Chapel Ridge Golf Club

Laid out splendidly across nearly 800 acres of rolling, heavily forested countryside, The Golf Club at Chapel Ridge is one of the region's premier golf course facilities. The club is located within an hour's drive from the entire Research Triangle, and has earned a reputation for providing a world-class golf experience.

The fantastic 18-hole championship layout was the result of a collaboration between Bob Moore of JMP Golf Design and fifteen-time PGA Tour winner Fred Couples. The balance the design duo struck between what the landscape offered and what players would find memorable is remarkable.

Wide, tree-lined fairways are the norm, and the ample margin for error encourages players to go for broke off the tee, particularly when the shape of the dogleg fits their eye. A word of caution, however: On a majority of holes, players will find one or two bunkers waiting to scoop up drives hit through the fairway, or a corner cut too closely. Most greens are kidney-shaped and oriented diagonally, and usually with a tier, so the aggressiveness of the approach depends substantially on pin placement.

Notable holes include No. 4, the shortest par-4 on the course at just 314 yards from the tips. With no water in play and just one small bunker guarding the green, the longest among us may find ample reason to give it a go. No. 9, a 457-yard par-4, features a split fairway just at the point where a good drive starts rolling. Not to be outdone by No. 9, there's an even bigger finish on No. 18. It's got all the hallmarks of being the hole that makes-or-breaks your round: par-5, 585 yards, uphill the whole way.

In order to prepare for an incredible round like this, The Golf Club at Chapel Ridge provides a top-notch practice range with natural grass and artificial turf bays. Additionally, players can get a feel for the greens at the practice green. If you're thinking an outside perspective may be useful, you can schedule a session with one of Chapel Ridge's PGA teaching professionals.

Finally, cap off your experience at the Backyard Bistro at Chapel Ridge. Open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner, relax and count up the scores with your favorite classic American fare.