North Carolina Country Club thrives in Pinehurst amid growing attraction among golf communities

The real estate market tied to golf communities has been on the rise, given the recovery of games during the pandemic, especially with the good location of real estate. And when it comes to golf courses, it doesn’t get much better than the North Carolina Country Club, which is just minutes from the iconic Pinehurst Resort, a beloved nine-course destination known as the cradle of American Golf.

As golfers drive through the area, they can’t help but run into Pinehurst courses, which are in front of and in the middle of the main course. In contrast, less than three miles away, the member-owned CCNC is almost hidden, hidden in a 2,000-acre property marked by tall long-leaved pines and three lakes. There are two private golf courses, 22 miles of windy roads and a diverse selection of homes from modern to those that date back to clubs founded in 1963.

It’s a way to experience Pinehurst in a completely different way than everyone else, said Nick Gray, who oversees CCNC’s membership development work, which has a total of more than 900 members. About 800 are golf members.

While golf has plenty of amenities, it is by far the number one in the North Carolina Country Club, established almost 60 years ago as a central venue for its members to golf and socialize. In addition to the natural beauty of the Sandhills area, 90% of the state’s population lived within a 100-mile radius of Pinehurst.

This week, the CCNC will host the 2021 USA Junior Amateur Championship, the third USGA championship to be held at the club. Previously, the CCNC hosted the 2010 U.S. Girls Junior as well as the 1980 U.S. Amateur, where Hal Sutton limited the dominant summer stretch with 9 and 8 wins in the title race. Jack Nicklaus won the 1972 U.S. Professional Championship with him.

The CCNCs Dogwood course was designed by Ellis Maples and Willard Byrd, and was renovated by Kris Spence in 2016. The cardinal course was designed by Byrd and Robert Trent Jones parents, Arthur Hills completed the renovations in 1999-2002. A scenic, challenging, and brilliant compliment to the area’s great golf, and each of the CCNC’s courses is rated Golf Digest among the top 30 in the golf-rich state.

Like most golf opportunities in the area, there are also ties to architect Donald Rossi. Maple’s father, Frank, was a longtime building supervisor for Ross, who designed more than 50 courses in North Carolina alone, including the celebrated No. 2 and four others at Pinehurst Resort.

In addition, the CCNC has 50 years of foreign relations with Royal Dornoch, playing an annual Ryder Cup-type team internal match with the Scottish Ross Club, called home. Lake Dornoch is one of the largest bodies of water in the club area, while the CCNC recently introduced a series of extensive upgrades to its popular Dornoch grill; Among them is a new pickle ball center, new indoor and outdoor spaces, a new women’s locker room and more. The club has about six years of significant 15-year investment effort, and the next short-term ventures include up-to-date training facilities and Toptracer series technology.

We see a lot of generation commitment, Gray said. More than 25% of our members are second and third generation. People get in and want to pass it on, so you have a great mix of different generations. I think the difference compared to a place like Florida is that many kids didn’t grow up playing there. They did here.

About 40% of CCNC membership is local, and another 40% comes from elsewhere in North Carolina. About 20% are national members. Although all of the properties on the property are single-family homes, the club’s rental program has approximately 20 to 25 members and their guests. The club takes care of all homeowners ’rental bookings, reservations, check-in and check-out, maintenance and cleaning. This has increased the national membership of the CCNC.

Rental rentals are available for up to about a week, allowing CCNC members and their guests to experience Dogwood and Cardinal courses as well as Pinehursts area courses, restaurants and general lifestyle.

Although golf communities are currently hot, the location is still the biggest selling point. The growth and success of Sandhills ’private club CCNC shows that there aren’t as many places in the hearts of golfers as Pinehurst.