Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Carolina Trace Country Club: Creek
Carolina Trace Country Club: Creek
2100 Country Club Dr
Sanford, NC 27332-8309
United States
Telephone
Overview
Robert Trent Jones Sr. returned to the sandhills along Lake Trace to add a sister course, the Creek, for Carolina Trace Country Club. The rolling terrain and towering pines flanking the narrow fairways at the Creek make tee shots paramount. The semi-public facility boasts fees right around $100, making it a quality, affordable option about 40 minutes from Pinehurst.
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Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“The Creek Course at Carolina Trace Country Club is big-boned, with some excellent, challenging, sweeping holes. We expect that from a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design. It is one of two courses inside a housing development around Lake Trace, near Sanford in the North Carolina sandhills, forty-minutes from Pinehurst and Southern Pines. “It’s tighter than The Lake Course,” said one regular player. “The greens are smaller and tougher. You get a lot of testing lies.” Despite the many homes, this golf course has a rustic feel. Trent Jones, Sr. followed the topography. Elevation changes abound. Some are subtle. Others? Not-so-much. At 5392-6776 yards with four sets of tees plus hybrids, The Creek plays and feels much longer than its scorecard reads. The #1 handicap, 462-522 yard, par-5, 3rd, is as fun and strategic as any recreational hole. The fairway descends, then drops steeply to a valley below. A creek crosses behind. On the other side, the green rises slightly, with more water and bunkers to the left. Players can go heroic by driving into the valley below and then attempting the green in two. Or they can play it as a three-shot hole, laying back with a short or mid-iron for their second. Water is prevalent, here. Creeks factor into almost every hole. On a September afternoon, countless minnows scurried within. Water surrounds the landing area on the 325-379, par-4, 5th . It’s an exacting shot. Too wide? You’re wet. Too short? A hill blocks your approach. That shot is equally tough as the hole doglegs sharply right, up a steep hill. In terms of pure play, shot values are decent on The Creek, as is resistance to par and, from the front tees, playability. However, while fairways run fast and greens remain receptive and roll true, other elements of conditioning could be better. Teeing grounds have begun to show their age. Trees need trimming. Some infringe on shots where they shouldn’t. In places, roots and cracked concrete give cart paths and fairway fringes a backroad feel. While the holes, themselves, make sense, their routing within the property confounds a first-timer. This is not a course for walkers. Expect long distances between some greens and tees. Nor does the course mark clearly where to go, next. That first timer may likely do some backtracking. In summary, The Creek provides a good value as an outlet for adventurous golfers from Pinehurst. It’s rough around the edges, but fun to play and beautiful in places thanks to Lake Trace and the surrounding hills. It just needs some TLC. The facility is semi-private. In two fall visits to both courses several years apart, I have yet to encounter another golfer on either course."
Read More2025
Review
“The Creek Course at Carolina Trace Country Club is big-boned,, with some excellent, challenging, sweeping holes. We expect that from a Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design. It is one of two courses inside a housing development around Lake Trace, near Sanford in the North Carolina sandhills, forty-minutes from Pinehurst and Southern Pines. “It’s tighter than The Lake Course,” said one regular player. “The greens are smaller and tougher. You get a lot of testing lies.” Despite the many homes, this golf course has a rustic feel. Trent Jones, Sr. followed the topography. Elevation changes abound. Some are subtle. Others? Not-so-much. At 5392-6776 yards with four sets of tees plus hybrids, The Creek plays and feels much longer than its scorecard reads. The #1 handicap, 462-522 yard, par-5, 3rd, is as fun and strategic as any recreational hole. The fairway descends, then drops steeply to a valley below. A creek crosses behind. On the other side, the green rises slightly, with more water and bunkers short, to the left. Players can go heroic by driving into the valley below and then attempting the green in two. Or they can play it as a three-shot hole, laying back with a short or mid-iron for their second. Water is prevalent, here. Creeks factor into almost every hole. On a September afternoon, countless minnows scurried within. Water surrounds the landing area on the 325-379, par-4, 5th . It’s an exacting shot. Too wide? You’re wet. Too short? A hill blocks your approach. That shot is equally tough as the hole doglegs sharply right, up a steep hill. In terms of pure play, shot values are decent on The Creek, as is resistance to par and, from the front tees, playability. Fairways run fast. Greens are receptive and roll true. Other elements of conditioning could be better. Teeing grounds have begun to show their age. Trees need trimming. Some infringe on shots where they shouldn’t. While the holes, themselves, make sense, their routing within the property confounds a first-timer. This is not a course for walkers. Expect long distances between some greens and tees. Nor does the course mark clearly where to go, next. That first-timer may likely do some backtracking. In summary, The Creek provides a good value as an outlet for golfers from Pinehurst. In two visits to both courses several years apart, I have never seen it crowded. This course is a little rough around the edges, but fun to play, in good shape where it matters, and beautiful in places thanks to Lake Trace and the surrounding hills."
Read More2025
Review
“The course needs tree attention. Many block the intended shape of the holes. It’s challenging layout for all levels. It’s a long slow cart only club. Conditions are good."
Read More2024
