UNC Finley Golf Course

Was not informed that the course was cartpath only for all 18 holes because they were preparing for a tournament? Very odd since it hadn’t rained.

The rough had not been cut so it was unnecessarily punitive. Several of our foursome had hit the ball a foot and a half outside the fairway, and it spent every single hole looking for where the golf ball went

UNC Finley Golf Club: A Mid-Renovation Letdown from a Once-Proud Fazio Legacy

UNC Finley Golf Club was once a standout among Triangle-area courses—a well-balanced Fazio design that offered challenge, character, and consistency. Today, it feels like a shell of its former self, caught in the middle of a redesign that has yet to justify its disruption or its price tag.

⛳ Course Status & Layout

As of this visit, only 15 holes are playable, with 3 temporary greens that reduce the course from its original Par 72 to a makeshift Par 67. The redesign aims for Par 70, but that vision remains incomplete. On the first temporary hole, a well-placed chip to within a foot was derailed by a cup set ¼ inch above the lawn grass, stopping the ball short. It’s not a quirky detail—it’s a basic oversight.

💰 Premium Fees, Subpar Value

Despite the compromised layout and temporary conditions, Finley continues to charge premium green fees. Perhaps the $13.5 million redesign will eventually warrant that pricing—but at present, it feels unjustified.

🏌️‍♂️ Design Changes & Playability

The redesign, led by Love Golf Design, appears to prioritize expansion of the practice area over course quality. Two new holes have been added, but they lack the strategic depth and aesthetic appeal of the two they replaced. Fairways remain consistent, and the rough still presents a challenge. However, the greens—once a defining feature—now run slow, estimated at 9.5–10 on the Stimpmeter, dulling any slope or contour changes. Putts that once demanded precision now roll flat and uninspired.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly Intentions?

The enlarged short game area suggests a shift toward accessibility, but at $100 per person to walk, it’s hard to imagine a family of four finding that appealing.

🕒 Pace of Play & Sentiment

The round lasted just under 3 hours, played with another solo golfer who shared similar impressions: the course feels underwhelming, overpriced, and unfinished. What was once a favorite now feels like a wait-and-see proposition.

📉 Final Verdict

UNC Finley may one day reclaim its place among North Carolina’s top public courses—but that day isn’t today. Until the redesign is completed and the course returns to full form, it’s difficult to recommend at current pricing. For now, it’s a course best revisited in a few years.

Great setup with 6 tee boxes so you can play your game. The rough, which I guess is bermuda, will swallow your ball. I would have liked to see that cut down a bit, at least in the first cut, and I spent a lot of time searching for balls. But that’s on me. Challenging but fair greens, well kept and reasonably priced. I’d play again

Scheduled tee time 5 days out and was told the greens were perfect! Got there and greens were Aerated and sanded the day before! Rough was 4" deep!

Miss the fairway and very tough to find your ball in the overgrown rough. Looking for other players the entire round disrupted a good round.

Generally the condition of the fairways were below average. The rough was more penalizing than I have ever seen. Miss the fairway and you will spend a long time trying to find your ball. Greens were great. No beverage cart. No starter. One on course cooler was out of water. For $100 per player I expected a better experience.

Best public course in the triangle. Great course to walk and play world class golf at a reasonable price. I will try and play this course as much as possible.

The course is challenging and beautiful. The greens were awesome well kept and truly entertaining course.

I will definitely be going back.

First time playing Finley and I really enjoyed it and want to try again. Challenging layout with tee options for every level. Par 70 with only one par 5 on the front and 3 par 3's. Back 9 is normal 2, 5, 2 layout. Back 9 seem to be longer to me.

Staff was excellent and Bobby (starter) could not have been nicer.

Few greens had been damaged and were being patched but did not take away from the experience too much. rest of course in excellent shape. Greens were fast and hilly.

Look forward to playing there again.

Took a 330 tee time and really enjoyed getting back on Finley

Got in all 18 in plenty of daylight remaining

Fairways and greens in super shape

Even a rainy Memorial Day was not enough to have an impact on the firm and fast Finley GC. It’s a tough track , no doubt with some of the most daunting Par4’s imo. The course was in fantastic shape with friendly and helpful staff members like Max in the proshop and Zoe at the bar made for a smooth check in .

It’s an overall phenomenal facility and a ‘must play’ if you’re in the area.

It was in Raleigh for a few days on a golf trip. I like this course, but the remodeled greens are about a year old and maybe Bermuda grows later in the year, but they were in pretty bad shape. A lot of of greens were sandy and had patches and you could see on every green where previous holes were. Pains me to say this, as I am not a fan of Duke the sports team, but the Duke course was much nicer for a similar price. Pace of play was fairly slow.