About Us – Piney Point Golf Club

The Piney Point Experience

At Piney Point Golf Club, everyone is welcome—visitors, guests, and members alike.

If you love the game, we’re ready to host you with Southern hospitality and a warm, welcoming atmosphere from the moment you arrive. The Piney Point experience is built around what golfers value most: standout greens, an enjoyable layout, and a round that feels rewarding from the first tee to the final putt.

TEE TIMES

Sometimes, bigger is not better.

A Rich and Storied History

Sometimes, bigger is not better. In the early 1960s, small towns received special consideration from the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). The government created a loan program that allowed towns with fewer than 2,500 residents to turn farmland into recreational facilities. Norwood, North Carolina, fit the bill perfectly: a town of about 1,800 people surrounded by beautiful farmland ready to become a golf course.

Norwood community leaders, including K.L. Young and R.L. Isenhour, rose to the challenge. They moved quickly to secure the loan and were so successful that Norwood became the first town in the country to do so. There was, however, one condition. The FHA agreed to lend Norwood the considerable sum of $260,000 to build a golf course, but the town first had to raise $40,000 of its own.

Undeterred, Young and Isenhour began selling charter memberships for a golf course that had not yet been built. Their efforts succeeded, generating more than enough money and members. By early fall 1963, construction had begun. The town purchased 165 acres of prime pasture and farmland on Lake Tillery, just two miles south of Norwood, and hired J. Porter Gibson of Charlotte to design and build the course. Remarkably, the course opened for play just one year later.

The swimming pool, large brick clubhouse, and tennis court were also completed and ready for the 375 charter members to enjoy. Despite challenges—including damage from heavy rains and the need to borrow additional funds—the land’s natural topography proved ideal. Its highest and best use was discovered through the growing popularity of golf.

Using the rolling farmland to its full advantage, Gibson shaped Piney Point around the natural lay of the land. Very little earth was moved; instead, he selected the best locations for greens and tees and designed the golf course around them.

Members continue to enjoy the thoughtfully designed facilities, while thousands of golfers from nearby towns visit Norwood each year for the simple pleasure of a great round among fellow golf enthusiasts.

Building on the vision of Piney Point.

Growth, Renovations, the Future

Piney Point Golf Club continues to build on the vision of the planners, community leaders, and charter members who chose this setting so wisely and helped create a golfer’s paradise.

That commitment to excellence continues through ongoing improvements and a dedication to exceeding the expectations of players and members. In 1997, Piney Point began an ambitious greens renovation project. Golf course architect Chip Powell evaluated the greens and bunkers and developed a plan to bring them up to—or beyond—USGA specifications. Rebuilding began in summer 1998, with Crenshaw Bentgrass selected for the greens, 419 Bermuda chosen for the surrounds, and a new irrigation system installed for each green. By early December, the course reopened to enthusiastic members.

After nearly 20 successful years with Crenshaw Bentgrass, Piney Point converted the greens to Champion Bermuda in summer 2016. Since reopening that fall, the new greens have earned strong reviews. Champion Bermuda has become increasingly popular across the Carolinas, including at Pinehurst No. 2, Quail Hollow, and Sedgefield Country Club, because it is easier to maintain in excellent putting condition year-round and holds up well in hot, humid summer weather.

About Our Champion Bermuda Greens

At Piney Point Golf Club, the quality of the greens has long been central to the course experience. Rebuilt and redesigned in 1998 with Crenshaw Bentgrass, the greens helped establish Piney Point’s reputation for quality. In summer 2016, the club upgraded to Champion Bermuda greens—a hybrid Bermudagrass known for thriving in hot, humid conditions while delivering a smooth roll and consistent putting surface throughout the year.

Unlike many modern courses, Piney Point features sensible green complexes and minimal forced carries, with out-of-bounds coming into play on only four holes. Varied pin positions add fresh strategy and challenge, making each round feel new.

The course is notably open from the tee—but don’t mistake that for an easy round. Stay focused and trust your shotmaking, because the real challenge comes from what frames the fairways. The threats aren’t houses, highways, or shopping centers; they’re the trees that border the layout.