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 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hidden Gem

Many people these two courses are private but they are not. I’ve played here a dozen times and the pace of play is always good. Great course layouts with plenty of challenging holes. Beautiful views throughout. Golfers are also able to dine at the club restaurant if they want to. Great value for the money.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Awesome course

Course was in excellent condition for this time of year

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

A Pleasure to Play!

The Lake Course surpasses its billing! The course layout and maintenance are superb. We thoroughly enjoyed our round and will be back to play again. We definitely recommend this course to golfers of any skill level.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

Nice course

Layout is fine, some challenging holes, be prepared for some tricky chips and quick putts as greens are undulating.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Above Average for Winter but Pricey

Decent course condition for winter and recent heavy rain. Greens were real quick. Downside is the conditions and layout weren’t worth $80 for late Dec.

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice course, but a bit pricy without a deal

We played this course for the first time, having gotten a hot deal on GolfNow. The pro-shop staff was extremely friendly when we checked in. We found the course to be in very good condition all around. Greens were in great shape. The course was challenging, but never unfair. There were four holes in particular that stood out as "signature" quality. The only thing that will keep us from playing with any frequency is the cost. Our Hot Deal came in at $80 per golfer and the regular price was something like $115. This was on a Friday, so not even weekend rates. With a more modest price, we'd play here a bunch.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

The greens were in impeccable shape for this time of year. Course layout was gorgeous. I’ll be back!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
4.0
Previously Played

I need to play it more often

The course has its challenging holes and some wide open holes. You still need to golf your ball . Lakes course has 3 of the areas toughest par 3s.

Fall is tough because of the leaves to find your ball in the fairway but good course to play in the Sandhills/Sanford area.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Course

Great course would recommend it to anyone. I played solo and had the second tee time on a Saturday. I as a little afraid that I was going to get stuck behind the foursome of older members ahead of me but they let me play through on the first. Greens and fairways were in beautiful shape, great course design, fun Saturday at Carolina Trace.

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

Excellent conditions, course is in great shape

This course is in awesome condition and stands above many courses in this area. The staff was excellent and carts were i great condition and ready for 18- hole play. My only recommendation would be to offer a better rate for weekly play and have the higher rates for the weekend

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 33
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very challenging and fun

The greens were excellent

Strong challenge from the blue tees

Nice deal on Golfnow

Looking forward to playing again

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Beautiful views and good conditions

Played the Lake course at Carolina Trace. The layout and views on the lake are awesome. Course is in good condition and there wasn't many people playing maybe due to the $106 price which is high for the area. I really enjoyed the course and will play it again.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

Played the lake course. It was awesome. Definitely great value for the money.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not worth the weekend price

The course was not what we expected for the price. Charging $125 on Saturday and not having a single cooler of water on the course is kinda unheard of. The greens were in great shape but this course was not what we expected for the price paid.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Nice Course

This is a very nice course. Challenging layout with many elevation changes. Course knowledge is at a premium. Unfortunately, there is no course map on the scorecard nor is there a sign at the tee box to explain the hole. We basically played it blind. Having some course knowledge would have saved us at least six strokes each. Some areas of the course are bare from high traffic and are unsightly. For the money, I would expect it to be a bit more beautiful and manicured. But the greens are the star. They are smooth, fast and true. A bit difficult to master but I would much rather play these than most of the greens at other courses. Definitely recommend playing this track.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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