
The Preserve Course
The Preserve at Jordan Lake Golf Club

About this course
The Preserve at Jordan Lake Golf Club is a Davis Love III design located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, positioned along the shores of Jordan Lake, a large reservoir west of the Research Triangle area. Love, a North Carolina native and major championship winner, has designed several courses in his home state, and this layout reflects his familiarity with the region's rolling Piedmont terrain and preference for strategic, playable golf that works with natural landforms. The course occupies property that features elevation changes and wooded corridors typical of central North Carolina, with several holes offering views of Jordan Lake itself. The routing takes advantage of the topography, incorporating both tree-lined parkland holes and more open areas where the lake becomes a visual and strategic element. Love's design philosophy generally emphasizes width off the tee with strategic bunkering and green complexes that reward thoughtful approach play, allowing golfers of varying skill levels to navigate the course while still presenting challenges for accomplished players. The Preserve operates as a semi-private facility, providing public access alongside member play. Jordan Lake serves as a recreational hub for the Chapel Hill and greater Triangle region, and the course benefits from its proximity to both the university community and the broader Raleigh-Durham area. The setting offers a relatively natural, less manicured aesthetic compared to more resort-oriented designs, consistent with Love's tendency toward courses that sit comfortably within their landscapes.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in NC
Quick facts
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 2002
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Davis Love III
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,107 yards
- Difficulty
- 76.2/143
- Course Vaults score
- 6.7
Getting there
The journey to The Preserve at Jordan Lake Golf Club begins at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, a straightforward thirty-minute drive west into the rolling piedmont countryside between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. The route traces the northern edge of Jordan Lake's sprawling reservoir, where glimpses of open water appear through the hardwood canopy, before turning onto quieter back roads that wind through horse farms and preserved forestland. The final approach feels deliberately removed from the Research Triangle's academic bustle - a transition into the kind of secluded, wooded enclave where the architecture can breathe and the only interruption is the occasional heron lifting off the lake's glassy surface.

FAQ
Common questions about The Preserve
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
The Preserve has a Course Vaults score of 6.7 out of 10 based on 33 logged golfers.
The Preserve was designed by Davis Love III.
Yes. The Preserve is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at The Preserve is 72.
The Preserve plays 7,107 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at The Preserve is 143.




