Finley Golf Club

Positive: facilities, greens, environment and air quality Negative: a dinosaur I visited this golf course around 1:30 PM on a Monday afternoon. My friend had made the reservation, and I was responsible for bringing the golf clubs. It was our very first time at this course, and unfortunately, the experience started off on a very unpleasant note. We had deliberately booked the latest possible tee time to avoid delaying any players behind us — there were no players scheduled after us. My friend urged us to begin hole 1 promptly, as we had planned to play 18 holes and didn’t want to keep the staff too late. There were three of us in total, and the friend who made the reservation clearly stated he would walk alongside the cart rather than ride, so we only needed one golf cart. However, out of nowhere, an old man in a course vehicle drove straight up to us without introducing himself or explaining anything. In a bossy tone, he simply barked, “Follow me. You need to go to the club office. Everyone must have their own golf bag.” I replied, “We already have one set.” He insisted, “No, everybody should have his own bag.” We followed him back to the club office, where things got even worse. The front desk staff told us we had to rent two more sets of golf clubs and another golf cart — because “each cart can only carry three people.” At this point, our friend (who had made the booking) came in and explained that he was walking, not riding, so we only needed one cart. He also clarified that we didn't need extra clubs, as only one of us would be playing — the other two were just observing and learning. But since I had already spoken to the front desk and they were insistent, I ended up reluctantly renting an extra set of clubs anyway. Only later did we realize why that old guy had forced us into this — he had just assumed that all three of us were going to play 18 holes. In reality, only I was playing; the other two were new to golf and came just to observe. Even though only I would be playing, my friend still booked and paid for two players to be fair to the club. After this mess, we started playing. We finished the front 9 and went back to the club office to use the restroom and hydrate, because it was scorching hot. As we drove toward hole 10, the same old guy jumped out of his cart and blocked our path, ordering us to “Stop! You cannot take a break. You must play all 18 holes continuously, or you’ll interfere with others.” At that point, I was completely fed up. I simply said, “OK,” turned to my friend and said, “Let’s go.” This was beyond ridiculous. – First, only one of us was actually playing, so there’s no way we were behind schedule. – Second, we had the final tee time of the day — there was literally no one after us to interfere with. – Third, it was sweltering, and we were close to heat exhaustion — and somehow, stopping for a quick break and water is forbidden? What kind of golf course treats its guests like this? We came to enjoy the game, not to be harassed and micromanaged like slaves. This place has no respect for first-time guests, no sense of hospitality, and absolutely no flexibility or common sense.

MAJOR PRICE INCREASE this year. Twilight rates gone. The cost to golf in the afternoon has more than doubled. The condition of the course right now is not worth the money. Play Duke GC instead. Both cheaper (!) and better. The message is abundantly clear, they don't want UNC students playing the course. Only a 30% discount for students (Duke gives their students close to 50%). Extremely high rates at all times of the day. They also eliminated the one afternoon a week they had student tee times. I expect the average age of golfers to be 65+ going forward. Congrats. Also acting like a WALKING ONLY 9-hole rate of $60 everyday after 4:00PM is a good deal is hilarious. The old twilight rate for 18-holes after 3pm on a weekday was $40. I was planning to play every week this year. Now I won't be going back again unless they lower rates.

Finley Golf Club when looking strictly at the golf course design and quality is fun. Since renovation the conditions have been largely improved with more consistent greens. The new front nine renovations are, unfortunately, clearly forced to make way for the new golf team practice facility. Beyond the actual condition of the course itself, nearly all other aspects of the experience at Finley has continued to make a significant downturn since renovation. The range now costs 25$ for 'unlimited' golf balls, largely pricing out students and locals who used the course as a place to spend an hour on a weekday afternoon. The renovations they made to justify this change are a new short game practice area that has been closed for over a month now. The short pitching area behind the range continues to be overgrown without a true green. The worst offense the course has made is the frankly insulting price increases since the renovation, with the most recent changes charging 160$ for a morning weekend tee time, and maybe most insulting is a new 60$ 9 hole rate after 4pm. Overall, though a generally fun course and typically in good condition, it is nowhere near worth the prices now charged. Management has made it clear the goal is simply to make as much money as possible, without any regard for pricing out students and local golfers.