Charlotte Golf Options

[tj1391]

Wife is taking a job in Charlotte so we are relocating there in the summer time. Looking at public and private golf options it looks like Charlotte mainly has private clubs? I would greatly appreciate any Recs on where is good to join. Seems like a lot of them are based on who you know? Budget is not very much a factor if it’s a good club! Mid 30s just looking for a good course and for some weekly games. 

[Drwoods2017]

When you say budget is not a factor it opens up a lot of options but you're still looking at 2 plus year waits for most places.  Probably need a little more info about what you're looking for and where in Charlotte because the city can be difficult to navigate and you'd probably want to live close to your club.

[Sixcat]

My brother has lived in Charlotte for 23 years. I live about 75 minutes north along I-77. This is what my experience has been spending time with him in Charlotte. He has lived in River Run Country Club and been a member since 2004 so, some of this information may be a bit dated. Take it for what it's worth.

 

• Anything private inside the 485 loop will have a significant waiting list and would have a heafty price tag. 
• Pine Island west of the 485 loop is great. A good friend of mine was head pro there for several years. 
• North of the city, Moorseville Golf Club is phenomenal public course but is always packed.
• East of the city, Monroe Country Club is a great option. Donald Ross front 9 and Tom Jackson back 9. 
• Rock Hill Country Club is awesome if you could swing living that far out of the city. Stock purchase and $9k initiation fee required. Dues range between $250 and $355 monthly depending on age. I have a friend there currently.

Charlotte is not a great golf city for the average income family in my opinion. The areas surrounding Charlotte can have better options but traffic is a nightmare.

[spineshank]

I think Longview and Firethorne dont have a waitlist, but thats about it. The Semi private courses have waitlists. Depends on where in the city or around the city you are moving to as well. 

[tj1391]

3 hours ago, Drwoods2017 said:

When you say budget is not a factor it opens up a lot of options but you're still looking at 2 plus year waits for most places.  Probably need a little more info about what you're looking for and where in Charlotte because the city can be difficult to navigate and you'd probably want to live close to your club.

We are looking at living at south Charlotte. Looks to me like the options close to that would be Quail, Carmel, and CGC. I don’t mind waiting at all. But those seem impossible to get into. Sounds like I may need to look outside the 485 

Edited February 24 by tj1391

[bartongrad]

There is a post on this forum about Carolina Golf Club you may want to read. 

[spineshank]

20 hours ago, tj1391 said:

We are looking at living at south Charlotte. Looks to me like the options close to that would be Quail, Carmel, and CGC. I don’t mind waiting at all. But those seem impossible to get into. Sounds like I may need to look outside the 485 

 

Quail you have own a house and be approved and what not. Carmel is 110 initiation i believe and a wait list. Cedarwood and Raintree are right around 25-30k i believe. Both have waitlists. TPC Piper Glen is the one i am not sure if it has a waitlist either now that i think about it. Ballentyne i think is around 40k and a waitlist. 

 

Theres reason why CGC (was Firethorne) doesnt have a waitlist. 

[NCgolf135]

If you're in the group that can join Quail, Carmel and Charlotte CC then have at it. But I don't think those people post on message boards asking about clubs around town. Its a know someone type situation. 

[Atwsc7]

I would probably recommend Monroe CC or Rolling Hills CC......You're better off relocating to Columbia SC if possible. Some quality Country Clubs and no where near as expensive as Charlotte. Faster play as well

[fastk9dad]

Well I was going to say if you are looking at south Charlotte, check out over the border in SC, Fort Mill or Rock Hill as someone already mentioned. But if you are looking at the likes of Quail, I don't know if Springfield or its sister courses are up your alley.

 

https://playspringsgolf.com/

[tj1391]

46 minutes ago, fastk9dad said:

Well I was going to say if you are looking at south Charlotte, check out over the border in SC, Fort Mill or Rock Hill as someone already mentioned. But if you are looking at the likes of Quail, I don't know if Springfield or its sister courses are up your alley.

 

https://playspringsgolf.com/

Thank you all for the info! the super exclusive clubs seems like it would take time to build relationships and be super hard to get into. Seems like this may be a more reasonable option. 

[Sixcat]

1 hour ago, Atwsc7 said:

You're better off relocating to Columbia SC if possible. Some quality Country Clubs and no where near as expensive as Charlotte. Faster play as well

I lived in Columbia in the early to mid 90's. Underrated region for golf. Played the Fort Jackson courses and Oak Hills a ton while there. I haven't been down that way other than passing through in 25 years. My youngest daughter is deciding on her college future at the moment. South Carolina is on her short list so, I'll be getting down this spring for sure.

[nanerman]

On 2/24/2025 at 8:41 AM, Sixcat said:

My brother has lived in Charlotte for 23 years. I live about 75 minutes north along I-77. This is what my experience has been spending time with him in Charlotte. He has lived in River Run Country Club and been a member since 2004 so, some of this information may be a bit dated. Take it for what it's worth.

 

• Anything private inside the 485 loop will have a significant waiting list and would have a heafty price tag. 
• Pine Island west of the 485 loop is great. A good friend of mine was head pro there for several years. 
• North of the city, Moorseville Golf Club is phenomenal public course but is always packed.
• East of the city, Monroe Country Club is a great option. Donald Ross front 9 and Tom Jackson back 9. 
• Rock Hill Country Club is awesome if you could swing living that far out of the city. Stock purchase and $9k initiation fee required. Dues range between $250 and $355 monthly depending on age. I have a friend there currently.

Charlotte is not a great golf city for the average income family in my opinion. The areas surrounding Charlotte can have better options but traffic is a nightmare.

Pine Island is now a $17,500 initiation, which to my tastes, it is not great for that price. It's traditionally been the lowest end club in town. 

 

I actually think the pricing at the low end is much tougher these days, with places like Cedarwood (which I like) being $40k and a long waitlist; Raintree is even close to that I believe. 

 

For publics, all the Springs courses are good in south Charlotte, but I think their membership now has a waitlist also. 

 

I like the Rock Hill suggestion - there are good options all around for non-resident memberships if you're willing to drive a bit. On the northeast side, Salisbury is a good Ross course with great value, 45 min from downtown (further from south Charlotte), and I'm a member of Mimosa Hills, a hidden gem Ross in the mountains. Of course, you can't just pop by and play, but given the limited current options in town, $200ish a month dues are easy to feel good about a few trips a month. 

 

Depending on where you end up living, I'd also look at Cabarrus CC and Rolling Hills, both have solid George Cobb courses and I don't think too much of a waitlist if any. 

 

CGC is Carolina Golf Club - great course, but in some flux with a big clubhouse project and the initiation is way up. The former Firethorne is now Country Club of the Carolinas or something like that, I have never seen a single thing that makes me interested in playing there. 

[Sixcat]

14 minutes ago, nanerman said:

I'm a member of Mimosa Hills

Played Mimosa Hills several times over the past 25ish years. One of my favorite day trips if I'm being honest. I love the golf course and the atmosphere around the club. Haven't been there in a couple of years. Might have to make that happen this spring/summer.

[ncgolfer1234]

Anybody who can write a check can get into Carmel eventually.  It's not in the same world as Charlotte, Quail, and Myers Park as far as getting in.  It's basically a club full of people from out of town, and culturally very different than those other three clubs as well.  Big pool scene but two mediocre golf courses.

 

Based on what I know one club's new initiation is, I would expect Charlotte, Quail, Myers Park, and Carmel will have asking prices near $150,000 going forward and at least for Charlotte and Myers Park 4+ year waiting lists.  Charlotte's course is closing this fall for a year for renovation.

[PeteNC]

On 2/24/2025 at 11:16 AM, tj1391 said:

We are looking at living at south Charlotte. Looks to me like the options close to that would be Quail, Carmel, and CGC. I don’t mind waiting at all. But those seem impossible to get into. Sounds like I may need to look outside the 485 

By "south Charlotte" - I would be a bit more precise.  You could easily be that area and 30-45 minutes from many courses south of Uptown.  Is your wife's job somwhere specific in town?  Are you expecting to stay in Charlotte 10+ years?  Have kids, or looking to soon?

 

Golf specific - I'd check out like Rock Hill as someone said for something immediate.  You could do that and possibly look at joining somewhere in SC that has a national membership.  

[Drwoods2017]

On 2/24/2025 at 11:16 AM, tj1391 said:

We are looking at living at south Charlotte. Looks to me like the options close to that would be Quail, Carmel, and CGC. I don’t mind waiting at all. But those seem impossible to get into. Sounds like I may need to look outside the 485 

Providence might be a decent option. Golf course and practice are nice and it does come with McConnell network benefits so you have options to play other courses in and around North Carolina. It's obviously not on the level of some of the other clubs you mentioned but until you get into the area and meet people those other clubs aren't really going to be option. I would avoid Carmel though as it seems like getting tee times has become an issue for members.

Edited February 25 by Drwoods2017

[nanerman]

4 hours ago, ncgolfer1234 said:

Anybody who can write a check can get into Carmel eventually.  It's not in the same world as Charlotte, Quail, and Myers Park as far as getting in.  It's basically a club full of people from out of town, and culturally very different than those other three clubs as well.  Big pool scene but two mediocre golf courses.

 

Based on what I know one club's new initiation is, I would expect Charlotte, Quail, Myers Park, and Carmel will have asking prices near $150,000 going forward and at least for Charlotte and Myers Park 4+ year waiting lists.  Charlotte's course is closing this fall for a year for renovation.

 

I get the typical Myers Park person wants to be hanging out right there near their house, but given they have 1,000 members and one course, that is absolutely crazy pricing for a course that is honestly not that good. And yeah, definitely agree with Carmel. If you want to be a flashy family hanging out at the pool, that's your spot. 

 

Really tough to argue with Charlotte CC, but you probably know if you're the type of person that has a chance of getting in there (like, you moved to town to be a PE or biglaw partner at a firm with tons of old money Charlotte natives). 

[fastk9dad]

6 hours ago, tj1391 said:

Thank you all for the info! the super exclusive clubs seems like it would take time to build relationships and be super hard to get into. Seems like this may be a more reasonable option. 

I did mention Springfield because it is built around a neighborhood. We relocated here in 2019 before the boom and houses were not on the market long so couldn’t be too choosy, and living on a golf course wasn’t a priority at the time. However, I told my wife if something comes up and it meets our expectations we are moving there! 😀

 

We did end up in a good community however and are literally 10mins from Springfield and Fort Mill CC. If you ever have questions on any Fort Mill or Indian Land neighborhoods/ communities feel free to msg me. 

[ncgolfer1234]

1 hour ago, nanerman said:

 

I get the typical Myers Park person wants to be hanging out right there near their house, but given they have 1,000 members and one course, that is absolutely crazy pricing for a course that is honestly not that good. And yeah, definitely agree with Carmel. If you want to be a flashy family hanging out at the pool, that's your spot. 

 

Really tough to argue with Charlotte CC, but you probably know if you're the type of person that has a chance of getting in there (like, you moved to town to be a PE or biglaw partner at a firm with tons of old money Charlotte natives). 

What is going to be interesting at Carmel going forward is that their entire model is built on constant churn in the membership.  For years their bread and butter has been people coming into town with the banks in some anonymous mid-level job where they could afford to pay the $60k membership, and they would stay in town 10 years and leave.  They would literally take in 100 new members a year because they had that many getting transferred somewhere else.  So with that constant cash flow they could spend money to upgrade clubhouse, pool, etc...

 

Now with people staying in town, nobody is really leaving Carmel, so they have no new money coming in.  On top of that, it is apparently in their bylaws that they cannot assess the membership without a majority membership vote, which limits their ability to do any kind of meaningful work to the club.  Their clubhouse (or at least parts of it) are still relatively new, but with the arm's race that is going to be the upper end Charlotte golf courses over the next few years, it will be interesting to see what they can do.

[tj1391]

1 hour ago, ncgolfer1234 said:

What is going to be interesting at Carmel going forward is that their entire model is built on constant churn in the membership.  For years their bread and butter has been people coming into town with the banks in some anonymous mid-level job where they could afford to pay the $60k membership, and they would stay in town 10 years and leave.  They would literally take in 100 new members a year because they had that many getting transferred somewhere else.  So with that constant cash flow they could spend money to upgrade clubhouse, pool, etc...

 

Now with people staying in town, nobody is really leaving Carmel, so they have no new money coming in.  On top of that, it is apparently in their bylaws that they cannot assess the membership without a majority membership vote, which limits their ability to do any kind of meaningful work to the club.  Their clubhouse (or at least parts of it) are still relatively new, but with the arm's race that is going to be the upper end Charlotte golf courses over the next few years, it will be interesting to see what they can do.

Yikes sounds like not great! 

[CDLgolf]

On 2/25/2025 at 10:25 AM, tj1391 said:

Thank you all for the info! the super exclusive clubs seems like it would take time to build relationships and be super hard to get into. Seems like this may be a more reasonable option. 

 

I play these 4 courses often. All 4 are good courses with Springfield being the most challenging  and fort mill can be hard to get a tee time. The other 2 are good courses but a 45 min drive from clt.

A course with no wait list is Longview. It's a nice course but it's on the expensive side.

I've heard that Gaston cc is a fun course with a great membership, it's west of the city in Gastonia. 

Edited March 1 by CDLgolf

[fastk9dad]

9 hours ago, CDLgolf said:

 

I play these 4 courses often. All 4 are good courses with Springfield being the most challenging  and fort mill can be hard to get a tee time. The other 2 are good courses but a 45 min drive from clt.

A course with no wait list is Longview. It's a nice course but it's on the expensive side.

I've heard that Gaston cc is a fun course with a great membership, it's west of the city in Gastonia. 

I never even heard of Longview, looks beautiful.

 

Not a golf course, but there is also, OnPar Golf Lab in Indian Land. They have a bunch of sims, putting green, gym, pros and I think a bar. I haven’t been there but it’s blowing up my IG. It’s a membership model with quite a few amenities. 

[CDLgolf]

1 hour ago, fastk9dad said:

I never even heard of Longview, looks beautiful.

 

Not a golf course, but there is also, OnPar Golf Lab in Indian Land. They have a bunch of sims, putting green, gym, pros and I think a bar. I haven’t been there but it’s blowing up my IG. It’s a membership model with quite a few amenities. 

 

Longview is right next to Providence CC. I have friends that are members at both so I play them a few times a year. Both are good courses and the members that I've met at both are great. 

[tjl48]

Anyone ever played Pine Lake Country Club in Mint Hill? That one is in a pretty convenient location for me. Currently a member at Rolling Hills. 

[PeteNC]

On 3/11/2025 at 6:22 PM, tjl48 said:

Anyone ever played Pine Lake Country Club in Mint Hill? That one is in a pretty convenient location for me. Currently a member at Rolling Hills. 

 

Yes - Quite similar to RH.  I thought RH was a tiny bit better overall, however PLCC is currently doing a reno. Look it up on Instagram, looks like they're really doing a good job.  

[CDLgolf]

On 3/11/2025 at 6:22 PM, tjl48 said:

Anyone ever played Pine Lake Country Club in Mint Hill? That one is in a pretty convenient location for me. Currently a member at Rolling Hills. 

 

I played I once last year before they closed for the renovation.  I thought it was a fun course. No ides when it reopens.

[imagine29028]

On 2/25/2025 at 10:42 AM, Sixcat said:

I lived in Columbia in the early to mid 90's. Underrated region for golf. Played the Fort Jackson courses and Oak Hills a ton while there. I haven't been down that way other than passing through in 25 years. My youngest daughter is deciding on her college future at the moment. South Carolina is on her short list so, I'll be getting down this spring for sure.

Eh....COLA resident. Public golf here sucks, lots of Country Clubs. Fort Jackson did go public in last 2 years, and that's 5 minutes from my house, so that's my "home" course. Northwoods is always super crowded and don't really take care of a Dye course the way they should, same goes for Windermere but worse. Cobblestone in Blythewood is great (recent ownership change) but I expect with the new Scout Factory right next door, that it will be near impossible to find any of the "public" tee times they open up. 

[Sixcat]

24 minutes ago, imagine29028 said:

Eh....COLA resident. Public golf here sucks

I guess things have changed in 30+ years. I was there from 1992-1995. 

[PeteNC]

16 hours ago, imagine29028 said:

Eh....COLA resident. Public golf here sucks, lots of Country Clubs. Fort Jackson did go public in last 2 years, and that's 5 minutes from my house, so that's my "home" course. Northwoods is always super crowded and don't really take care of a Dye course the way they should, same goes for Windermere but worse. Cobblestone in Blythewood is great (recent ownership change) but I expect with the new Scout Factory right next door, that it will be near impossible to find any of the "public" tee times they open up. 

 

It may not be great, but it's inexpensive compared to most anywhere else.  The private golf is also very, very reasonable,