The Challenge Golf Club
About
Challenge Golf Club sprawls across a scenic stretch of rolling farmland that sits alongside the Haw River. The lush hills are accented with mature hardwood forests, providing a scenic setting for a round of golf. The hilly terrain on this golf course will test not only your shot-making abilities but also your accuracy. Lakes provide even more natural hazards. Golfers can expect a few perilous carries over water. To add to the layout's difficulty, there are numerous bunkers strategically placed along the greens. The golf course is arguably one of the area's most formidable tests. Although thoughtful strategy and creative shot making will be generously rewarded, it’s not an overly punishing layout. Challenge Golf Club's final hole is a memorable par 5 that's definitely tough, but if you play it smart it could also be a great birdie opportunity.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 72 | 6828 yards | 73.7 | 139 |
| Blue | 72 | 6401 yards | 71.3 | 135 |
| White (W) | 72 | 5755 yards | 73.4 | 133 |
| White | 72 | 5755 yards | 68.3 | 124 |
| Black | 72 | 5088 yards | 64.5 | 112 |
| Black (W) | 72 | 5088 yards | 69.0 | 122 |
| Red | 72 | 4771 yards | 63.8 | 107 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 4771 yards | 68.0 | 117 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold M: 73.0/138 | 388 | 539 | 433 | 127 | 448 | 391 | 512 | 180 | 325 | 3343 | 354 | 410 | 517 | 375 | 432 | 160 | 459 | 211 | 567 | 3485 | 6828 |
| Blue M: 71.0/133 | 379 | 522 | 409 | 115 | 419 | 352 | 473 | 175 | 317 | 3161 | 323 | 382 | 499 | 351 | 402 | 147 | 419 | 193 | 524 | 3240 | 6401 |
| Green M: 69.7/131 | 379 | 522 | 356 | 115 | 364 | 352 | 473 | 158 | 317 | 3036 | 323 | 347 | 499 | 351 | 364 | 147 | 333 | 171 | 524 | 3059 | 6095 |
| White M: 68.3/126 W: 73.6/134 | 350 | 475 | 356 | 108 | 364 | 341 | 438 | 158 | 274 | 2864 | 275 | 347 | 477 | 302 | 364 | 132 | 333 | 171 | 490 | 2891 | 5755 |
| Black M: 65.8/117 W: 70.4/127 | 296 | 408 | 349 | 102 | 358 | 305 | 430 | 114 | 250 | 2612 | 217 | 280 | 389 | 256 | 308 | 127 | 326 | 133 | 440 | 2476 | 5088 |
| Red M: 63.4/112 W: 67.5/121 | 294 | 403 | 289 | 98 | 313 | 299 | 339 | 108 | 248 | 2391 | 213 | 274 | 383 | 251 | 300 | 120 | 273 | 129 | 437 | 2380 | 4771 |
| Junior W: 65.4/112 | 288 | 399 | 287 | 95 | 311 | 299 | 344 | 106 | 244 | 2373 | 208 | 270 | 376 | 252 | 293 | 117 | 272 | 126 | 397 | 2311 | 4684 |
| Handicap | 9 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 8 | 10 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 1 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 16 | 2 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Grill, Beverage CartsAvailable Facilities
ClubhouseAvailable Activities
Swimming, BilliardsAvailable Sports
FitnessReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Clubhouse and practice green Photo submitted by u013503216 on 11/01/2020
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Hole 1 Photo submitted by u013503216 on 11/01/2020
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Hole 4 Photo submitted by u013503216 on 11/01/2020
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Hole 18 Photo submitted by u013503216 on 11/01/2020
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Hole 5 Photo submitted by u013503216 on 11/01/2020
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Photo submitted by u314159895607 on 07/02/2020
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Photo submitted by u000005687927 on 11/06/2019
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Photo submitted by celebrte1 on 06/11/2018
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7th hole scenery Photo submitted by celebrte1 on 06/11/2018
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Par three, 16th green Birdie was made Photo submitted by Geno7176732 on 10/15/2017
Wishful Thinking
This track COULD be a championship caliber course. The layout is fantastic and offers an excellent challenge. Unfortunately course maintenance seems to be the biggest downfall. 1 green out of 18 was able to be putt on. The rest are literally destroyed. It is bone dry and there is little to no sand it any of the sand traps. The collar on most holes is all dirt leading to greens. Top dressing covers all tee boxes. Disease and lack of course management has claimed the challenge as its victim. If you want to warm up, do so prior to arrival. No driving range. 20 foot wide by 10 foot high net to hit in off mats only. A little time, money, and help and this could literally be a gem.
Deserves its name!
This course deserves the name and is a real Challenge with its rolling fairways and greens. The Bermuda greens and fairways really showed signs of the rough winter and soggy spring. The course is working hard to get them back with reseeding, which made them hard to read as well. Would love to play when the are in full repair. The pro shop staff were awesome and informative.
Wait, not yet
Many of the greens are still growing and are in rough shape currently. Give the golf course another month, maybe 2 and you will love it! Right now however it simply needs a little more time..
Don’t waste your money
This course was in horrific condition... fairways were yellow, and dead. Greens were unplayable (and dirt painted green to make it look better).
There is zero drainage, so mud was everywhere. Worst of all, the ball cleaners at the tee boxes were bone dry. Other courses in The area have had the same amount of rain, but are playable and enjoyable.
We played this course in the summer of 2017, and the clubhouse told us they were replacing the greens, well nothing has changed. Don’t waste your money here
Wet and Fun
It had rained the night before and they just cut the fairways so they were wet and mucky. Overall it was fun and challenging. The green were fast and recently sprayed with seed. On a nice day this course would be even more fun.
Great layout - Missing just a few pieces to make it really great
The staff was extremely nice and the clubhouse was setup like a private club - very nice. They don't have a driving range but they do have a practice facility, with nets and mats - which really helps to get you warmed up. The pace was a bit slow - I think we finished in about 5 hours but it was really 2 threesomes in front of us that were slow.
The greens were in fair shape, probably due to the cool weather NC has been experiencing all this winter. Since the rough and fairways are bermuda, they hadn't really started growing but the course was in very nice condition. All in all, this course has a lot of potential and could be one of the hidden gems in NC with a bit more investment.
Could be a fun course.
I felt like 40 dollars was a little high for the shape the greens were in. Course layout is fun and offers the opportunity to hit different types of shots. It is discouraging though to hit two good shots then have to putt on painted dirt. The dirt was fast then the grass patches on the greens ran slow so proper speed on the greens was nearly impossible. They are doing work to get the course into good shape and it will be fun and enjoyable when they get it there. I wouldn’t go back until it gets there though.
A good day
A snafu with booking left me as a single but they sent me out as a single and I played through the 2 groups in front of me and finished in 2 hours. Nice
Winter consitions
Playing in mid-April I would have expected better course condition. This used to be a lovely course. I’ll try again in summer, hope for some green grass and fewer bare sand & dirt areas.
Great Course
We really enjoyed playing the course. It is challenging. The course is in good shape.
Really nice
This was my second round here, the first being 3-4 years ago. The layout is very interesting, especially the back 9. The greens were a little grainy but they will get slick as the weather gets warmer. They are in great shape and very consistent. There are a few bare spots around the course but overall looking good. You won’t lose many balls here as the fairways are generous and the woods don’t come into play too much. You just have to avoid the many water hazards. I would definitely recommend the course, especially for the price.
Course Conditions
Greens were good. But I guess the weather/rain made them a little rough and soft. After replacing them last year. They're way better.
Tough, but enjoyable
Have played the Challenge several times, but this was the first time back in several years. The course seemed more difficult than I remembered and it held to its name. The first 9 holes were agonizingly slow as we were held up by golfers finishing a scramble start earlier in the day. After that, the pace picked up though we had to rush to finish before dark. The course was in pretty good condition for mid-December. If you want to evaluate your game, this is the course.
Better than I expected
I have played the Challenge in the past. Always enjoyed the layout, but conditions were inconsistent. Greens were not great and bunkers not playable. Have not gone back in two years, BUT what a difference it has been. Greeted with a friendly welcome by the staff at 8am; Played with a member this time; greens totally redone; bunkers raked and filled with playable sand. It was a perfect day. Will come back again and again if the Challenge continues to maintain this level of course management.
Worth Playing Multiple Times
I thoroughly enjoyed playing at The Challenge. It was a good mix of straightforward, risk/reward, and tricky holes. I wish the map on the scorecard had a little more detail or that I had a yardage book. I will enjoy it even more next time now that I know what to expect on certain holes. The Bermuda greens were in excellent shape. Certain areas on the course don't appear to drain as well as others.
Player friendly in great location
Weather was a little nasty but course was very good condition, greens especially great condition will play again.
Greens fantastic!
First time playing The Challenge since they replaced the greens and they were absolutely perfect. Course was well kept and as always the layout is fantastic. Great course and the new greens will make this a must stop for anyone who enjoys a true challenge!