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North Carolina Golf Getaways at Washington Duke Inn

Play Duke's Championship Course, Then Discover the Bull City

Some golf trips are about the round. The best ones are about everything around it. At Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, the original AAA Four Diamond hotel in Durham and the only North Carolina member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts L.V.X. Collection, you stay beside Duke University Golf Club, the university's Robert Trent Jones Sr. championship course, on 300 acres of pines and hardwoods on the campus of Duke University. Tee off in the morning, linger over dinner at the Fairview Dining Room, and spend the hours in between exploring the best of what the Bull City has to offer.

Why Golfers Come to Duke

  • A Robert Trent Jones Sr. original: 18 holes opened by Duke University in 1957, and the only Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed course in Durham
  • Championship pedigree: 7,154 yards, with tee and green complexes redesigned by Rees Jones in 1993, and host of the NCAA Men's Golf Championship in 1962 and 2001
  • Earlier tee times for Inn guests: the course is open to the public seven days a week, and Inn guests can reserve tee times up to 30 days in advance, compared with 14 days for the public
  • Everything handled in one booking: the Play More Save More Golf Package bundles your guest room, full breakfast, green fees and cart for one round, a personalized bag tag, overnight club storage and a warm-up bucket of balls

Between Rounds at the Inn

The Inn gives the whole group something to look forward to, whether or not everyone brought clubs:

  • Dine: the Fairview Dining Room for dinner, the Bull Durham Bar for a nightcap, Afternoon Tea for a slower afternoon, and NINETEEN Grill on a patio overlooking the driving range
  • Unwind: the indoor pool and jacuzzi, open year-round, and a fitness center with Peloton bikes
  • Get outside: the 3.1-mile Al Buehler Trail through Duke Forest, right across the road
  • Make an evening of it: live jazz with Saturday brunch, complimentary Friday live music on the Terrace on the Green from April through September, and complimentary Saturday stargazing from March through November

See everything on property on our Golf & Activities page.

Duke's Campus and Durham

Staying on Duke's campus puts a world-class university and the best of Durham at your doorstep:

  • Duke Chapel: the Gothic Revival heart of West Campus, about a 5-minute drive (1.7 miles)
  • Sarah P. Duke Gardens: landscaped gardens in the heart of Duke's campus, about a 5-minute drive (1.7 miles)
  • Nasher Museum of Art: Duke's art museum, about a 4-minute drive (1.6 miles)
  • Cameron Indoor Stadium: home of Duke basketball, about a 13-minute walk (0.6 mile)
  • Ninth Street: shops, cafés and restaurants beside Duke's East Campus, about an 8-minute drive (2.8 miles)
  • Downtown Durham: Broadway tours and concerts at the Durham Performing Arts Center, about a 9-minute drive (3.2 miles), and Durham Bulls baseball at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, about 8 minutes (2.8 miles)

For more ideas, see Things to Do Near Duke University

Who Plans a Golf Getaway Here

  • Friends on a golf weekend pair a championship round on a Robert Trent Jones Sr. classic with a long dinner at the Fairview Dining Room and a nightcap at the Bull Durham Bar.
  • Couples split the day their own way: one tees off while the other wanders Sarah P. Duke Gardens or settles in for Afternoon Tea, then both meet for dinner.
  • Duke alumni return to the campus they remember and play the course they always meant to, with Duke Chapel and Cameron Indoor Stadium minutes away.
  • Visiting families pair a weekend with their Duke student and an early tee time, with the whole campus within an easy drive of the Inn.
  • Business travelers add a morning round to a Research Triangle Park trip, about 15 minutes from the Inn.

Plan Your Trip

  • Getting here: Raleigh-Durham International Airport is about 20 minutes from the Inn
  • Tee times: book through the Golf Shop at 919.681.2288, ext. 4, up to 30 days ahead as an Inn guest
  • Course schedule: the course closes for scheduled maintenance on Wednesday mornings until noon
  • Club rental: rental sets are available at the course
  • Reservations: book the Play More Save More Golf Package online or call 800.443.3853
  • Rewards: earn I Prefer Hotel Rewards points on eligible stays; membership is complimentary

North Carolina Golf Getaway FAQs

Where can I stay and play golf near Raleigh-Durham?

Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club in Durham sits beside Duke University Golf Club, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. championship course on Duke University's campus, about 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The Play More Save More Golf Package combines a guest room, full breakfast, and green fees and cart for one round.

Are there golf packages in North Carolina that include a hotel stay?

Yes. The Play More Save More Golf Package at Washington Duke Inn includes an overnight stay, full breakfast in the Vista Restaurant or through in-room dining, green fees and cart fees for one round at Duke University Golf Club, a personalized bag tag, overnight golf bag storage and a warm-up bucket of balls.

Is there a golf resort near Duke University?

Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, on Duke University's campus in Durham, is a AAA Four Diamond inn and the only North Carolina member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts L.V.X. Collection, with 271 guest rooms and suites on 300 acres of Duke University's campus, beside the university's 18-hole championship golf course. Along with golf, guests enjoy fine dining, an indoor pool, a fitness center and the Al Buehler Trail through Duke Forest.

What is there to do in Durham besides golf?

Duke's campus is minutes from the Inn, with Duke Chapel, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, the Nasher Museum of Art and Cameron Indoor Stadium all within a short drive or walk. Ninth Street offers shops, cafés and restaurants, and downtown Durham has Broadway tours and concerts at the Durham Performing Arts Center and Durham Bulls baseball.

What can non-golfers do while their group plays golf?

Non-golfers can swim in the Inn's indoor pool, work out in the fitness center, walk the Al Buehler Trail through Duke Forest, enjoy Afternoon Tea, or explore Sarah P. Duke Gardens and the Nasher Museum of Art, each about a 5-minute drive from the Inn.

How far ahead can I book a tee time at Duke University Golf Club?

Guests of Washington Duke Inn can reserve tee times up to 30 days in advance, compared with 14 days for the general public. Call the Golf Shop at 919.681.2288, ext. 4.

Can I rent golf clubs at Duke University Golf Club?

Yes. Rental sets are available at Duke University Golf Club, so you can travel without your clubs.

Are there days when the Duke golf course is closed?

Duke University Golf Club closes for scheduled maintenance on Wednesday mornings until noon. It is open to the public for daily play the rest of the week.

Where should I eat on a golf trip to Durham?

At the Inn, the Fairview Dining Room serves dinner and Saturday jazz brunch, the Bull Durham Bar pours cocktails into the evening, and NINETEEN Grill serves breakfast sandwiches and post-round drinks on a patio overlooking the driving range. Off property, Ninth Street and downtown Durham are each under 10 minutes away by car.

Hole 1 Par 4

Welcome. Our classic layout begins with a sweeping right to left dogleg that narrows the further you play into it. There is plenty of room to the right but too much in that direction will adversely affect your yardage to the hole. Swing your way just short of the neck of the fairway where your successful positioning should leave approximately 160 yards to the middle of the green for a nice two putt par opener.

Hole 2 Par 4

From the tee, our second dogleg is sharper and immediately suggests an advantage for those cutting the corner. Don't believe your eyes! Play straight away toward the group of tall pines. Rees Jones has given you a long green as a target but it is well protected with formidable right side bunkers. Any shots that are hit long will roll down a steep embankment leaving a very difficult pitch. Consider playing safely toward the left side and take your chances putting.

Hole 3 Par 4

What a golf hole! Thanks, Rees. This is an exacting par four which calls for a chess move off the tee. A straight approach to the throat of this small, shielded green is possible if you are willing to flirt with the right side fairway bunker on your drive. The left side is the safer route but it will leave you with a line that requires playing between bunkers short and water long. Either choice is challenging on this blue-ribbon hole. Good luck.

Hole 4 Par 3

Rees Jones has proven that great three pars don't have to be long. This jewel is framed by gallery mounds behind the green and is fronted beautifully by Dumpy's Creek. The short yardage invites a promising birdie opportunity if you can safely negotiate the bunkers front left and back right. Don't forget to factor the two tier green into you club selection.

Hole 5 Par 4

Duke's design starts your round with four position holes. Now its time for a power hole! You can clearly see the large right fairway bunker but there is plenty of room to the left. Just stretch back and let the big dog eat. Your long drive pays dividends in shortening your second shot since this green is flanked by bunkers on three sides.

Hole 6 Par 4

Location location location...the fairway sand line blends in visually with the green sand line to create an effect of bunkers everywhere. Let your opponents play out of the ninety three yards of fairway bunkers on the right. Your position in the short grass will be especially appreciated because it's all carry into another well protected, strategically contoured green.

Hole 7 Par 5

Here's your shot at our first par five but don't celebrate too early, its a brute. A prodigious driving hole where your best 300 yard drive can fly over the right side fairway bunkers leaving you a mere 272 into the green! For most of us, choices on the second are limited due to creek cutting only seven yards from the front of the green. Good news, if you can carry the green there's plenty of room long. Bad news, the real challenge is in putting this unique sculptured green that slopes strongly from back to front. Shots that end up above the hole will require the deft touch of one of our Duke Medical Center surgeons.

Hole 8 Par 3

Another great par three. Take a second look. The shot requirement is all carry over a monstrous fronting bunker...and uphill all the way to this three level green. Although you may not feel any wind on the tee, you would be wise to check the wind direction on the tree tops along the right side.

Hole 9 Par 5

Rees brings the front side to a close with a reachable par five that could yield a feathered vertebrate. The drive is straight away but will surely benefit from a right to left ball flight. The Washington Duke Inn provides a dramatic backdrop with lots of gallery locations to accommodate the fans who have come to watch you play. We know you're a crowd pleaser as you stand ready to rip your second shot into the center of this sizable green BUT, be sure to understand the errant shots missing this green will face difficult recoveries. A lay up short of the green must be played with care to improve your chances of leaving this hole with a one putt birdie.

Hole 10 Par 4

Congratulations. You've just completed the Jones' front nine and we hope you are headed toward your personal best at Duke Golf Club. This tee box is surrounded by gallery mounds but simply concentrate on your game instead of the crowd noise. The hole opens with a generous landing area and prefers a left to right tee shot moving away from the fairway bunker. The green is receptive and could yield birdie opportunities to balls landing in the right center of the target. Shots played defiantly left must fly the bunker knowing that anything long will be caught in a hollow behind the green.

Hole 11 Par 5

A truly strategic five par featuring a unique green design that is shaped into an "S" and literally painted into its surrounding landscape. A player's attitude and psyche will be molded by this critical turning point hole. This is the beginning of Duke's own "Amen Corner". A good score here can open up the entire back side but....This hole is reachable in two by smashing your drive long and left near the fairway bunker. Before you play your second and as you view your options from the top of the hill, take a moment to experience one of those delicious moments of truth that golfers relish. Any choice must factor in the cunning design of this green. Tom's Creek, protected by a bunker on each side which will require precision into the correct location. Regardless of your result, this hole is a golfer's delight. Enjoy this moment, its what golf is all about.

Hole 12 Par 3

Playing further into the 'Corner,' we arrive at one of Duke's photographic gems. You'll love this showpiece three par from any tee position. If you're playing the back tees, Rees has provided you with a peninsula green that provides challenge as well as aesthetics. It is a singular opportunity to prove your mettle. This hole confirms the fact that water has an uncanny ability to collect all those shots hit with hope rather than confidence.

Hole 13 Par 4

This short four par is simply outstanding. The Tee shot requires a premium on direction due to the trees and lateral hazards on both sides but allows an advantage to toy with the pond fronting the fairway. The ability to shorten the approach to the green even by one club might make the difference in hitting this diagonally designed green. Aim at the hollowed area in the middle of the green and forget the fooling with hold locations that lie next to hazard of every variety. Stead...play away please.

Hole 14 Par 4

This five par offers an opportunity to let the shaft out for all those playing the shorter tees. A back tee player is provided a slight left to right feeling on the drive and should play off the left side of the fairway. This hole seems like the calm in the middle of the "Corner" storm as it plays generously through our tree lined North Carolina landscape...until you are hitting for the green. Stay left in positioning your approach for two distinct benefits; you will be playing into the full length of the green and you might be able to use the built in ramp on the left side of the green to your advantage. This is our largest green and offers some tricky putts for all those who fail to land close to the hole.

Hole 15 Par 3

Just one more challenge before you finish Rees' "Corner". To compound your problems, this is the favorite location of tournament galleries because they can view the action on three holes at once. You are facing a slightly uphill, slightly long, slightly difficult three par where the wind can play a major role in your club selection. Swing with confidence, the green was built to hold a shot from a long club and includes a chipping bail out area to the left of the green.

Hole 16 Par 4

The inviting four par allows you a moment to enjoy the visual beauty and panorama from the Devil tee which is located on the highest point of the golf course. Any of the elevated tee boxes will give your drive extra carry as you try to land far enough into the dogleg to see the green. The short grass is lined with hanging hardwoods on the right and a series of fairway bunkers left and long. Your uphill second is played to a wide green divided by a slight ridge. Care should be given to the visual effect of short yardage created by the placement of the front bunker into the hillside.

Hole 17 Par 4

Through sixteen holes, the truly great classic golf course designs all seem to effortlessly take a player through every club in the bag and every corner of the mind. Then, with two holes left to play, the course demands a little extra to complete an experience found no where else in sport. Rees has continued in this classic tradition with his design of the seventeenth at Duke. A taxing driving hole, straight away but more, asking for both length and accuracy. Any tee shot other than long and straight will leave you with a real test for your long iron ability. Greenside bunkering creates additional hardship making this the most difficult hole on the course. Par is a good score.

Hole 18 Par 4

The eighteenth is one of the most challenging finishing holes anywhere. Sixteen yards longer than the mammoth seventeenth, it will also call for two very long and accurate shots to hit the green in regulation. The fairway slopes right to left so plan to land your drive on the right side for a clear second shot into this pear shaped green. Just imagine that you're about to finish the final round of the U.S. Open in front of a gallery of thousands. Your shot soars toward the green and lands next to the hole for a tap in birdie!