Golfers located in the Triangle area of North Carolina (which includes Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) have no shortage of public courses to pick from year-round. Besides existing as one of the greatest three-way rivalries in the nation, Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State are three universities that act as the golfer's fulcrum, each providing their own signature course to the public. There are also dozens of semi-private neighborhood courses that hold their own against heated competition from the Pinehurst golf courses located just an hour south.
When in Raleigh, checking out the Lonnie Pool Golf Course at North Carolina State University is a must. Located in the southernmost end of Centennial Campus, this 18-hole public course was developed by the world-renowned golfer Arnold Palmer. Aside from providing local residents and visitors with a quality golf experience, the par-71, 7,025-yard layout is home grounds for NC State's men and women's golf teams. The course also functions as a research and training facility for the nationally heralded Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research and Education at NC State, and students at the university can choose to enroll in the Professional Golf Management Program (PGM) which provides first-hand experience on how to run and manage a major golf course.
UNC Finley is another course with a stellar layout. A scenic, quiet, and secluded championship course seated in the middle of Chapel Hill, UNC Finley is an 18-hole course that features five tee boxes that are capable of challenging golfers from every experience level. Seasoned vets can hit the black tees to test their mettle, while everyone else can have a reasonable shot at hitting greens in regulation. Finley was redesigned by Tom Fazio in 1999, one of the modern game's foremost golf designers, and even described it to some as his best work.
Of course, there are plenty more courses in the area to check out, including Mill Creek and River Ridge. The Raleigh Golf Association is also another highpoint, as they've continued the tradition of public golf in the Triangle since 1929.