The Lake Norman area is perfect for outdoor activities, and golf is no exception. We have access to some of the best golf courses in North Carolina – public courses and private clubs.
In this article, Chris Beeman (B-Man’s Guide to Golf) shares his picks for the 10 best Lake Norman golf courses!
*Updated: July 6th, 2025
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Top Lake Norman Public Golf Courses
Mooresville Golf Club – Mooresville, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
A former municipal course, Mooresville Golf Club has transformed into a must-play, well-maintained layout with country club amenities and a superior practice complex.
Rates: $52 weekdays, $68 weekends
Scorecard: Par 72, Champion Tees – 6803yds/73.0/135, Men’s Tees – 6316yds/70.6/130
Practice Area: Dual-sided grass tee driving range with a short game practice area including a sand bunker, chipping green, and putting green. One of the best practice spots in the area.
Description: Mooresville Golf Club completed a $5 million renovation by Kris Spence in 2016 and is now home to a 17,000+ square foot clubhouse. The course features slick, challenging TifEagle Bermuda greens. It is very walkable and reasonably priced for the quality of conditions and amenities.
Among the 18 holes, there are five par 5’s and five par 3’s. The downhill par 4 4th hole takes you right into the clubhouse and parking lots – careful you don’t go long on your approach! The par 4 9th hole features a dramatic elevation drop and a long, difficult approach shot over a creek to the green, with the clubhouse in the background. With the elevation changes, it pays to play your first round here with a veteran who can give you local course knowledge and help you avoid trouble. Overall this is a challenging course with tricky greens that are kept in great shape year-round.
Notes: The original layout of 9 holes was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1948. The renovated clubhouse now includes On the Nines Bistro and banquet space for 150+ guests. The club offers membership plans that give you unlimited access to the impressive practice complex.
www.mooresvillegolfclub.com
205 Golf Course Dr
Mooresville, NC 28115
(704) 663-2539
Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club – Denver, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
One of the most visually stunning courses in the area, Verdict Ridge offers beauty, challenge, conditions, and amenities on par with nearby private clubs.
Rates: $72 weekdays, $92 weekends
Scorecard: Par 72, Champion Tees – 6926yds/74.4/144, Men’s Tees – 6320yds/71.2/141
Practice Area: Grass tee driving range with a chipping green, practice bunker, and two putting greens.
Description: Verdict Ridge is a very unique course with several gorgeous holes. You will find it plays like a mountain course, with steep hills and valleys throughout. You’re guaranteed to have some sidehill and uneven lies throughout your round. The course is kept in great condition year-round with fast Champion Bermuda greens.
My favorite hole is the 347yd par 4 9th hole — one of the most beautiful in all of Charlotte. With water all along the right side, it’s best to play an iron from the tee off the left slope. Then you have a short iron approach into a green guarded by a small creek on the left and the pond on the right — with a waterfall behind the green offering a scenic backdrop.
There are several difficult holes with hazards and trouble spots that may not be obvious from the tee. You’ll want to play your first round here with a veteran of the course to give you some tips. Two of the trickier holes in my experience are the par 4 7th hole with its severely sloped fairway and the difficult par 5 18th hole with several hazards to navigate.
If you can score well here, you’ve earned it. The course will test all facets of your golf game and you’ll want to keep coming back to see how you measure up.
Notes: Built by former Charlotte mayor Eddie Knox, this course is located straight up Hwy 16 in Denver, NC on the west side of Lake Norman. Plan to spend some time in Guilties Bistro after the round for dinner and drinks. If you live nearby, check out their different membership options. The club only allows public play Monday-Thursday to reserve weekends for members only.
www.verdictridge.com
7332 Kidville Rd
Denver, NC 28037
(704) 257-0100
Skybrook Golf Club – Huntersville, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 (4.5 stars)
With its recently added TopTracer driving range, Skybrook’s combination of great amenities and a fantastic course layout make it a must-play for Charlotte golfers.
Rates: $68 weekdays, $85 weekends
Scorecard: Par 72, Champion Tees – 7028yds/74.1/137, Men’s Tees – 6597yds/72.0/133
Practice Area: Grass tee driving range with a chipping area, practice bunker and a putting green.
Description: Skybrook opened in 2000 and I have played it for nearly all of those 2 decades. It has a distinct mountain course feel to it, similar to Verdict Ridge, with large elevation changes tee to green, sloped fairways, and undulating greens.
Speaking of the greens, like many Charlotte area courses, Skybrook switched over from Bentgrass to Mini-Verde Bermuda grass in 2019. The renovations came with new ownership (Pinnacle Golf Properties, which now managers several other former Carolina Trail golf courses in Charlotte) and renewed community support that have revitalized the course’s reputation.
I consider the closing 4 hole stretch here one of the best in Charlotte public golf. From the short but well-bunkered par 4 15th to the long par 3 16th over water to the scary dogleg left pond-guarded par 4 17th and finally the S-shaped signature closing par 5 18th, these four holes will make or break your round and feature several risk-reward decisions.
The course plays long and difficult. So it may take a few rounds here for you to score well, but you will be extra proud of a good score when you post one.
Notes: The upgraded clubhouse features the Skytop Grill with large screen TVs and outdoor patio seating overlooking the 9th hole. The course is located 5 minutes from its Pinnacle Golf Properties sibling, Highland Creek Golf Club, making the pair a convenient 36-hole day option.
www.skybrookgolf.com
14720 Northgreen Dr
Huntersville, NC 28078
(704) 948-6611
Birkdale Golf Club – Huntersville, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0 stars)
This Arnold Palmer design from 1997 completed a greens renovation in summer 2021 and endured an extended closure in 2023 due to construction from a $45 million re-development project that added retail and commercial space, a hotel and condos where the driving range used to be.
Rates: $68 weekdays, $80 weekends
Scorecard: Par 72, Championship Tees – 7013yds/74.1/138, Men’s Tees – 6485yds/71.2/127
Practice Area: To be re-developed as part of the renovation this year.
Description: As the only public, daily-fee Arnold Palmer design in the Charlotte area, Birkdale Golf Club has always been a popular course and a treat to play. It has endured an interesting decade of ownership and management changes as well as a green renovation in 2021. Pinnacle Golf Properties now manages the course along with the other former Carolina Trail clubs, including nearby Skybrook and Highland Creek.
The course layout itself is a fun one, full of risk-reward short par 4’s, tough par 3’s, challenging doglegs, and nerve-wracking shots over water hazards. Speaking of, watch out for the 569yd par 5, 5th hole where your 3rd shot must carry water to reach sucker pins in the front right corner. And good luck on the 436yd par 4, 18th hole, which also has a tough carry-over water and bunkers to a sloped green.
The course now features Ultradwarf Bermudagrass greens which were put in just two years ago. The new greens provide a truer putting surface that is consistently good for play year-round.
The practice area used to be one of the best in the area with a lighted driving range. However, the re-development project will eliminate the driving range altogether. There are plans for a short game practice where the current 9th green is located and the 9th hole will be shortened to a par 3.
Notes: Follow my newsletter and Twitter feed for updates on the re-opening. The clubhouse will be getting a complete renovation and Arnie’s Tavern will be back better than ever.
www.birkdale.com
16500 Birkdale Commons Pkwy
Huntersville, NC 28078
(704) 895-8038
Highland Creek Golf Club – Huntersville, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0 stars)
With its vibrant Highland Creek Taproom & Beer Garden, this course is now one of the best social and event public golf clubs in the area. The course is closed for the summer (2025) as they finally convert from Bentgrass to Bermuda greens.
Rates: $55 weekdays, $80 weekends
Scorecard: Par 72, Championship Tees – 7043yds/74.0/137, Men’s Tees – 6520yds/71.5/136
Practice Area: Grass tee driving range, 12,000 square foot sloped putting green (very indicative of actual greens), chipping green, and practice bunker.
Description: Much like Skybrook, Highland Creek has been revitalized by new management (Pinnacle Golf Properties) and the support of its residents. The Taproom & Beer Garden opened last September featuring pizzas from a wood-fired oven, cold draft beers, regular live music, and outdoor seating with scenic views of the 18th hole.
The golf course was one of the last remaining public courses in Charlotte with Bentgrass greens but finally took the step to convert to Bermuda. Pinnacle Golf Management, which has overseen similar conversions for Birkdale and The Tradition in recent years, closed the course in May 2025 to begin the switchover to Ultra Dwarf Bermuda grass. One of the toughest public courses in Charlotte when it opened in 1993, Highland Creek should return to the top echelon if this renovation goes well.
The layout is difficult. Unless you are very accurate off the tee and with your approaches, you will likely lose several golf balls to the namesake creek, which runs along seemingly every hole. The course can play long but the par 5’s are all fun risk-reward holes.
The par 5, No. 12 requires 3 strategic shots to navigate split fairways and an approach over a pond. The signature hole is the 487-yard, par 5 finishing hole that is reachable in two, provided you carry the water all along the right side with 2 good shots. I have eagled this hole before so it is doable!
Notes: Check the schedule for the Taproom & Beer Garden which features live music and special events throughout the year.
www.highlandcreekgolfclub.com
7101 Highland Creek Pkwy
Charlotte, NC 28269
(704) 875-9000
Bonus Course:
The 500 Club – Statesville, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0 stars)
The 500 Club raced into my Top 10 Best Public Golf Courses around Charlotte last year after renovating and rebranding in 2023. The club continues to generate buzz with excellent dining and recreation amenities.
Rates: $65 weekdays, $92 weekends
Scorecard: Par 72, Championship Tees – 7005yds/72.5/137, Men’s Tees – 6544yds/70.1/128
Practice Area: No formal driving range but there are hitting bays to warm up in. The clubhouse’s sports bar also has two high-tech golf simulators.
Description: This course – known for years as Fox Den and then Larkin Golf Club – put in TIF Eagle Bermuda grass greens in 2023 and upgraded the clubhouse with an open-air sports bar “Victory Lane” and indoor golf simulators. The back patio features a lighted putting course and deck chairs overlooking the 18th green.
The layout offers a great mix of challenges, with long and short holes, uphill and downhill shots, strategically placed water hazards that offer risk/reward opportunities, and reachable par 5’s. The greens are mostly flat but the 2023 renovation restored pin locations that had been lost over the years and provide more challenging putts. With Bermuda grass now, the club is able to keep green speeds fast and conditions good year-round.
While the course has several memorable holes, I consider the par 5 8th to be the signature hole. The dramatically downhill tee shot is exhilarating enough but the second shot over a pond for a chance at eagle will test your nerve.
The club aims to be a true dining and entertainment club and to that end, they are bringing pickleball to Statesville with eight lighted pickleball courts, including covered seating, designated viewing areas, and food & beverage services. Stay tuned for the to-be-announced opening date.
Notes: The 500 Club is privately owned by an investment group that includes multiple Daytona 500 winning NASCAR drivers, team owners, and other industry professionals.
www.500-club.com
175 Club House Dr
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 872-9990
Top Lake Norman Private Golf Clubs
Trump National Golf Club Charlotte – Mooresville, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
Trump National Golf Club Charlotte is the crown jewel of Lake Norman area golf clubs with ten holes offering views of the lake and a newly added “Fazio Five” short course.
Membership Options: Full Golf and Junior Golf (under age 34) options with initiation fees in the $50-$75k range and monthly dues/fees in the $500-$1000 range.
Scorecard: Par 72, Back Tees – 7425yds/76.1/147, Men’s Tees – 6450yds/71.2/135
Description: Designed by Greg Norman in 1999 and bought by Donald Trump in 2012, this golf club offers stunning views of Lake Norman and the multi-million dollar homes of The Point, the surrounding lakeside community with which the club used to share the name.
The course and the club amenities are exquisite and live up to the Trump name. With lake views throughout both nines, it is easy to get distracted from the golf course, which will challenge all aspects of your game with elevation changes, risk-reward hazards to carry, and large, undulating TifEagle Bermuda greens.
The back 9 is especially memorable, starting with the #1 handicap hole, par 4, No. 10 which requires an approach shot of at least 160 yards with an inlet guarding the entire right side. The finishing stretch of 3 holes includes a reachable par 5 (if you can carry the last 200 yards over the lake), a beautiful par 4 backed by a horseshoe bunker and the lake, and the scenic closing par 4 with one final approach over the water as you make your way back to the clubhouse.
The 2013 redesign after the Trump rebrand truly turned this course into a thrilling round of golf.
Notes: The Fazio Five short game complex was designed by Tommy Fazio II and includes five par 3 holes that are great for practice or quick, fun rounds no matter your age or skill level. The Tavern Dining Room offers a 5-star dining experience and a veranda overlooking the 18th green and Lake Norman. The clubhouse sits on Trump Square, which also hosts a general store, bakery, and gift shop.
www.trumpnationalcharlotte.com
120 Trump Sq
Mooresville, NC 28117
(704) 799-7300
The Peninsula Club – Cornelius, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
The Peninsula Club is the premier golf club located on the southern side of Lake Norman and features two picturesque par 3’s with infinity lake view backdrops.
Membership Options: The club offers equity memberships with initiation fees and monthly dues at the higher end of the Charlotte market. There is currently a waiting list for prospective new members.
Scorecard: Par 72, Back Tees – 6959yds/74.9/142, Men’s Tees – 6595yds/72.6/137
Description: The Peninsula Club is a Rees Jones-designed course that plays along the shores of Lake Norman. It is known for scenic views with the lake in play on 3 of the 4 par three’s. The greens on the par 3 7th hole – on which Michael Jordan owns a house – and the par 3 16th hole both feature infinity views of the lake.
In 2024 after being closed for over a year, the club completed a full renovation of the golf course and added several new touches. The ~$20MM overhaul included changes to every hole, with some small (e.g. new tee boxes and tree clearing) and some more significant (e.g. complete green and bunker re-design).
I recently played the course (June 2025) to see the changes first-hand. The pro shop has moved to a new building that also houses the Performance Center, a new teaching and club fitting facility. The driving range has been upgraded with Trackman launch monitors on each tee. Just outside the main clubhouse with views of the 9th hole and the lake, practice your putting or play a fun game with friends on the 12-hole putting course, “The Foothills.”
On the course, I can tell you the changes have made this challenging layout even more difficult. Several greens now have tricky undulations – consider this your forewarning about the trench in the middle of the 9th green! The bunkers have multiplied. They are everywhere you might hit a golf shot now. Bring a sharp sand game!
The most dramatic change for me was the par 4, 17th hole. This formerly short dogleg left par 4 that was nearly reachable from the tee is now a beautiful beast, with wide-open views of the lake and crater-like bunkers guarding both the left side of the hole and the green.
The young Champion Bermuda greens are still some of the slickest in Charlotte and, with the new tiers and undulations, they can play very difficult.
All in all, the club did a fabulous job with the renovations. I look forward to every chance I get to play here.
Notes: The dining options at the clubhouse are top-notch with an upscale, adult-only restaurant, The Veranda, on the top floor and the family-friendly Mulligan’s restaurant on the lower level. Both venues offer covered outdoor seating and great views of the 9th green and Lake Norman.
www.thepeninsulaclub.com
19101 Peninsula Club Dr
Cornelius, NC 28031
(704) 896-7080
River Run Country Club – Davidson, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 (4.5 stars)
Winding through the rolling terrain and beautiful hardwoods of Davidson, River Run has the length and difficulty to challenge pro golfers and has hosted events for the PGA Tour (Web.com) and LPGA (Symetra) in recent years.
Membership Options: Junior Exec, Young Exec and Full Golf options with initiation fees in the $20-$30k range and monthly dues/fees in the $480-$800 range.
Scorecard: Par 72, Back Tees – 7317yds/75.9/141, Men’s Tees – 6501yds/71.4/133
Description: Designed by Robert Walker and Raymond Floyd in 1989, River Run Country Club features a stellar championship layout and an excellent practice facility well-suited to current and aspiring professional and amateur tour players. The club regularly hosts prestigious tournaments, including state/regional qualifiers, local amateur tournaments, and charity events.
With its Bermuda fairways and Champion Ultra Dwarf Bermudagrass greens, the course stays in top playable condition year-round. Creeks, ponds and lake inlets border and cross many of the holes, giving you several risk/reward decisions to make throughout the round. The 16th and 18th holes illustrate this perfectly. The par 4, No. 16 (#1 handicap) has a reachable creek at the end of the fairway which sets up a dramatic uphill approach to the green that is well-guarded by bunkers. The dogleg right par 5, No. 18 forces you to carry the signature pond twice before reaching a long, treacherous, 3-tiered green.
The club is home to the River Run Golf Learning Center that includes an expansive short-game practice complex and the latest swing analysis, ball flight and functional movement technology tools to help improve your full-swing, chipping and putting.
Not to be outdone by its neighboring clubs, in 2024 River Run upgraded the Racquet and Sports Center with five new dedicated pickleball courts, three hard tennis courts, and a large member plaza/viewing area.
Notes: The club is completing a 2-phase capital improvement plan for the golf course this summer 2025. After redesigning and rebuilding the tee boxes in 2023, the club will be re-grassing all 18 greens and surrounds with TIF Eagle Bermuda grass. The course plans to re-open by September.
www.riverruncc.com
19125 River Falls Dr
Davidson, NC 28036
(704) 892-4633
NorthStone Country Club – Huntersville, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 (4.5 stars)
Located in Huntersville, NorthStone Country Club is a thrilling but difficult track with creeks, ponds, and backyards (i.e. “O.B.”) in play on seemingly every hole.
Membership Options: Individual, Executive and Family options with *no* initiation fees and relatively low annual dues.
Scorecard: Par 72, Back Tees – 6989yds/73.8/147, Men’s Tees – 6517yds/71.3/138
Description: While NorthStone Country Club does not border Lake Norman, the course is very scenic with several dramatically landscaped holes using ponds, boulders and bridges. Both the 9th and 18th holes play right into the clubhouse providing spectators with a nice vantage point to watch players finish their matches and tournaments.
Designed by P.B. Dye, the course has a great mix of challenges including the aforementioned hazards and out of bounds but also elevation changes and sloped fairways. The large Mini Verde Bermuda greens are tiered and sloped which can make for some tricky pin placements, especially when the greens are running fast. The fairways are Zoysia and always manicured well throughout the year.
NorthStone’s state-of-the-art learning center features private instructional areas, natural grass tees, covered and heated hitting bays with artificial surfaces, V1 swing analysis, FlightScope launch monitors, putting greens and a practice bunker.
Notes: Memberships, which require no initiation fees, are very affordable especially considering the quality of the course you get.
www.northstoneclub.com
15801 Northstone Dr
Huntersville, NC 28078
(704) 948-4286
Cowan’s Ford Golf Club – Lake Norman, NC
B-Man’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
A family friendly, classic golf club located on the southwestern shore of Lake Norman, Cowan’s Ford is an affordable alternative to its lakeside neighbors and is kept in great shape year-round.
Membership Options: Full and Junior Golf (under age 40) options with relatively low fees and dues.
Scorecard: Par 72, Back Tees – 6932yds/73.7/134, Men’s Tees – 6588yds/72.1/131
Description: Originally opened in 1964, Cowan’s Ford Golf Club was renovated by well-known Greensboro architect Kris Spence in 2003 following Donald Ross principles to keep the course fun and challenging for golfers of all skill levels.
The course features well-maintained A-4 Bentgrass greens which are unique among the area’s other clubs which have all switched to Bermuda variants. The tree-lined layout is generous off the tee and, while challenging with ponds and creeks in play on seven holes, gives all levels of golfers a chance to post a good score.
The signature holes on the back nine include the par 4 No. 13 with a creek and pond in play for both the tee shot and approach shot. The two par 5’s are challenging three-shotters – No. 15 protects par with a hazard and brick wall fronting the green while No. 18 is a long dogleg right with an uphill approach over a large greenside bunker.
The comprehensive practice facility is over 40,000 square feet. It includes a chipping green, pitching green, practice tee with hitting mats, sand bunkers and a large putting green.
Notes: The club has active Men’s, Senior Men’s, and Ladies’ Golf Leagues as well as a comprehensive Junior golf program throughout the summer months.
www.cowansford.com
761 Club Dr
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 827-3088
About the Author
Chris Beeman (“B-Man”)
Chris Beeman lives in south Charlotte and runs B-Man’s Guide to Golf – where you can find detailed reviews and updates for over 45 public courses within an hour’s drive of Charlotte. Founded in 2002, the site was built for the golfer, by the golfer. Chris runs the NC chapter of TheGrint Tour (@thegrinttournc), a PGA-style amateur golf tour for players of all skill levels. He also co-owns TripCaddie.com, a golf travel company that specializes in bucket-list golf trips for groups of 8 or more. You can follow Chris on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook – @charlottegolfer.
How B-Man Ranks Golf Courses
There are over 45 public and semi-private golf courses within an hour’s drive of Charlotte. B-Man has played them all and also collected other golfers’ reviews for over 2 decades. In 2022 he joined a private club in south Charlotte, The Club at Longview, and is now making his way through the 30+ private golf clubs in the area.
His course ratings (5 star scale) take into account several factors:
- The “Wow” Factor – something about the course that is unique, makes you want to come back and that you tell your friends about
- Conditions – consistently great year-round conditions (especially on the greens) are a must to be rated highly
- Layout – a mix of fun, challenges and good design throughout 18 holes
- Amenities – practice area, restaurant/bar, clubhouse facilities, etc that make your entire golf experience great
- Value – bang for the buck, how the rest of the rating factors stack up to the price of greens fees and membership dues
About The Best of LKN:
Jeff Hamm created The Best of LKN platform in 2020 to help elevate awareness for local small businesses and nonprofits throughout the Lake Norman region.
When he isn’t working, you can usually find him boating, playing pickleball, and taking walks with his dogs Sam and Maisy.
Jeff Hamm
Elevate Land & Realty
Lake Norman | High Country
www.LKNreal.com
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