PINEHURST, N.C. The Country Club of North Carolina has completed a renovation of its driving range and practice areas, giving members more hitting stations, an expanded short-game facility and practice surfaces that reflect the club’s two golf courses.
Designed by architect Kris Spence and completed by Spence Golf Inc., the project began June 8 and opened to members October 9. Spence’s lead associate, Jim Harbin, supervised the work.
“CCNC is extremely pleased with the work of Kris Spence and Spence Golf, Inc., on the practice range and short game facility,” club president Charlie Rivers said in the club’s announcement. “The amenities of this critical area for our dedicated members are top-notch and also feel like home.”
A Larger Tee With Two Distinct Surfaces
The centerpiece is a new, single-level practice tee covering 125,000 square feet, nearly three acres, that adds eight to 10 hitting stations. Of that space, 40,000 square feet is planted with zoysia to match the fairways on the Dogwood Course. The remainder is Bermuda, matching the Cardinal Course.
For golfers moving between the two layouts, that combination offers a chance to rehearse shots from the same grass types they will encounter during a round.
The range also features four well-defined target greens with sharper surrounds, each measuring between 3,000 and 3,500 square feet. Two additional targets of 1,000 square feet or less provide options for scoring-club practice.
More Room for the Short Game
According to Spence, the short-game practice area has expanded by 80 percent. The redesign creates a larger, more free-flowing space intended to accommodate more players and provide greater variety.
Other improvements include changes to the range’s alignment and levels, a higher safety net and new sod throughout the facility. Both ends of the range can now accommodate synthetic mats for winter use.
“The new short game area has great variety and will accommodate many more players,” Spence said.
The Final Score
CCNC’s renovation gives members and guests more space to prepare for a round and more specific targets for working on their games. The split between zoysia and Bermuda is a particularly practical detail, connecting the practice experience directly to the Dogwood and Cardinal courses.
The project also continues Spence’s work at the member-owned private club, where he renovated the Dogwood Course in 2016. Established in 1963, CCNC has hosted three USGA championships and is scheduled to host the 2027 Southern Amateur and the 2037 U.S. Women’s Amateur.