Carolina Trace CC
Looking back from a green at Carolina Trace Country Club
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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
349 Reviews (349)
5 Stars
197
4 Stars
109
3 Stars
26
2 Stars
9
1 Stars
8
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.7
Amenities
4.1
86.7%
Recommend this course
313 out of 349 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
12 Reviews (12)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.5
Amenities
3.7
StaffFriendliness
4.6
91.7%
Recommend this course
11 out of 12 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
24 Reviews (24)
5 Stars
18
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.1
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.7
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.8
87.5%
Recommend this course
21 out of 24 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The Lakes stands out for its creative layout featuring doglegs, elevation changes, and demanding par threes that require every club in your bag. Friendly staff, excellent pace of play, and well-maintained conditions make this one of the premier courses in the area.

About

Holes 18
Type Private
Par 72
Length 7263 yards
Slope 143
Rating 76.0
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Carolina Trace Country Club - Lake
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Course Details

Year Built 1971
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Mini Verde Bermunda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (1971) David Whelchel (2015) Roger Rulewich (1971)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fee
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Appropriate golf attire.

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Courses for Pace of Play in the U.S. (2025 #2)
  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in North Carolina (2021 #18)
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Reviews

4.5
349 Reviews (349)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 8
Water Hazards 8
Elevation Changes 7
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 6
Locals 6
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 6

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Wonderful conditions

The course is in fantastic shape - greens were smooth and quick. Pace was great and kept moving. Staff were really friendly and helpful as it was our first time out. Will definitely be nack

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 112
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Great course (still early in season)

Played the Lake course, met very nice players - another single, and a father-son double). Was advised not to walk, but walking might have been strenuous but not prohibitive.

Still early in the season, tee boxes and fairways haven’t greened up yet. Pace of play was great. Parking lot about half full, but course was almost empty - only saw a couple behind us once. Played in under 4 hours. Only disappointment was the grill room - no real grill room on Sundays. I get that things are still opening up, but having more than cold dry pre-made sandwiches would have been nice. Round ended at 3:30ish and the grill and bar were closed - had to run home to watch the end of The Players. Overall, a very nice course and great day. Hope it’s all open on Sunday next time.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

RTG Sr. Course

First time and found the course layout to be excellent. Conditions were fantastic at this time of the year (March). Greens were excellent and can’t wait to see how fast they can be during warmer weather. Love the terrain as it was hilly and several holes along the lake.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Tiny elevated greens

It might have just been the conditions but I wasn't overly impressed by this track. Course was very wet and they don't overseed so it was all brown. Windy, overcast, 50 and cloudy probably didn't help. Most approaches are uphill to small elevated greens. About 6 of the holes are great. I might give it another shot in better conditions.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Worth the Drive

Very scenic and challenging. Multiple tee boxes for different levels.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great layout!

Great layout! Challenging, but fair. Definitely makes you think about each shot. Can’t wait to play it again in the spring after it greens up!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice course, super fast greens

I would give this course 5 stars but the two drawbacks for me were 1) no starter and we had to wait 20+ minutes after our tee time to begin the round. And the round took 4:45 hrs 2) practice area is very small and due to the time of year we needed to hit off of mats.

The layout was nice, the course was in great shape and the greens were slick. It's worth a trip.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 24
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful course in great shape

We thoroughly enjoyed our round on the Lakes course. The staff was exceptional and the course was in great shape. We’ll be back!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 27
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Tale of Two Nines

Having played the Creek course, I was anxious to try the Lake course as I'd heard it was even better. During the reasonably mundane although pleasant front nine, except for a couple of par 3's with water, I wondered what the fuss was all about. Well, I found out on the back nine. The holes on the lake were picturesque and the other holes were imaginative, hilly, and tough. Unless you hit it 240 plus off the tee, you probably don't want to play from the Blues (found this out the hard way). Course in great shape for mid-November. Pace of play was excellent except for a couple of members who decided they were entitled to play slow as mud while not waving anyone thru.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Signs

The course is great to play! The only thing that I found to be an issue is directions. The signs need to be brighter and more apparent. Its very confusing and frustrating as to where to go. I ended up on creek side on the 4 th hole when I should have been playing lake side. My score card was for lake but ended up golfing the creek.

Everything else about both courses is Fantastic !.

Maybe a map would help.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Awesome course

Everything was awesome. Just got stuck behind a slow group.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Fivesome slowed play

We were welcomed and directed to the practice areas. We played the front nine in one hour and 40 minutes and were enjoying the course layout . As we made the turn we were surprised to see five players on the 10th fairway. Since there were no players behind us , we assumed that we would be waived through . This did not happen . After 2 hours we called the golf shop and were told that the five players were most likely members and "they can be very difficult " .We expressed our displeasure to one of the five players who retreated back to our tee box in search of his golf towel. He seemed not to care about making us wait for every shot on every hole on the back nine , let alone acknowledging the inappropriateness of playing in a group of five . After the round , I stopped in to the Pro Shop to express my displeasure . I was informed that this group had not checked in.....This is no way to encourage outside play. What had started as a very enjoyable round ended with 2.5 hours of waiting for no real reason other than the rudeness of supposed members and the lack of response from the golf shop .

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

The course is a class act

Beautiful scenery, well manicured, greens immaculate, bunkers strategically located, white fluffy soft sand, fairways perfect. I played the blues and found them challenging for a 70 year old 46/44.The Championship tees look very intimidating. Amazing course will definitely play it again and tackle the big boys tees eventually.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Walked

Peaceful traditional course

I played the course on a weekday a day after a rain. There were not many other golfers out.

The course is long enough and has enough tees so you can control the challenge level. However, not a lot of time wasted looking for golf balls if you miss the fairway.

The course is traditional in layout, but has some interesting holes too. Especially because of hills. It is a beautiful place. This is my second time here and I'll be back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great experience

The Lake course is in great shape although a little rain would help. Played as a single mid-dayand didn't wait a second!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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Golf Packages

Talamore Golf Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $137 (USD)
SOUTHERN PINES, NC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Talamore Golf Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Mid Pines Golf Course, Mid South Course, Tobacco Road Golf Course, and The New Course.

Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club Stay & Play Package

FROM $167 (USD)
SOUTHERN PINES, NC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Mid Pines Golf Course, Pine Needles Golf Course, Tobacco Road Golf Course, and The New Course.

Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club Stay & Play Package

FROM $167 (USD)
SOUTHERN PINES, NC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Mid Pines Golf Course, Pine Needles Golf Course, Tobacco Road Golf Course, and The New Course.

Charleston Golf Experience Stay & Play Package

FROM $239 (USD)
CHARLESTON, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Francis Marion Hotel and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of RiverTowne Golf Course, Charleston National Golf Course, Wild Dunes – Harbor Course, Wild Dunes – Links Course, and Stono Ferry Golf Course.

Wild Dunes Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $369 (USD)
CHARLESTON, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Wild Dunes Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Wild Dunes – Harbor Course, Wild Dunes – Links Course, RiverTowne Golf Course, and Charleston National Golf Course.
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