Type:

Semi-Private

Rates:

Weekday $65, Weekend $85

Greens Turf Type:

Bermuda

Practice Area:

No driving range but they are adding Top Tracer simulators in 2024. The putting green is being renovated and will be a lighted putting course when it's complete.

Description

This course – known for years as Fox Den Country Club and then as Larkin Golf Club – north of Charlotte off I-77 has TIF Eagle Bermuda grass greens and Bermuda fairways. It was designed by renowned architect Clyde Johnston with beautiful rolling terrain and scenic views. It was renovated in the summer of 2023 with new Bermuda greens and rebranded as "The 500 Club." The 500 Club endeavors to be a unique, sports and entertainment complex whose mission is to provide an atmosphere that fosters fun, friendship, and community for all ages. The 16,000 square foot clubhouse is undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation to offer multiple indoor & outdoor dining options, members lounge, and pro shop. The outdoor veranda will feature a one-of-a-kind venue for live music and entertainment with additional amenities to include 8 pickleball courts, a lighted real turf putting course, a Top-Tracer Driving Range, bocce ball courts, and outdoor firepits that incorporate stunning views of the golf course.

Notes

The 500 Club is privately owned by an investment group that includes multiple Daytona 500 winning NASCAR drivers, team owners, and other industry professionals. Look for updates in 2024 as the renovations continue.

B-Man's Take

I typically play here a few times a year but only because it's a 45-60 minute drive from south Charlotte. I had the opportunity to play the renovated course in October 2023 shortly after it re-opened with new TIF eagle Bermuda greens. The layout is still fantastic - great mix of challenges, with long and short holes, uphill and downhill shots, strategically placed water hazards that offer risk/reward opportunities, and reachable par 5's. The greens are mostly flat but the renovations restored pin locations that had been lost over the years and will provide more challenging putts. The Bermuda grass should allow the course to keep green speeds fast and conditions good year-round.

Tee	Par	Yardage	Rating	Slope
Championship (Gold)	72	7005	72.5	137
Mens (Blue)	72	6544	70.1	128
Other (White)	72	6003	67.6	116
Ladies (Red)	72	5300	67.8	113

View the complete scorecard for this course

Links

Video from the Grand Opening event in January 2024 - A YouTube clip from Jeff Hamm of the Best of Lake Norman Podcast from the Grand (Re-)Opening event in January 2024.
The 500 Club with Rick Allen on the Best of Lake Norman Podcast - Jeff Hamm interviews Rick Allen to chat about Lake Norman’s newest golf club and sports entertainment complex.

Most Recent Reviews

• 8/20/25 - Review by G-rod

  "Worth playing"

  First time, drove up from S CLT, 70 minutes. Clubhouse, staff, check-in were all fine-those things aren't something I ever care much about & laugh when I read people have issues. The course was played with high expectations, great weather-a Ferris Bueller Day, until....! Teed off on 10-mildly upsetting, my watch (distance) died on 13th hole, partner and friend was crabby-all contributing to a BAD day. The fairways were nice but the first cut bermuda was US Open high! Stepped on more 'lost balls' than I've ever seen-2' off the fairways! Greens undulations were nice but also kept high (heat?) & slower. On the turn-someone jumped in(?) front of us and it slowed play Layout 7/10, condition 7/10, carts had GPS but were slow 5/10, cost 9/10. I know the owners are former NASCAR guys yet the carts were stupid slow. Overall-got what I paid for but wouldn't make that drive again.

  Read The Review

• 12/1/24 - Review by Joe

  "Great course"

  Played the 500 club for the first time on Sunday 12/1. I thought the course was in great shape! The greens were smooth and fairly quick. There are several holes with large elevation changes and some holes with blind shots but I thought it was an extremely fun course overall. The staff was great as well! I had a great time and will definitely be back.

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• 7/19/24 - Review by Jonny

  "Worth playing"

  Everything the B-Man said in his review about this course is accurate. I might use some different adjectives, like replacing the word 'challenging' with extremely difficult! Let me just say that for me, blind shots are just not enjoyable at all! There are so many on this course and if you are not in the fairway most of the time you are in big trouble. There is a tremendous amount of up and down with some extreme elevation changes. Some of the Par 5 holes and the longer Par 4's are really hard because they are uphill all the way. For the most part the course is in good shape. The greens were generous and flat for the most part and were rolling true. Oddly, I found there to not be a lot of break in the greens. There are some very nice vistas with elevated tee boxes which were really exceptional. My favorite hole was #16, a reachable Par 3 that has a little water and an intimidating bunker guarding the front of the green; I nearly carded an Ace! I got a nice greeting when I arrived from Parker who loaded my bags on a cart and directed me to the Pro Shop where Caleb checked me in and gave me the low down on the set up. I was very pleased with my Veteran rate of just $60 bucks on a Friday which included the cart and two bottles of iced down water. There is a practice putting area which is large and in great shape. Norm was the Starter who is a real Pro. I was playing solo so he paired me up with a new Member and we got started about 20 minutes sooner. It really helped to have a member offer guidance, especially on the blind shots It was busy on a Friday but we were able to complete our round in just under four hours. There is GPS in the electric carts and they were running good and in great condition. They will really help you find the hidden creeks and water hazards. I especially liked the yardage markers on the tee boxes and at key intervals along the cart path There was a beverage cart that was making regular rounds on the front and the back. There were also several bathrooms on the front and the back. The snack bar at the turn offered some great hot and cold food options and all the usual beverages you might expect. There are just a few nits: No driving range or chipping area. The practice putting area is small and under repair No water stations at all. Too many blind shots and way too many extreme hills. On some holes you are right next to Interstate 77 and you can hear the trucker traffic as well as the sirens from the fire tricks and ambulances.. For the most part the cart paths were good but there were stretches where it was broken. Extreme down hill runs on some cart paths which were a bit scary in some areas. You are penalized to the extreme if you are not accurate with your tee shots. Very little forgiveness for being off the fairway, you will lose balls. With this review, I have finally completed the B-Man's top 10! It's taken me two years but it's been a ton of fun!!

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• 6/1/24 - Review by B-Man

  "Great course"

  If you haven't played The 500 Club since its renovation and rebranding, go play it now. The course is in great shape. In particular, the Bermuda greens were really good and rolling very quick. The bunkers were very good and consistent (and raked! Compare to my earlier review of Skybrook's bunkers). The layout is very challenging, with lots of hazards and high grass where you can lose shots. So your mileage may vary on whether you like it. I appreciate the challenge and stayed out of trouble for the most part. I would like to see better hazard markings though. The high grass on Nos. 2, 3, and 4 and the trees/brush on Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9 should probably be marked as hazards to speed up play. There are many holes with some dramatic elevation changes: holes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and 18, in particular. They can create some blind shots. So make sure you know where the group is in front of you before hitting! The GPS on the carts is helpful and fairly accurate. A few notes about the amenities: there is no driving range but they have 2 simulators inside that you can warm up on. They are building TopTracer simulator bays outside that should be done later this year. They also have a cool putting course just outside the clubhouse that is lighted at night where they frequently have live music. The sports bar upstairs with the 2 simulators is awesome! Great place to meet and hang out before or after your round. If you want to go play a premium course and make a day of it with your friends to hang out afterwards, The 500 Club is a great spot for it.

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• 10/29/23 - Review by THE BIG SHOW

  "Average"

  I meant to post a review last week about the experience of playing the newly renamed Larkin/Fox Den course to what is now known as The 500 Club. Well, with a deep long sighhhh, it was nothing special, considering they have gone up to $80.00 on the weekend. Basically, in a nut shell it was my last time playing there for that price. The new Mach 1 greens were OK, rolled decent and at a decent pace, but IMO, the Mach 1 greens at River Oaks are much more mature, firmer and are quicker and were seeded at the same time. When you put in new greens I would assume that you would make sure the practice putting green would be one of the main priorities. The practice putting green was closed and it looked terrible. Not sure what happened there, but to charge $80 for that course with no range and closed putting green is an absurdity. Just because you change the name "AGAIN" and put down another type grass on your greens doesn't justify that price. The course was in the same shape as it was when it was Larkin. This place was purchased by a group of Daytona 500 winners, meaning a Nascar group, hence the name change according to the word going around. Well, let's say you can't almost double the rate because you put in new greens. The course was fairly empty and we played in a flat 4 hours. Just an FYI to any who will read my review to this point, River Oaks is a far better deal @ $58.00 on the weekends, Tony did not go up 1 dime on the rates after he put in new greens and moved the green on the first hole back across the ravine to where it originally was.` The 500 Club has gotten my last $80.00. Golfers beware!!!

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Updates From the Forum

• 06/12/25 - B-Man posted "Summer Aerification Schedule"

  Here is the list I have of aerification schedules for local courses. Please reply to add any updates I missed. June 1st Week: Stonebridge Fort Mill Sifford June 2nd Week: The 500 Club Red Bridge Warrior June 3rd Week: Mooresville Eagle Chase River Bend Monroe CC
  View this thread

• 06/12/25 - B-Man posted "Summer Aerification Schedule"

  Here is the list I have of aerification schedules for local courses. Please reply to add any updates I missed. June 1st Week: Stonebridge Fort Mill Sifford June 2nd Week: The 500 Club Red Bridge Warrior June 3rd Week: Mooresville Eagle Chase River Bend Monroe CC
  View this thread

• 05/11/22 - B-Man replied to "Aerification Dates - 2022"

  Late notice but Larkin Golf Club aerated their greens on Monday 5/9.
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• 07/20/17 - BetterThanMost posted "Larkin Golf Club"

  For anyone who is interested, Larkin's 10th hole will be reopening for play on July 28th. The club has been using only 17 holes for the better part of the last year while houses were built around the 10th hole.
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• 10/16/14 - IM4DHERD posted "Fox Den is now Larkin Golf Club"

  As noted in my review today, the ownership of Stonebridge has finalized their purchase of Fox Den and re-branded her "Larkin Golf Club". Looking forward to seeing what they will do for the place, which is already a gem. Seeing some improvements already.
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