Black at Keith Hills Golf Course

Keith Hills Golf Course sits in Lillington, a small town in Harnett County roughly thirty miles south of Raleigh. Dan Maples designed the facility, which opened in the mid-1990s and features two eighteen-hole courses—the Black and the Gold. The property occupies rolling terrain typical of North Carolina's Sandhills transition zone, where the coastal plain begins to give way to more varied topography. Maples, a prolific architect in the Carolinas during this era, routed both courses through stands of longleaf pine and hardwoods, incorporating natural elevation changes and stream corridors into the design.

The Black Course represents the more challenging of the two layouts. It plays from multiple tee sets and uses the property's natural contours to create strategic interest, with doglegs that follow the land's movement and greens positioned to reward accurate approach shots. Water features come into play on several holes, and the bunkering reflects Maples's preference for framing hazards clearly while allowing recovery options for skilled players. The course serves both daily-fee visitors and a local membership base, functioning as a regional amenity in an area with fewer golf options than the more developed Pinehurst region to the west.

Keith Hills operates as a semi-private facility, offering public access alongside member play. The clubhouse provides standard amenities and the course hosts local tournaments and outings throughout the season. The Black Course remains a straightforward test of golf that reflects its era's design sensibilities without unusual gimmicks or severe penalties.