During your time at the Institute for Advanced Analytics, there are going to be a lot of important statistics that you will need to focus on, such as p-values and alpha levels. One of the most important ones that cannot be ignored, is your golf handicap.
There are nine golf courses around the IAA, that cover a wide variety of different benefits where every golfer can find a course that fits their preferences. In this post, I detail some of the statistics of the courses as well as my opinion about playing there. The courses are ranked in order of proximity to the IAA.
- Lonnie Poole Golf Course: Lonnie Poole is the nicest course that students at the IAA can expect to play in the area. It is well maintained and has a country club type of feel to it. The course is quite challenging for beginner golfers, with lots of uneven lies and hazards. The range is usually open and due to it being on-campus, it offers an efficient way for golfers to get some swings in before or after class. I would recommend this course to serious golfers looking for a challenge.
- Distance: 1.3 miles from the IAA
- Weekend Price for 18 Holes: $55 riding or $42 walking ($42 for both after 3:30 P.M.). Additionally, 15 rounds including cart fees can be purchased for $500 in bulk. These prices are for NC State students only.
- Range: Yes
- USGA Course Rating: 70.8 Men’s (Red Tees – 6,498 yards)/70.9 Women’s (Grey Tees – 5,508 yards)
- Raleigh Golf Association (RGA): RGA is one of the most popular courses for casual golfers in the area. There are usually tee times available and the location is great as it does not require leaving Raleigh. The course is wide, and it is easier than most other courses on this list. The greens are not usually in good shape, rolling slow and uneven, and the course conditions are often subpar. While having a lot of tee times available is convenient, it typically leads to a slower pace of play. I would recommend this course to casual and beginner golfers, or anyone just looking to play a low-key round.
- Distance: 4.7 miles from the IAA
- Weekend Price for 18 Holes: $49 riding or $32 walking ($41 riding or $32 walking after 4:00 P.M.)
- Range: No
- USGA Course Rating: 68.7 Men’s (Blue Tees – 6,088 yards)/72.2 Women’s (White Tees – 5,545 yards)
- Lochmere Golf Club: Lochmere has some loyal customers who are always practicing or getting out whenever possible. The practice area including the range is always open and very convenient for golfers. The course is well-maintained, and the greens are fast and in good shape. The fairways are tight, and strokes can rack up if you cannot stay away from the trees off the tee. The ground holds water for a while and oftentimes will end up forcing cart-path only. I recommend this course for all types of golfers; everyone can have fun here.
- Distance: 8.3 miles from the IAA
- Weekend Price for 18 Holes: $60 riding or $45 riding after 4:00 P.M.
- Range: Yes
- USGA Course Rating: 71.6 Men’s (Blue Tees – 6,627 yards)/72.5 Women’s (White Tees – 5,535 yards)
- Eagle Ridge Golf Club: Eagle Ridge is well maintained, with fast greens in good condition. The course is challenging for a casual golfer but still maneuverable for a beginner. The hole designs are unique, and each hole feels different from the next. Getting tee times here can be tough as it is usually in demand, so I would recommend booking as soon as possible, or there may not be any times available. I recommend this course for all golfers!
- Distance: 9.7 miles from the IAA
- Weekend Price for 18 Holes: $72 riding (Open – 12:00 P.M.)/$60 riding (12:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.)/$47 riding (3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.)/$35 riding (5:00 P.M. – Close)
- Range: Yes
- USGA Course Rating: 71.5 Men’s (Blue Tees – 6,470 yards)/72.8 Women’s (Gold Tees – 5,617 yards)
- Knights Play Golf Center: What differentiates Knights Play from the other courses on this list is that it is a Par 3 course. Knights Play is targeted at the casual and beginner golfer market. The range is large and is usually crowded. There is no dress-code here, and if it is not busy, you can walk in and get a tee time on any of the three different nine hole courses. The course conditions are typically not great, and the greens are not in good shape; however, the majority of beginner golfers I know love this course! I recommend this for casual and beginner golfers, if you are just looking to get some swings in and do not have much time, this course is perfect.
- Distance: 11.8 miles from the IAA
- Weekend Price for 18 Holes: $28 riding or $18 walking
- Range: Yes
- USGA Course Rating: N/A
- Hedingham Golf Club: Hedingham for the price is in good shape and has some of the fastest greens of any course on this list. The casual golfer will struggle with these greens, but an experienced golfer will love them. The course is tight and challenging but offers a lot of unique holes for a good playing experience. While Hedingham has a nice course for a good price, I have seen kids run onto a hole while playing and someone stumble and fall while I was teeing off. I recommend this for all golfers, as the course is fun and challenging.
- Distance: 12.4 miles from the IAA
- Weekend Price for 18 Holes: $59 riding (Open – 12:00 P.M.)/$42 riding (12:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.)/$39 riding (3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.)/$25 riding (5:00 P.M. – Close)
- Range: Yes
- USGA Course Rating: 71.6 Men’s (Blue Tees – 6,529 yards)/66.8 Women’s (Gold Tees – 5,464 yards)
- Wendell Country Club: Wendell is one of, if not my favorite courses in the area for a variety of reasons. The course and the greens are well maintained, the food options are fantastic, and the price is reasonable. The hole designs are unique and offer some challenges but are not too hard for the average golfer. For the experienced golfer this can be a good course for scoring. The staff here is very friendly including the ranger who keeps the pace of play consistently fast. The only downside to this course is that it will take a half hour to get there from the IAA, but it is well worth it. I recommend this course to all golfers and hope anyone who enjoys golf gives it a try.
- Distance: 20.8 miles from the IAA
- Weekend Price for 18 Holes: $59 riding or $35 walking
- Range: No but there is a net with mats
- USGA Course Rating: 69.1 Men’s (Blue Tees – 6,147 yards)/69.4 Women’s (Gold Tees – 4,885 yards)
- Hillandale Golf Course: Hillandale is similar to Lochmere or Knights Play where it is always crowded at the practice area. The pace of play is good and the course is an interesting and fun track. The greens are average speed and roll good. The fairways and tee boxes typically have longer grass which can be annoying, but I personally have not found it to be too much of an issue. The value here is good, given the price, and most casual golfers really like this course. The drive to Durham for this course can be a roadblock to playing there. I would recommend this course for all golfers, with a preference for beginners and casual golfers.
- Distance: 26.6 miles from the IAA
- Weekend Price for 18 Holes: $40 riding or $29 walking (make sure you ask for the student discount)
- Range: Yes
- USGA Course Rating: 70.2 Men’s (Blue Tees – 6,416 yards)/70 Women’s (Gold Tees – 5,395 yards)
- Reedy Creek Golf Course: Reedy Creek has been one of my personal favorites for a long time. The course is a fun track that is typically in good condition with greens that roll at a good, quick pace. The course’s challenge comes from all of the trees surrounding the fairway, and a tough stretch on holes 12 and 13. This is one of the easiest courses to get tee times, but it is the farthest away and can have the occasional pace of play problem. I recommend this course to all golfers, and it is one of my favorites on this list.
- Distance: 27.5 miles from the IAA
- Weekend Price for 18 Holes: $68 riding ($45 riding after 3:00 P.M.)
- Range: Yes
- USGA Course Rating: 70.2 Men’s (Blue Tees – 6,426 yards)/71.1 Women’s (Gold Tees – 5,403 yards)
Columnist: Jacob Segmiller