Governors Club

The Governors Club features two eighteen-hole courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, with the Mountain and Lakes nines forming one of the primary combinations at this private facility in Chapel Hill. Opened in the mid-1980s, the club sits in the rolling Piedmont terrain west of Chapel Hill, where Nicklaus routed the holes across varied topography that includes wooded corridors, elevation changes, and water features that give each nine its character. The Mountain nine takes advantage of the property's natural contours, with holes that move through mature hardwood forests and play across hillsides that create uneven lies and demand thoughtful club selection. The Lakes nine incorporates water more prominently into the design, with ponds and streams coming into play on several holes and requiring strategic decisions off the tee and on approach shots. Nicklaus employed his characteristic design elements throughout—generous landing areas balanced by well-protected greens, strategic bunkering, and risk-reward opportunities that reward aggressive play while offering safer alternatives. The Governors Club serves a membership drawn largely from the Chapel Hill and Research Triangle area, including faculty, professionals, and business leaders connected to the region's universities and corporate community. The club maintains a traditional private club atmosphere with full amenities including dining facilities. The course conditioning reflects the standards expected at an established private club in the region, with bentgrass greens and fairways suited to the North Carolina climate.