- Follow us on:
From our Directory of the most recommended golf courses
Duke University Golf Club
Revise Course Description
Pace of Play
Greens
Service
Value
Design/Layout
The University golf course was first envisioned in 1941, and the University contracted with Perry Maxwell to design the course, but was delayed with the start of WWII. The course finally was constructed in 1957 on a different site and Robert Trent Jones, Sr designed it with recent renovations by Rees Jones. The course is wooded and rolling through the hardwood and shrubbery lined fairways. The greens are large, but well guarded by a good number of well placed, Jones sculptured bunkers, with ponds and streams on half of the holes. It's a great course, always in excellent condition, and if you're staying in Durham, try staying on the grounds here at the Washington Duke Inn...a great experience. By the way, don't try the "Devil" tees unless you've got a great game, it plays to a 137 slope.
Posted by: JayM
Jul 13th, 2010
It is fitting that one of the best (and best endowed) universities should have a fine golf course. I had played the Duke University Golf Club a few years ago, but when I had the opportunity to give it another go last week, I jumped at the chance. The course is public and the green fees are surprisingly reasonable ($75 with cart on weekdays, but you can walk at $55). If you find yourself in the Chapel Hill/Durham, NC, area for a couple of days, book tee times at both Duke and Finley Golf Club, the University of North Carolina’s course. They are not only fine golf courses but they will also give you an education in the contrasting work of Tom Fazio (Finley) and Robert Trent Jones, Sr and Rees Jones (who renovated his father’s original design at Duke). The Duke course is characterized largely by blind tee shots to often tilted and tree-lined fairways and by mostly elevated greens well protected by bunkers. The premium at Duke, whose course rating and slope from the blue tees (6,565 yards) are 70.9 and 129, respectively, is on course management. The longest holes tend to play downhill; length off the tee is not nearly as important as calculating the correct side of the pin at which to aim. Short-siding yourself tends to be especially penal at Duke. Course conditions were excellent, although a little more speed in the smooth greens –- they were medium speed -– would have made for some especially interesting downhill putts. I have posted some photos at my web site, Golf Community Reviews Duke Golf Club, Durham, NC. Men’s par, 72; women’s par, 74. Yardage: 7,136/6,868/6,565/6,182/5,460. Rating: 73.9/72.6/70.9/69.6/66.6. Slope: 141/135/129/122/118. Designed by R. T. Jones, Sr (1957) and Rees Jones (1993). (919) 681-2288.
Flag Content