[h2ohzrd]

Moving to the Raleigh/Durham area this year and wondering how long into the winter you can play golf before it becomes unbearably cold - which is around 50 degrees for me?
How early in the spring does play start back up?
Any really good practice facilities? Not just a driving range but sand traps, short game practice area.
Are most of the courses walkable?
Any recommendations on golf instructors?

Thanks.

[jimbonecrusher]

I have played into January where is was still above 50*'s on some days. From most of January to early March, it can drop well below 50*'s, but normally you can play year round with not much more than a nice heavy pullover. You will have to play mid day, but it is bearable.

[AltusBeliever]

You will have days that you can play year round. However you will also have days that are too cold for you. Occasionally some winter but not so much the last few years.
RDU has lots of golf options. Really depends on where you live- Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh- look at Triangle Golf Today for a course map showing you what is where.
There is a first rate instruction in various locations.
You will love the area. Pinehurst close by, beach a short hop down I40. Mountains not too far. If you like to compete check out the EGolf Amateur Tour. Weekly one days events from March thru Oct at various courses.

[Pinehurst1999]

I lived in Raleigh for 8 years and just moved recently to the Charlotte area. There are a couple of weekend in January, February, and March where you will have temps in the 60's. 2 years in a row I was in shorts on the course on New Year's Day! Pretty much all courses are walkable in the are with the exception of a couple of the course in the Jordan Lake area. Play never really dies-down in the winter for the most part...but things do pick back up more heavily in April, especially once the clock changes, which I think is earlier now.

Depending on where you move there is a lot of great public golf. If you are on the south side of Raleigh you will have many courses and practice facilities in the Garner/Clayton areas like Devil's Ridge, Riverwood, River Ridge, and Pine Hollow. If you are on the north side I would recommend Wildwood Green...it can get crowded on the weekends but the course will force you to use ever club in the bag a few times. Very nice/fast greens and a usually well conditioned course and the houses really are never in the way unless you hit a 75 yard slice. Falls Village is nice as well as Heritage.

[Blues Golfer]

Welcome to paradise. Golf is great, weather is perfect for 8 months, a little damp and chilly the other 4, but playable at least a few days through the winter.

[idrive400yards]

h2ohzrd, on Oct 11 2008, 09:52 AM, said:

Moving to the Raleigh/Durham area this year and wondering how long into the winter you can play golf before it becomes unbearably cold - which is around 50 degrees for me?
How early in the spring does play start back up?
Any really good practice facilities? Not just a driving range but sand traps, short game practice area.
Are most of the courses walkable?
Any recommendations on golf instructors?

Thanks.

50* is warmer here than it is in ID. You can basically golf/practice year round. Knights Play in Apex is a good practice facility. very wide driving range, sand traps(hit to a mock green) chipping/pitching practice area, but their putting green, even though pretty big in size, does not have real holes, just the flags....plus 27 holes of short/mid iron practice.

Most courses are walkable(if allowed) but don't attempt to do it during summer months.

There are two people I deal with instruction wise....Jeff Crittenden(head instructor ESPN Golf Schools, Bryant Park Golf Club, Browns Summit, and Randy Davis(former Senior PGA player)

Hank Haney has a school in the Myrtle Beach area