Ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship, one of two PGA Tour stops in the Tar Heel State, the North Carolina Golf Panel has released its Top 100 golf courses.

Pinehurst No. 2 – the masterpiece of legendary golf course architect Donald Ross – has once again secured the top spot as the best golf course in the state, while Quail Hollow Club, the host venue of this week’s Wells Fargo, was No. 6.

The North Carolina Golf Panel was founded in 1995 and is recognized as the most authoritative statewide source of golf course rankings in a state that arguably has some of the nation’s best courses. The 135-member panel is comprised of golf media, club professionals and general managers from many outstanding courses, accomplished amateur players and college golf coaches and others who play an active role in promoting golf in North Carolina.

“As a member of the (North Carolina) Golf Panel, 2020 was a very different year and obviously restrictive when it came to ranking our great golf courses around the state,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO for the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“Fortunately, for our tourism economy in Moore County, golf remained open throughout the pandemic.

“We are so blessed with world-class golf in the Pinehurst area and with the USGA announcement last fall to move a second headquarters here and create an anchor site for future U.S. Open championships, it merely enhanced that this destination is arguably the finest in the country to visit and experience the game for all ages.”

The panel also ranked the Top 50 Courses “You Can Play,” and Pinehurst once again dominated the list with its No. 2 course, No. 4, No.8, and No. 9 taking four of the top six spots.

The Panel also determined a pair of sub-categories for the 10 best “Fairest Courses to Play’’ and “Most Strategic Courses” with Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines taking the No. 1 position on the Fairest Courses to Play.

In 2022, the U.S. Women’s Open will return to Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club. And the U.S. Open will be back at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024, marking the fourth such major championship to be played at the historic club over the course of 25 years (1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024).

This past Fall, the United States Golf Association announced additional U.S. Open championships for Pinehurst No. 2 in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.