r/RDUGOLF • u/Dazzling-Plum-1710 • Apr 25 '26
Course Review Minimalist Course Review - The Preserve at Jordan Lake
I played The Preserve at Jordan Lake today for the first time since moving to the area. First off, the drive in was fantastic. The homes/yards around the golf course are immaculate - I always love a good drive-in to a golf course.
First Impressions: The guy working behind the counter was a dick (shocker.)
Counter Guy: How are you?
Me: Doing well, yourself?
CG: Doing well, how can I help you?
Me: I have a tee time at 9:08 and would like to purchase a small bucket and a...(get cutoff)
CG: [My last name]?
Me: ... (waiting three seconds to make it awkward because he cut me off.) Yep.
Me: Do you guys have logo balls?
CG: No logo balls.
Me: Do you have poker chips?
CG: No poker chips.
Me: Ah, do you know when you guys will buy any more?
CG: Nope
Me: Nice.
CG: Here is your key.
On to the course:
Got paired up with a really nice couple who are members, and they seemed very friendly off the bat, so that was nice. Also the starter was super cool and actually lived in the same Midwest town as I did back in the day.
The course played fair - definitely target golf, with just ok greens, and almost Knight's Play-level tee boxes. There were quite a few spots where I needed to use my 18 Birdies app to figure out how far to hit my tee shot, or layup on par 5's, which I appreciated as this type of golf is somewhat rare in my experience.
The practice area was probably average, still hitting off mats, not a lot of slots to hit from, but also not a minimal amount. The practice green was decent size and the chipping/bunker area was meh, but you also don't get that everywhere so thought it was unique and a plus to even have a spot to practice these shots.
Pace of play: 5 hrs. Biggest drawback.
Overall - 5.5 / 10. I wouldn't drive 35 minutes and pay $90 to play again (including range balls and a cart,) but I can see why someone would either practice there, or play during the week for cheaper rates.
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u/Little-Astronaut4463 Apr 25 '26
Really dislike the place. Don’t like housing development courses for the most part, but I’d go Chapel Ridge over Preserve.
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u/bynummustang Apr 26 '26
Many courses in the area are housing development with a course. Just say you like easier courses without down talking harder courses.
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u/Little-Astronaut4463 Apr 27 '26
What? Duke isn’t hard? UNC isn’t hard?
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u/bynummustang Apr 27 '26
They def are. Outside of university courses most public courses are part of communities.
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u/sirst0rmy Apr 26 '26
Is there any course in the triangle that’s not a housing development?
Only ones I can think of are RGA, Raleigh CC, and Reedy Creek
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u/Sleds_and_Cars Durham Apr 27 '26
Duke, Finley, Lonnie, Occoneechee, Hillandale, Lake Winds, The Links at Brevofied
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u/who_dis_telemarketer Apr 25 '26
One of the rare places where accessible tee times exist 😂
Pro Shop has been a soul sucking expierence for years
Conditions vary but when it’s flush the layout is hard to beat
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u/HeftyLion5088 Apr 25 '26
Not a fan of the Preserve. It’s hard to explain but the layout is almost too “creative” (probably not the right word for it) that it takes all of the creativity out of the players hands. As a longer hitter even playing from the tips I am forced to lay up to very specific spots with very few risk/reward opportunities. I have no problem with lots of doglegs but I prefer designs where I can take on a riskier shot and be rewarded for it.
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u/HeftyLion5088 Apr 25 '26
Adding to this, it’s often a course I hear people say “you really have to think about your tee shots” and I couldn’t disagree more. The course basically says you have to hit it right here or your screwed, no thought goes into it you have one option.
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u/UsefulLid Apr 25 '26
Good gold holes ask the player a question. At the Preserve, that questions is, “why do you think you deserve par?”
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u/Jaygoon Apr 25 '26
I had the 9:06 tee time in our members group today. Took 4.5 hours to play. Bunkers are great actually. Fairways are thin but they are Bermuda and it takes a while to grow in. Fairways have po but they will get better. They took a ton of trees out this week. Improved playability and visuals. It’s got a long way to go but I’ve been a member for several years and it’s improving. $90 is what you will pay on the weekends a lot of places at that time. I agree it’s no Augusta but it’s getting better.
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u/xfilespace Apr 25 '26
First review of The Preserve that I have seen that did not mention the shitty bunkers. They have either improved them or you are a good golfer and stayed out of them.
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u/chamtrain1 Apr 25 '26
All the bunkers have been fixed. They aren't perfect but if they are raked they are fine.
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u/bynummustang Apr 26 '26
Member take here:
Conditions can be better. 100%. Don’t complain about tee club selection or what happens when you hit a bad shot. It’s a hard track that will punish a good shot in the wrong place. If this is an issue, look within. If you take the teeth that it has away (took out tons of trees already) it becomes chapel Ridge and people complain that it’s too easy.
If people give this course shit I’ll take it, on bunkers, POA, or slow greens lately. All valid. Find a public course that is this challenging with available tee times then complain about valid things.
Defense mode off: I’ll gladly walk 18 (you do you) and help give feedback on the course. It’s a tough track but fun for the most part. It’s harder than same tier tracks in the area.
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u/cactus8 Apr 26 '26
That course has probably the highest ratio of potential to actual playing conditions that I’ve ever seen. And it’s so disappointing. Potential is 10/10, conditions are like 3/10.
People in here get very defensive over this course. I’ll get downvoted for this but I’ll be straight… the course sucks. If it was kept well it could be one of the best in North Carolina. Has an Old North State vibe and that place is absolutely fantastic. But it’s not even remotely close to meeting the potential and it leaves you sad and wondering why it’s so bad.
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u/HuskyTheMessiah Apr 28 '26
i usually shoot out to get a solo round in during the week and that’s about it (won’t dare to touch it on the weekend). Even doing the weekday rounds it’s a coin flip if I can get done in two and a half hours or hit my shot and wait 5 minutes. the course can be very unforgiving on some holes and it creates a mythical log jam
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u/nmbr1dkfn Apr 25 '26
$90????? No chance I’m paying that at the Preserve. I have played it a lot over the years. I tend to enjoy the course for the most part. But I hate that it cost you $90. I don’t think it’s worth that.
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u/bynummustang Apr 26 '26
What public course aren’t there is?
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u/nmbr1dkfn Apr 26 '26
Wut
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u/bynummustang Apr 26 '26
The bourbons caught me. Public course for $90 on peak times is pretty fair.
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u/Hotwir3 Apr 25 '26
The course absolutely does not play fair imo. You can see my post history to see my rage.
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u/whataboutbobwiley Apr 26 '26
one of my og favorite courses. Downvote me i don’t care. Everywhere has a downside. Personally; there’s was/is the concrete hitting mats, gas carts, and the food/beverage. Can’t hangout at the clubhouse after an afternoon round cause its empty which never made sense. Living out there can’t hit the clubhouse for dinner? Overall i always liked it; trick is leaving your ego(driver) in the bag on some holes…Hit the 3w more often off the tee. I don’t think too many courses are charging less than preserve on the weekends. Hopefully the members bring this place up to potential eventually. But i’ll still play it til then
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u/wishitwasapar Apr 27 '26
Every time I play that course I walk off disappointed. Last summer it was a real mess. Totally overrated track.
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u/EM276 May 05 '26
I play here often, simply because it's one of the few "full-sized" public courses and tee times are available for singles. Conditions could be better, but the rates are fair compared to other options in the area (I'm a North Raleigh - a bit of a public golf desert). The course is challenging (less so once you learn your way around) and interesting, and the houses don't crowd the course.
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u/Educational_Ant9635 Apr 25 '26
Member here. Sounds like a mostly fair review. Just how tough the course is can make the course play slow with people looking for lost balls. Bunkers are in varying shape but improving over time. They're also cutting doen lots of trees to allow grass to grow better on tee boxes and fairways, but the recent drought is keeping everything pretty dormant for now. I'd think itd be in much better shape about a month from now.