Governors Club (Lakes & Foothills)

The Governors Club near Chapel Hill, North Carolina features a significant chunk of property with which Jack Nicklaus was tasked with creating 27 holes. Of the group, “Lakes” and “Foothills” are held as the better combination of 18. Looking at the three nines, the titles are a good gauge on what kind of terrain to expect during your round. The third nine, “Mountain,” is the most altitude-influenced, while “Foothills” features the rolling geography most preferred for North Carolina golf, and “Lakes” is the most flat...hence why water supplies much of the challenge.

Players will typically open on the lattermost course, where most of the title lakes will be fed by Overcup Creek. Despite that name, players should aspire to be under the cup for putting on the greens at Lakes (as well as everywhere else on the course).

Foothills features the longest yardage of the three nines, at 3,560, and can be combined with the Lakes route to approach 7,100 yards from the back tees. Although perhaps not as bothered by wet hazards at the Lakes nine, it also features a fair number of ponds to avoid.