Starmount Forest Country Club

Overview: Starmount Forest Country Club is a private 18-hole parkland course in Greensboro, North Carolina, designed originally by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek. The club’s course information lists par 71 and 6,711 yards from the back markers. Mature trees, creeks and carefully formed putting surfaces give the layout a classic Greensboro character, while later work has kept the course in championship condition. Its architectural interest comes from the way several generations of designers have worked over the same land without erasing the identity of the original Stiles and Van Kleek routing.

History: The course opened on August 1, 1930, when the surrounding western edge of Greensboro was still lightly developed. Starmount Forest was an inaugural co-host of the first Greater Greensboro Open in 1938 and staged at least one round of the PGA Tour stop on 16 occasions between 1938 and 1960. The club also hosted the 1947 U.S. Women’s Open. George Cobb directed a major renovation in 1970 and 1971, rebuilding tees and putting surfaces, and Lester George designed another full renovation in 1999. The club’s current golf page also identifies Kris Spence with the newly renovated course.

Did You Know? Sam Snead won the first Greater Greensboro Open at Starmount Forest in 1938 by five shots. Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson also won on the property during the course’s important early connection with the PGA Tour.