Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State University – Played November 2021
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 1509 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Year: 2009
- Architect: Arnold Palmer
- Course Access: Public
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Competition: 7,358 yards, Par 72, 74.7 Rating/142 Slope
- Black: 6,916 yards, Par 72, 72.4 Rating/137 Slope
- Red: 6,498 yards, Par 72, 70.8 Rating/132 Slope (Men’s), 76.5 Rating/140 Slope (Women’s)
- Wolfpack: 6,032 yards, Par 72, 68.8 Rating/123 Slope (Men’s), 74.0 Rating/134 Slope (Women’s)
- Gray: 5,464 yards, Par 72, 66.4 Rating/111 Slope (Men’s), 70.9 Rating/124 Slope (Women’s)
- Combo: 5,136 yards, Par 72, 64.9 Rating/106 Slope (Men’s), 69.0 Rating/119 Slope (Women’s)
- Green: 4,711 yards, Par 72, 63.1 Rating/99 Slope (Men’s), 66.7 Rating/114 Slope (Women’s)
When I meet new people playing golf an obvious question is where are you from? Upon my arrival at Lonnie Poole Golf Course to play with some of my online golf buddies, the question came up again. I never tire of the reaction when someone hears I drove four hours for a day of golf!
On this particular trip we got a later start time due to frost. As it was the day before Thanksgiving, I settled on a relaxed round. In light of that, I didn’t take as many photos as I normally do.
Don’t let the lack of photos deter you from thinking highly of the course though. The list of accolades for the course is long. As you may expect, being a college course, it has hosted some competitions as well. Namely the 2014 & 2018 Men’s Regionals and 2015 & 2020 Women’s Regionals.
Now that I’ve properly set you up for the round with some story and information, let’s get into the photos!
Hole 1 – 507 yards – Par 5
The first hole was actually our tenth of the day. The big bunker is certainly in play for most golfers. More bunkers await you on the rest of the hole before you arrive at a pretty undulated green.
Hole 4 – 298 yards – Par 4
On a warm day I imagine a lot of players try to drive this green. That bravado can get you in trouble if your drive is wayward. Plenty of slope encircles the green and makes for tough up and downs. I found giving myself a full wedge in made for a nice easy par.
Hole 5 – 385 yards – Par 4
You need a good tee shot here and you cannot miss right. The large stand of trees fully blocks the green from the right side. If you execute your drive the approach becomes much easier.
Hole 7 – 493 yards – Par 5
Large bunkers up the left make this a precision hole. Coupled with a green that has dropoffs on each side, this one can be a really tough ask.
Hole 9 – 358 yards – Par 4
Straight drives are rewarded here. A hazard on the left and sand on the right make you pucker on this tee box. The long bunker on the left that extends back from the green factors into the approach shot.
Hole 10 – 345 yards – Par 4
On our first hole of the day, I was told that everything kicks to the right on this hole. They were correct as I landed somewhere in the left trees and ended up in the fairway. From there it is a short approach to the perched green.
Hole 11 – 553 yards – Par 5
The term “signature hole” has a negative connotation in some GCA circles, but I don’t mind it. The eleventh certainly fits the bill with the view of downtown Raleigh in the background.
The length of the hole makes it difficult as the green is something you want to approach with confidence. Defense in the form of bunkers comes into play from your second shot to the green.
Hole 16 – 341 yards – Par 4
You may not see it, but a hazard lurks to the left of this elevated tee box. I hooked one right into it! Good drives set you up to attack the difficult green.
Hole 17 – 110 yards – Par 3
You can see the hole in the photo below, but what you can’t see if that my playing partner Jeff made an ace here on this day! A smooth wedge shot that hopped once or twice and in was a sight to behold!
Lonnie Poole Golf Course is a real asset to NC State. If I had attended (never, Go Tigers!), I would have been out here quite a bit. It seems the course gets a good bit of play, which is great! I’d love to get back and see it in warmer temperatures with a little bit firmer conditions. That being said, if you find yourself in Raleigh, you could do a lot worse than Lonnie Poole.