CCNC’s Dogwood, Cardinal Courses Earn Top-15 State Rankings as Club Lands Major Future Championships

The Country Club of North Carolina continues to cement its place among the elite golf destinations in the state, with both of its premier layouts ranked inside the top 15 in the 2026 North Carolina Golf Panel’s Top 100 Courses list.

Located in Pinehurst—widely regarded as the “Home of American Golf”—the club stands alone as the only private facility in North Carolina to place two courses in the top 15 this year.

The Dogwood Course, originally designed by Ellis Maples and later renovated by Kris Spence in 2016, climbed to No. 5 in the rankings. Meanwhile, the Cardinal Course—designed by Willard Byrd and Robert Trent Jones Sr.—secured the No. 13 spot.

The rankings, compiled by the North Carolina Golf Panel in partnership with Business North Carolina, are widely considered the most authoritative assessment of golf courses in a state rich with top-tier layouts.

“Pinehurst, North Carolina is called the Home of American Golf, and CCNC stands proudly as a shining example of that,” said club president Charlie Rivers. “We’re grateful to the panel for recognizing what our members experience every day on these courses.”

A Growing Championship Legacy

Beyond rankings, CCNC is preparing for a significant run on the national amateur golf stage.

The club will host the prestigious Southern Amateur in 2027—marking the eighth time it has welcomed the event. Looking further ahead, CCNC is slated to host two major USGA championships: the 2030 U.S. Senior Amateur and the 2037 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

These additions build on a long history of elite competition at the club, which has already hosted three USGA championships, including 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 captured by Nick Dunlap.

CCNC has also been a frequent site for statewide and collegiate events, including seven North Carolina Amateur Championships and the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Golf Championship, won by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

A Tradition of Excellence

Established in 1963, the Country Club of North Carolina has long been recognized for both its championship pedigree and commitment to environmental stewardship. Since 2003, the club has been certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, reflecting its dedication to sustainable course management.

Both courses have also undergone thoughtful renovations over the years. In addition to the Dogwood updates by Spence, the Cardinal Course was renovated in 2002 by Arthur Hills, ensuring both layouts remain competitive and relevant in the modern era.

The club’s standing extends beyond the North Carolina Golf Panel rankings. The Dogwood Course is consistently recognized by major publications, including Golfweek, GOLF Magazine, and Golf Digest, while the Cardinal Course also earns regular statewide and national mentions.

With two top-15 courses, a packed championship schedule, and a legacy that continues to grow, CCNC remains a cornerstone of North Carolina’s—and America’s—golf landscape.