The Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Course.
Ali Costellow
ali.costellow@charlotteobserver.
This summer, dear reader, I risked my back for you.
I wanted to find out which are the top 10 golf courses in the immediate Charlotte area that anyone could play. And then I decided I was going to play every one.
At first I thought I could crowdsource it and get lots of opinions and narrow down the list to a reasonable number of golf courses, but “Charlotte area” means many different things to many people. There needed to be a boundary.
So I partnered up with my good friend Bruce Bellamy, with whom I started playing golf with 26 years ago. I recently started playing again after an 8-year hiatus coaching travel basketball. Bruce plays frequently.
We decided that “Charlotte-area” would be 25-30 miles in any direction starting basically from Bank of America Stadium in uptown Charlotte. The courses had to be open for public play, so public courses or semi-private only. And off we went. We didn’t tell anyone we were coming or what we were doing. The Observer covered the fees. And from mid-June to early August, we played more than 25 courses, often in 90-plus-degree weather.
That’s a lot of swinging. As I said, I risked my back for the journalism.
Like many of you, I tend to play tracks on my side of town and know those pretty well. I wasn’t so familiar with courses in others. Often, I was pleasantly surprised. A few times, I felt like I’d never drive that far to play that course again.
Not every course we played made our lists, but there were a few surprises: Charles T. Myers, a public course in east Charlotte known as “The Chuck,” is making a comeback, condition-wise and popularity-wise. Another public course in west Charlotte, Sunset Hills, is no longer what golfers would call a “goat track.” That place has undergone a huge makeover, adding a really nice practice area and a 9-hole practice course. Sunset also offers free golf lessons to people with disabilities.
And some of the courses were beaten up by the heat. One had all of its greens sanded over. It was literally like putting on Myrtle Beach.
But after all that playing, and all that sunscreen, we came up with three lists: Top 10 overall, top 10 semi-private and top 10 public.
Note: Price ranges listed include junior, senior and twilight rates. Rates quoted were publicly posted as of Friday, but are subject to change. All senior rates were not posted, so call the course to check. Last, courses were evaluated by the condition they were in at the time of review. Those conditions may have changed.
Top 10 overall coursesRed Bridge Golf Club (semi-private): Designed in 2009 by Pete Dye protégé David Postlethwait, this Locust, North Carolina, course right up Albemarle Road plays longer than the stated 6,800 yards and has three par 5s on the front. It also has many memorable holes, like the 650-yard par-5 18th with an elevated green over a creek protected by trees on both sides. It’s a very good test of golf with a beautiful layout and the condition is country club-like, with smooth and often speedy greens. Memberships are available from $195-$285 per month with a $1,000 initiation fee. Course fees range from $16-$89.Mooresville Golf Club (public): Recently redesigned with a new 18,000-square-foot clubhouse, Mooresville is a gem. Often listed by golf magazines as a top 10 public course in the state, this place could fool you into thinking you were at a true country club. There’s a sit-down restaurant and a turn-house restaurant with golf cart parking. The 6,803-yard course is open but fair and easy to walk, with holes laid out close together. The course condition is very good. It tends to hold water, so be careful on post-rain days, where you’ll have the cart path only rule in play. No additional memberships are available at this time, and members get preferred tee times. Course fees range from $46-$73.Springfield Golf Club (semi-private): Opened in Fort Mill in 2001, Springfield is part of the four-course Leroy Springs group, joining three other South Carolina courses: Lancaster Golf Club, Fort Mill Golf Club and Chester Golf Club. The nicest of the quartet, Springfield features a large clubhouse, a beautiful practice area with an oversized putting green and a challenging 6,906-yard course that is hilly, woody and will ask you to hit lots of precise shots. Course conditions cannot be beat, and though it sits in a neighborhood, few tracks in the region will give you the feel of peace and tranquility that this one does. Memberships for all four Leroy Springs courses are $260-$350 per month, but currently there is a wait list. There are individual course memberships from $195-$250. Course fees range from $40-$90.Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club (semi-private): Located up Highway 16 in Denver, Verdict Ridge was the second-hardest course we played. Bruce called it “a fun and challenging experience.” The course has seven sets of tees and has the feel of some of Charlotte’s wealthier private clubs. The course has generous fairways but lots of elevation and some near-perfect Bermuda greens. Bonus? The bunkers were very nice and consistent. There’s also a generous practice area. A golf membership is available for a $6,500-$7,500 initiation fee and monthly dues of $345-$405. Course fees range from $72-$84.Rocky River Golf Club (public): Located just around the corner from the Charlotte Motor Speedway, this track is bordered by the actual Rocky River and some wetlands. Makes for some nice views, particularly on the No. 3 tee shot. But we actually had to go here twice. The first time, parts of the course were literally underwater. The course has four sets of tees and a 10,000-square-foot practice area. The 6,970-yard course is challenging but fair and open enough for all handicaps, from the proper tees, to have a good time. Part of the Embassy Suites Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa, the course is owned by the City of Concord and well-maintained. Course fees range from $27-$86.Monroe Country Club (public): This course is the best bang for the buck in the area: $35 for seniors during the week and a weekday standard rate often at $50. That gets you a 90-year-old front nine designed by renowned golf architect Donald Ross (Monroe was the last 9-hole course he created) and a 41-year-old back nine created by Tom Jackson. Monroe may be the most fun course around to play, with an inviting layout, phenomenal greens (many elevated) and excellent course conditions. The front nine is super walkable, but there is a long walk to the back. The only reason Monroe’s not much higher on the list is the driving range, which is a long ride from the clubhouse and pretty small (many golfers never go). There is a nice putting green beside the first tee. The course also recently opened a new clubhouse with golf simulators and a restaurant. Memberships are no longer being offered. Course fees range from $18-$78.Eagle Chase Golf Club (semi-private): Out in northern Union County, this 6,723-yard track comes with a very good practice area and is easily accessible from uptown Charlotte along the I-74 bypass. There are four tees and we recommend moving up one. Eagle Chase, the toughest course we played, is full of hills, elevation and challenge. You almost need to play once, or twice, to understand where to hit the ball. Your eyes will fool you. The greens were in great shape and the fairways even better. But sometimes you can hit a good shot and the slope of the course can push your ball into areas you might not expect — or appreciate. Bring extra balls. Memberships are $1,800-$3,000 paid annually or quarterly and are currently on a wait list. Course fees range from $41-$83.Stonebridge Golf Club (semi-private): Located in Monroe, Stonebridge bills itself as “the friendliest course around.” The course was built on 650 untouched acres in 1997 by Richard Osbourne. A pretty flat and fun design allows you to swing for the fences on some holes, and good shots are rewarded. The soft greens were also fun. The course design is also top-notch. This is a scenic, memorable 18 holes and the staff at Stonebridge, true to its slogan, were very helpful and friendly. Course fees range from $20-$109.Charles L. Sifford Golf Course (public): Named for Sifford, who grew up in Charlotte and became the first Black golfer on the PGA Tour, this 9-holer is part of four courses — Charles T. Myers, Sunset and Harry L. Jones — run by Mecklenburg County and operated by Troon Golf. It’s the nicest of the group, and if it were 18 holes, Sifford might be three or four spots higher on this list. Condition-wise, with Bermuda grass from tee to green, it can compete with most any public or semi-private course in the region. And the practice area, home to the First Tee of Charlotte, is second to none. Course rates are $26.75-$32.Emerald Lake Golf Club (semi-private): Located off I-485 and Lawyers Road in the Matthews/Indian Trail area, this 6,820-yard course offers a fair but challenging layout with several very scenic holes, including a dogleg par 5 with two shots over water. It’s also got some of the best greens in the area. The tee box areas have been improved, though some were closed when we played, and we were moved up. Still, Emerald is in some of the best shape it’s been in years, and seems to be regaining its reputation as one of the top publicly accessible tracks in the region. No memberships are available. Course rates are $40-$90.Top 10 semi-private coursesRed Bridge Golf ClubSpringfield Golf ClubVerdict Ridge Golf & Country ClubEagle Chase Golf ClubStonebridge Golf ClubEmerald Lake Golf ClubSkybrook Golf ClubHighland Creek Golf ClubBirkdale Golf ClubFort Mill ClubTop 10 public coursesMooresville Golf ClubRocky River Golf ClubMonroe Country ClubCharles L. Sifford Golf CourseCharles T. Myers Golf CourseCharlotte National Golf ClubThe Tradition Golf ClubSunset Hills Golf CourseHarry L. Jones Golf CourseThe Divide
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