Hal Sutton, the 2010 U.S. Girls’ Junior won by Doris Chen; and the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur won by Nick Dunlap. Two more USGA championships – the 2030 U.S. Senior Amateur and the 2037 U.S. Women’s Amateur – are on the calendar.
In addition, the Club has hosted seven North Carolina Amateurs. The 2027 Southern Amateur will mark the eighth time the event will be played at CCNC. It hosted the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Golf Championships won by national runner-up Georgia Tech. Since 2003, it has been certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. The Dogwood Course was renovated by Kris Spence in 2016. The Cardinal Course,completed a renovation by Arthur Hills in 2002.
Feature Photo: The Dogwood at CCNC (Kevin Murray)