
Old Chatham Course
Old Chatham Golf Club


About this course
Old Chatham Golf Club, nestled in the rolling hills west of Durham, is a testament to Rees Jones's commitment to strategic, challenging golf. This modern course, carved from dense North Carolina woodlands, demands thoughtful play and rewards precision with its subtly contoured greens. Rather than brute length, Old Chatham challenges golfers to strategically navigate doglegs and undulations, favoring shot-shapers who can deftly manage the varied terrain. Jones, known for his meticulous restoration work on classic courses, brought that same eye for detail to Old Chatham. While no major championships have graced its fairways, Old Chatham holds a respected, if understated, position within the Carolinas golf scene, offering a stern test of golf. The club's appeal lies in its unpretentious atmosphere, fostering a membership drawn from the surrounding Research Triangle area and beyond. It's a place where accomplished players value the pure golfing experience, as well as the club's reputation for a uniquely welcoming and egalitarian atmosphere. Post-round discussions often linger on the merits of Jones' design, typically over the club's well-regarded Carolina BBQ.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in NC
Quick facts
- Location
- Durham, NC, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 2001
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Rees Jones, Greg Muirhead
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,247 yards
- Difficulty
- 75.5/135
- Course Vaults score
- 8.9
Getting there
Old Chatham Golf Club lies just northwest of Durham, making Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) the natural gateway - a brief twenty-minute drive that transitions quickly from the hum of Research Triangle commerce into the rolling, wooded terrain of North Carolina's Piedmont. The route follows quiet state roads that wind through stands of hardwood and pine, the landscape gently rising and falling as subdivisions give way to preserved greenspace. For members arriving by private aircraft, RDU's executive terminals provide discreet access, while the club itself sits tucked into a serene enclave where the city's academic energy fades into something altogether more pastoral and hushed.

FAQ
Common questions about Old Chatham
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Old Chatham has a Course Vaults score of 8.9 out of 10 based on 39 logged golfers.
Old Chatham was designed by Rees Jones and Greg Muirhead.
Old Chatham is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Old Chatham is 72.
Old Chatham plays 7,247 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Old Chatham is 135.





