The Challenge Golf Club

I would give the course 4 or maybe 5 stars, but it really needs a marshall out there. Playing on a Saturday afternoon, we got stuck behind several terribly slow groups, to the point we were almost 4 hours in and had only reached the 14th tee, where there were 2 groups waiting to tee off. Ridiculous. We simply had to leave. While it is a challenging layout, it was not the course that was causing slow play. We watched people just standing around on the green talking instead of preparing to play, looking for lost balls deep in the woods, in the woods, and taking 5-6 practice swings and long drown out pre-shot routines. While I had cheaper rate through Golf Now, it was still X 3, as I brought my two boys with me. I'm working with G.N. to get a rain check to go back another time. The first lesson I ever gave my kids was on playing READY golf. Wish more people followed that credo. The game should never take more than 4 hours to play.

First time I have played since they reopened the course. The new greens are perfect. They hold a well hit shot and did not appear to mark up hardly at all.

Fairways were in good shape also. Round took about 4.5 hours, not bad for a Saturday afternoon.

Course is better than it was and it was great before. Andrew is great in the shop and very happy to see Todd there. Staff couldn't be better. Moved to Greensboro 3 years ago and I've been back 5 times since y'all have opened back up.

We ended up in Chapel Hill evacuating from Irma. Fortunately it wasn't raining yet so we looked for a place to play. Reading the other reviews, we settled on this course. We were told to give this course a try as they had worked hard to get it into good shape. We were so glad we listened to others advice. The course was in good shape and so much fun to play. The holes were challenging. There were elevation changes, side hill lies, you name it, they had it. Loved the par 3's. Had to place your ball in the right place or it could roll down the side hill slopes, land in well placed sand traps, or not carry the natural areas. We will play it again when in the area. Can't wait!

Course was in excellent condition and the greens are great! The course requires a lot of precision for long hitters. Overall, I would call it Very Good if you had that category.

We drove for 95 minutes to play this course. Thankfully it was worth the effort. Greens were in excellent condition, as were the fairways. The day before had seen two inches of rain, so they did invoke the 90 degree cart rule, but we agreed that this is one of the reasons the course was in such good condition. The greens still very firm, as could be heard when the ball landed on them. A very fair test, but what I would term a " real" course, as quite a stern test of driving ability due to width of fairways.

We would certainly play this course again.

I would love to give this course 5 stars, but its just not ready yet... Not having a range really brings me to want to throw a 3-3.5 stars right now. However knowing where this course was in the last 2 years They deserve a bump to a 4 -4.5 for the awesome work new management has done with the course !

Pros :

Greens - Absolutely needed Bermuda , the newly opened bermuda greens still have signs of needing some sand today and were a TOUCH long my liking, BUT 100% playable

Fairways - exceptional

Tee boxes - Few blemishes here and there, but nothing to 'complain about'

Layout - It is called the Challenge for a reason , there are some tough approach and drives here . GREAT layout overall though!

Staff - Super friendly !!!!

Cons :

Driving range - NONE :( (previous reviews state a new one is coming not sure how true that is)

Greens - Few 'quirky' humps and pin placements that one could argue unfair

Bunkers - THICK sand (almost like beach or heavy fill dirt) , consistency of feel and amount of sand in the bunkers varies (again i do believe there are plans to re-do the bunkers here soon

Overall this course is 100% springing back to life, worth the 45 minute drive from RTP... GO PLAY HERE , Support the course so they can continue to make it even better !!!!!!

I've played this course several times over the years and am glad to see that it's returning to being one-of the best courses around. The staff was super friendly and very helpful. The course was in great shape despite some heavy rain during the week. Will be going back soon.

I was able to get in 9 holes. The course was not crowded at all. Played 9 in less than 2 hours. Greens are fabulous. They hold approach shots, they are firm, and the speed is very good. Fairways and bunkers were in great condition. This course has come a long way in the last 2 years. It is 180 degrees from where it was 18 months ago. I definitely will be back there soon. If you have not been to The Challenge in a while you should. They have really stepped up and done a great job with the renovation. Well done folks!

This course has came a long way over the last few years. They have it looking really well again. Great but challenging layout. Guess it's called the "Challenge" for a reason ;-) if you haven't played it lately...you should try it again.

The new greens are fast and roll true. The course condition is good, the layout is challenging and interesting. A good value for any golfer

They just redid the greens with Bermuda and they are pretty quick! Very nice staff and the starter was particularly nice accommodating my group with different Tee Times to go out at the same time.

They don't have a driving range, but they do have a net you can hit into for free. The staff said the owned just purchased some land to add in a driving range next year.

The course was in great shape. It was the first time playing since they reopened from redoing the greens. Well worth the hot deal that I got and will be back soon.

The greens are rolling great and the course conditions are very good after being closed for a few months. Excited this course is back in action, always been a fun layout and now the greens are equally enjoyable

First play since the upgrades,(greens). This course is now in great condition and should be back in play for rounds in the area.

The Challenge is back! The greens are just plain awesome, after a no-till green renovation using Champion Bermuda. The fairways and rough are in the best condition they've been for years. Bunkers #1 and #18 have new sand. The new sand is much whiter and denser. Gradually, all of the bunkers will have new sand and drainage--not something that can be done over night. The parking lot was full both Saturday and Sunday. This is a great course. Really happy about the greens and the way the course plays. Pine straw added on #13 and new mulch on #1 and between #7 and #8. More to come.

Three Huzzahs to the Challenge Golf Club!!! This is an update to the course's conditions. Like many clubs in the South and Southeast, the bentgrass greens suffered in the heat of August. The Challenge suffered the same fate. The decision was made to do a No-Till conversion to Champion Bermuda--the same cultivar used at Pinehurst #2, Old Chatham (very private), and hundreds of other courses. The folks that own the patent to Champion were here to distribute the sprigs and continue to advise. The course is scheduled to re-open Aug 1, 2017. Greens #4 and #10 were reshaped. Can't wait for the grand re-opening....

We're retired RVers visiting my mom. Golf Now special deal so off we go. It's a great course! We're duffers and budget golfers. This course is best we've played this year. We lost a few balls due to our bad shots and poison ivy. Challenge is a true Challenge! Sucked us in. Don't expect to shoot handicap.