The great state of North Carolina boasts an impressive 412 golf courses, with 66 located right here in our 12-county region. The High Point-Jamestown area offers a mixture of private and public courses with one making the last as one of the top 25 most difficult in the area, according to the Triad Business Journal – the Jamestown Park Golf Club comes in at number 18.
High Point has two public courses, the Pete Dye designed Oak Hollow Golf Course and Blair Park Golf Course, where the legendary Sam Snead played an exhibition round in 1948. Private clubs include the 9-hole Donald Ross designed High Point Country Club and Willow Creek Golf Course, with 18 holes, hosting many tournaments, including the Senior Amateur Hall of Fame Golf Tournament, happening this month.
While there is a decrease in courses across the country, including North Carolina, the Triad Business Journal reports the industry within the state currently employs 12,374 people, up from 12,200 in recent years, and has a payroll of $311 million, up from $279 million in recent years. Our High Point Parks and Recreation Department recorded 43,437 golfers last year at both courses.
State Representative Jon Hardister is proposing legislation calling for the creation of a North Carolina Golf Council within the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The council would be responsible for growing the golf industry in North Carolina, including inviting the LPGA and others to bring their tournaments to the state.
Guilford County alone has 15 golf courses and would undoubtedly benefit from the additional recruiting efforts that the North Carolina Golf Council would bring. High Point’s central location in the state makes it easily accessible and offers a home away from home atmosphere. Just in the last year alone, the city opened the new BB&T Point Stadium, several restaurants have opened along North Main Street, and there is more development happening downtown around the stadium. All of this creates a more action-packed experience for visitors whether they are coming to play golf, visiting High Point University or shopping for home furnishings.
Known as a “lifetime sport,” golf can be enjoyed by all ages and playing can span many years of a person’s life, making it a wonderful family sport. Recreational and entertainment-based golf concepts such as the increasingly popular Topgolf (just down the road a bit in Charlotte) prove that golf is alive and well, and not just a fad. For a game that started in 1457, that’s not a bad run.
As for today, High Point welcomes the sport and has competitive courses that will keep the best of the best coming back for more for years to come!