The Triad named the #1 Big City for golf in America
Golf Digest named the Triad the best big city for golf in America in a survey of 330 cities with a population of over a million people. With 262 playable days for golf a year, low average greens fees, and courses designed by well-known designers like Robert Trent Jones, Donald Ross, Hale Irwin, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer the Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC area is the best big city for golf.

Golf is synonymous with North Carolina and Winston-Salem is a perfect example of the diversity and challenges available to golfers.  Whether golf aficionados prefer elevated greens, deep bunkers, wide fairways, sand traps, wooded scenery or an abundance of water hazards, there is plenty to challenge you in Winston-Salem and the greater Piedmont Triad region.

Tanglewood Park is home to one of the nation's finest golf facilities and the home of the former Senior PGA Tour Vantage Championship, one of the richest tournaments on the Senior PGA Tour with a $1.6 million purse.  The 1974 PGA Championship was also played on Tanglewood's Championship Course.

Tanglewood Park offers two 18-hole golf courses designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr., two driving ranges and a par-3 course.  Tee times may be made up to seven days in advance and reservations are recommended.  It's surprisingly affordable.

The Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department operates two courses, Reynolds Park Golf Course and Winston Lake Golf Course, both designed by Ellis Maples.  Winston Lake Golf Course opened in 1956 to golfers of all handicaps and races.  Jerry Jones is credited with developing the course's popularity and challenging design.  Jones, the first black member of the state chapter of the PGA and a coach of Lee Elder and Jim Dent, founded the first pro-am tournament there.  Ernest Morris served as its golf pro from 1984 until his death in 2002.  A new clubhouse was recently added at Winston Lake .

Rated one of the top 10 new courses in North Carolina in 1997, Salem Glen has established itself as one of the premier golf courses in central North Carolina .  The Women's Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship and the Tear Drop Tour call Salem Glen their home.  Set along the banks of the Yadkin River , the course covers almost 160 acres.

The 18-hole layout designed by Glen Day/Nicklaus Design Group offers players of all skill levels two distinct nines.  The front nine offers two par fives, as well as two holes that border the river.  The mountainous back nine presents a different set of challenges.  The narrow fairways and tiered greens, which make up the inward nine, complete a course that is enjoyable to the competitor and friendly to the weekend golfer.  The Global Positioning Satellite System is now available at Salem Glen providing individual golfers and tournament play insightful information.

To learn more about North Carolina's golf courses and packages, visit www.ncgolftrail.com, www.playgolf-nc.com or to sign up for e-specials go to www.visitnc.com/glf or www.ntarget.com/especials/golfnc.

Need help planning a tournament?  Contact the sports marketing manager with Visit Winston-Salem at 336.728.4215.

Traveling to Winston-Salem and looking for a fun game of golf for a group outing?  Contact the tourism department of Visit Winston-Salem at 336.728.4200.

For an interesting twist on golf, try Friendship Sporting Clays.  An exciting outdoor adventure course, it was designed by Marty Fisher, who is also an instructor.  Complete with pro shop, the facility maintains fully automated, state-of-the-art ranges specifically designed for safety.