Representative image Photo: Ulrich Mayring · CC BY-SA 3.0
Roaring Gap Club
Roaring Gap, North Carolina, United States
18 Holes · Par 72 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Mountain
— About
About Roaring Gap Club
Roaring Gap Club is a private 18-hole, par 72 course in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Alleghany County, North Carolina. Donald Ross designed it, and from the back tees it measures 6,455 yards, modest by modern standards. Kris Spence restored the greens to their original size and shape, refurbished the bunkers and began a tree management program. Decades of topdressing had shrunk and buried the Ross contours, and the restoration set about recovering them.
- Early promotion called it the 'Pinehurst of the Hills', a nod to the famous sandhills resort.
- The Graystone Inn was built to house guests and still doubles as the members' hotel and clubhouse.
- The 12th is a short par 4 of roughly 370 yards, with a third ridge cutting across the fairway.
- Restoration work also levelled and expanded the tees, which lengthened the course.
History of Roaring Gap Club
Roaring Gap Club was founded in the 1920s by business leaders and wealthy families from Winston-Salem together with Leonard Tufts, whose family developed Pinehurst. For its early years the club ran in step with Pinehurst, and staff from the resort's Carolina Hotel helped operate the mountain property.
Signature holes at Roaring Gap Club
The 12th is a short par 4, about 370 yards from the back tee, where the fairway runs between ridges and a third shoulder of ground cuts across the line of play.
When to play Roaring Gap Club
Summer is the season the club was built for. Roaring Gap was founded as a cool mountain retreat from Pinehurst's summer heat, so the warmer months suit it best. Because play is by member invitation, your host's calendar matters as much as the season.
Playing Roaring Gap Club: tips
Roaring Gap is a private club with no published green fee. A round means playing as the guest of a member, and the club does not sell tee times to the public. Ask your host about dress and arrival details, since the club publishes no visitor guidance.
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Roaring Gap Club
Can the public play Roaring Gap Club?
No. It is a private membership club, and play is by member invitation. There is no public tee sheet and no published green fee.
Who restored the Donald Ross course at Roaring Gap?
Kris Spence, an architect known for Ross restorations. He restored the greens to their original size and shape, refurbished bunkers and started a tree management program.
What was the Graystone Inn?
It was built to house guests in the club's early years, and it now serves as the members' hotel and clubhouse.