Laurence Lambrecht/Courtesy of the club
Laurence Lambrecht/Courtesy of the club
Laurence Lambrecht/Courtesy of the club
Laurence Lambrecht/Courtesy of the club
Laurence Lambrecht/Courtesy of the club
Wayne Freedman
Wayne Freedman
Overview
In 1926, Leonard Tufts, the president of Pinehurst Resort, and some business leaders from nearby Winston-Salem, including Hugh Chatham, founded Roaring Gap Club as a private getaway in the mountains for the summer when the Sandhills region became too hot. They hired Donald Ross to design this mountaintop design, which sits 3,200 feet above sea level in a small, picturesque hamlet of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The 6,400-yard design is loaded with old-fashioned character and charm. Standout features include the “Do-drop” volcano par-3 sixth hole, and bunkerless par 5s defended by bold, undulating terrain, merging fairways, skyline views and the Graystone Inn, the original counterpart to The Carolina in Pinehurst, which serves as the clubhouse today. Following a recent Kris Spence restoration, the par-72 layout boasts some of the most authentic Ross greens that exist today.
About
Awards
Best in State: Ranked Top 15 in North Carolina since 2017. Current Ranking: 14th.
Panelists
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
“An untouched classic Donald Ross mountain course. The mountain back ground made for many visually deceptive shots. The green complexes were typical Ross. Very private,but if given the opportunity ,don’t pass it up."
Read More2024
Review
“A special Donald Ross piece of history. The course is in a great mountain setting and is pretty much as it was in 1926. Conditioning was very good. If you have the opportunity to play I would not pass it up."
Read More2024
Review
“Roaring Gap gets better as the course progresses, with the back 9 being particularly special. The greens provide the best defense to the relatively short layout, and the mountain setting provides a breathtaking backdrop."
Read More2024
Review
“This is an exclusive private club in the North Carolina mountains just south of Virginia. Members make pilgrimages here from across the country. If you have an opportunity to play Roaring Gap, just go. It is a truthfully restored Donald Ross design from 1926. If Ross could return to life and visit, I think he would say, "It turned out well." That would be an understatement. Roaring Gap is a refreshing anti-country club. Its clubhouse is small, antiquated, and functionally unassuming. The course is all that purist golfers will ever need. It's pretty much all they get. Roaring Gap's lack of pretense reminds makes the place all the more special. Visually, it was a most beautiful round of golf. We found bright autumn colors in peak mode, two days before the course closed for the season. Aside from leaves on the ground, the course played in stunninglyI excellent condition. Perfect bunkers. Perfect grass. True bounces. The teeing grounds rolled truer and more smoothly than greens on other courses. The strength of this layout lies in its simplicity. Hit the shot, see what happens, hit another, and then when finished, step off the green to your next tee. Ross gave Roaring Gap some quirks for memorability. The Volcano Hole on the par-3, 6th, is one of Ross’s most iconic volcano landforms. The 'punchbowl' green on the Par-5, 16th is the only known example where Ross specified such a hole. The course is interesting, readable, challenging, and eminently fair. The par-4, 17th, is an infinity-style green placed on the edge of a mountain. Behind it, one can see 50 miles from the 3-thousand foot elevation. Everywhere, Roaring Gap provides options for good shots and opportunities to recover from bad ones, though I will not elaborate. It is not long from tees to greens. The par-5, 1st and 16th are reachable in two for a decent player, even from the tips. Roaring Gap's greens provide its course's main defense. I estimate they rolled at 14 when we played. Their speeds, while trying at times, felt appropriate for the lengths, playing conditions, and modern equipment. But they were that fast 90 years ago? Roaring Gap sends a clear message that classic designs should never go out of style. Truthful restorations as preservations are good. We have plenty to learn from them."
Read More2023
Review
“Loads of fun. This is a super cool place."
Read More2023
Review
“A unique place and course high in the Blue Ridge mountains on the Eastern Continental divide. A vintage classic that has everything in terms of a good golf course except length for today's equipment."
Read More2023
Review
“Really fun Donald Ross course in the NC Mountains. A short but challenging course with many interesting holes and shot options!"
Read More2022
Review
“Roaring Gap is one of the few examples of a classic Ross design on top of a mountain. I didn't get to see the long-range views on a rainy day, but the great terrain and design are great no matter what."
Read More2021
Review
“A gorgeous golf course tucked away in the mountains of North Carolina. Not easy to get to but the trip is worth it. Some beautiful views to be seen here and the course is great too."
Read More2021
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