Tour Guide 2026: UNC Health Championship

For 30-plus years, this Korn Ferry classic has set the standard for professional golf in Raleigh, N.C., both on and off the course. 

Now associated with its current sponsor, the UNC Health Championship moved to Raleigh Country Club (RCC) in 2022, expecting to not only carry out its mission of being a top venue, but also an opportunity for philanthropic efforts. 

“UNC Health always tries to involve the community, and we have a health care day, military day, a kids and family day and other charities in the community that we support,” says Billy Cole, superintendent of RCC. “There’s also a day where all the people supporting the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes team can come out and get together to further support the community.” 

And on top of the fundraising focus, Cole says the club itself receives a lot of kindness in return, especially regarding the many volunteers and community figures that help with course preparations. 

RCC is a private club owned by McConnell Golf, who operate 17 premier courses around the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia (including The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, the previous host site of the tournament), meaning Cole has plenty of clubs to pull expert volunteers from. Still, the course also uses local organizations like the Carolinas GCSA and emphasizes recruiting young professionals looking to gain experience. 

“Volunteers are just very special because they’re taking time away from their family — a whole week to come and be part of your team, and that’s very special to me,” he says. “I’m sure they have kids that are in school, and they’ve left wives to come and want to be a part of that.”

And Cole says those volunteers are learning from some of the best; he praises his crew for both their people and course management skills that make tournament prep almost routine.

“Our members expect great conditions each and every day, just like the Tour does. So, when you’re in that mind frame as a crew, then it doesn’t require much additional work,” Cole says. “(Volunteers) can see how well that the crew can do it, and they’re very helpful in showing the volunteers how to do the job that is expected of them when they’re here. My assistants are the ones I rely on a lot when we host a tournament.” 

Most of that additional work is detailing and fine tuning the course to make it as close to perfect as possible come its kickoff on May 28. Plus, as always, adjusting for weather is one of the biggest challenges that keeps Cole and the crew on their toes. 

If everything goes according to plan and according to the tournament’s history of excellence, then players and attendees should expect to see 18 holes and almost 7,400 yards of challenging bentgrass greens and bermudagrass fairways. Cole says the course was the last one designed by legendary architect Donald Ross, who died in 1948 while the front side was still being built. 

“We want golfers to leave this place and say, ‘That was a great test of golf,’” Cole says. “I think it’s important … the players can look back on it, maybe they didn’t play the best in the world, but they hopefully realized they were at a special place.”