The North Carolina Golf Panel’s (NCGP) 2022 rankings were released in April and Pinehurst Resort once again made a strong showing on multiple lists. No. 2, 4, 8, 9 and 7 all placed in the NCGP’s Top 100 Golf Courses, with No. 2 ranked first, No. 4 eighth, No. 8 15th, No. 9 31st and No. 7 50th. In the Top 50 Courses You Can Play, No. 2, 4, 8 and 9 and are ranked in the top 10 and No. 7 is 11th.
Additionally, No. 2, 4, 8 and 9 are ranked among the best courses of the Sandhills region, No. 2 is the number one “Strategic Course” and number two “Fairest Course” in North Carolina, and Pinehurst is rated as the No. 1 resort in the state.
Founded by beloved public relations specialist Bill Hensley who passed away in March at age 96, the NCGP consists of approximately 175 members from the mountains to the coast. Since its inception, it has emerged as the authoritative source of golf rankings in a state that boasts many of the country’s most highly-regarded layouts. The panel’s unique composition includes media, club professionals, general managers, accomplished amateur players, prominent business figures, and others who actively promote golf in North Carolina.
Published annually in Business North Carolina, the rankings are determined by a scoring system in which panelists consider these factors, among others: routing, design, strategy, memorability, fairness, variety and aesthetics. Panelists can vote only for courses they’ve played.
In addition to the Top 100, they also vote on the “Top 50 You Can Play,” plus the best dozen courses in each of seven regions in the state. For 2022, there are additional specialty rankings: “Best Shorter Courses” (under 6,500 yards), “Strategic Courses,” “Fairest Courses,” and “Best Resorts.”
The full 2022 rankings are available at the NCGP website.