maps.golf

The hardest golf courses in North Carolina, by slope rating

We ranked 51 North Carolina courses with a maps.golf guide using the numbers on their own scorecards. Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club is the hardest: a slope of 149 from the Black tees (course rating 74.8).

Updated November 5, 2026

#CourseLocationSlopeRatingTees
1Verdict Ridge Golf & Country ClubDenver, NC14974.8Black
2Tobacco Road Golf ClubSanford, NC14572.5Ripper
3Cutter Creek Golf ClubSnow Hill, NC14475.3Black
4The Preserve at Jordan Lake Golf ClubChapel Hill, NC14474.7Black
5Birkdale Golf ClubHuntersville, NC14473.3Palmer
6Tot Hill FarmAsheboro, NC14472.1Maverick Black
7Anderson Creek ClubSpring Lake, NC14275.2Black
8Duke University Golf ClubDurham, NC14274.8Blue Devil Tee
9Lonnie Poole Golf CourseRaleigh, NC14274.7Competition
10Bayonet at Puppy CreekRaeford, NC14274.1Professional
11Mid PinesSouthern Pines, NC14273.5Medal
12Olde Sycamore Golf PlantationCharlotte, NC14273.4Gold
13Sequoyah National Golf ClubWhittier, NC14272.0Black
14Pine NeedlesSouthern Pines, NC14174.7Medal
15Tanglewood Championship CourseClemmons, NC14074.6Gold
16Neuse Golf ClubClayton, NC14074.1Black
17The Tradition Golf ClubCharlotte, NC14072.6Gold
18Pinehurst Course No. 6Other13974.7Gold
19Mill CreekMebane, NC13974.0Black
20Mill Creek Golf ClubMebane, NC13974.0Black
21Southern Pines Golf ClubSouthern Pines, NC13973.8Medal
22Skybrook Golf CourseHuntersville, NC13973.6Championship
23Pinehurst No. 2Pinehurst, NC13876.5U.S. Open
24River Ridge Golf ClubRaleigh, NC13872.2Gold
25Highland Creek Golf ClubCharlotte, NC13774.0Gold
26Legacy Golf LinksAberdeen, NC13774.0Black
27The Emerald Golf ClubNew Bern, NC13674.0Emerald
28Oyster Bay Golf LinksSunset Beach, NC13672.1Gold
29Meadowbrook Golf ClubRutherfordton, NC13573.8Blue
30Mooresville Golf CourseMooresville, NC13573.0Blue
31Belmont Lake Golf ClubRocky Mount, NC13473.9Black
32Riverbend YMCA Golf ClubShelby, NC13472.5Black
33The Heritage ClubWake Forest, NC13373.1Black
34Taberna Country ClubNew Bern, NC13273.1Cannons
35Emerald Lake Golf ClubMatthews, NC13272.6Emerald
36Longleaf Golf & Family ClubSouthern Pines, NC13272.4VII
37Oak Hollow Golf CourseHigh Point, NC13271.7Blue
38Oak Island Golf ClubCaswell Beach, NC13173.1Blue
39Eagle Ridge Golf ClubRaleigh, NC13173.0Black
40The Valley Golf CourseBurlington, NC13171.6Black
41Mountain Aire Golf CourseWest Jefferson, NC13070.8Blue
42Sanford Municipal Golf CourseSanford, NC13070.5Mens
43Reedy Creek Golf CourseFour Oaks, NC12970.2Blue
44Boone Golf ClubBoone, NC12871.3Blue
45Bradford Creek Public Golf CourseGreenville, NC12774.0Black
46Crystal Coast Country ClubPine Knoll Shores, NC12769.7Blue
47Black Mountain Golf CourseBlack Mountain, NC12768.7Blue
48Twin Oaks Golf CourseStatesville, NC12170.9Blue
49Wilshire Golf ClubWinston-Salem, NC12070.0Blue
50Winston Lake Golf CourseWinston-Salem, NC11869.0Blue
51Heather Hills Golf CourseWinston-Salem, NC10868.3Back

How we ranked them

Slope rating measures how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer; 113 is average and 155 is the maximum. Each course is ranked by the highest men's slope on its own scorecard, from whichever tees carry it. Ties go to the higher course rating.

The list covers courses with a free maps.golf guide whose scorecard we’ve published, and it updates on its own as new guides go live. Numbers are as printed on each course’s card; courses re-rate and re-tee, so check the course’s own scorecard before you play. Running one of these courses and see a wrong number? Tell us.

You’re welcome to cite or link this ranking; please credit maps.golf.