A ‘Home’ Golf Course in Duke’s Backyard

Duke University Golf Club and Hillandale Golf Course offer discounts to Duke staff and faculty

A view of a putting green on a golf course
Duke University Golf Club’s No. 12 green is set against a picturesque backdrop. Photo courtesy of Duke University Golf Club.

When Jennifer Ingram joined the Duke University School of Medicine faculty in 2006, she was thrilled to learn about a bonus to her employment: the staff and faculty discount at the Duke University Golf Club.

Ingram has been golfing at the course associated with the Washington Duke Inn since 2002, and already was in love with not only the course layout, but how she could walk the accessible fairways rather than rely on a golf cart.

Ingram, an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, began coordinating a ladies’ “9 after 5” league at the course in 2011 and said the staff and faculty discount “has facilitated its continuation” ever since.

“I’ve met some fantastic women golfers, made lifelong friends through our league, and it’s great to feel that Duke’s golf course is my ‘home’ course,” Ingram said.

Duke employees receive discounts on greens fees, with 2024 rates between $55-85 depending on the day (regularly $90-$115).

Along with the Duke University Golf Club employee discount, Hillandale Golf Course offers a 10% discount to Duke employees who show their valid ID.

A woman stands on a golf course holding a driver
Jennifer Ingram stands at a golf course in Alabama. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Ingram.

“Staff and faculty are certainly one of the groups of people that we want to try and look after as best we can,” said Ed Ibarguen, longtime General Manager and PGA director of Golf at the Duke University Golf Club. “It's been a very nice relationship to have them feel like we're part of the university.”

The award-winning 67-year-old Duke University Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and updated by his son, Rees Jones. First envisioned in the early 1930s, the course has received top rankings from Golf Digest and Golf Magazine and has been voted best public course in the Triangle by the Triangle Business Journal.

Ibarguen, who has been a golf pro since 1979, called the course “a fantastic challenge.”

“We have tees that you can play from regardless of your handicap or your playing skill that you can enjoy,” he said. “And at the same time, as a very proficient golfer, you can like that we’re the kind of course that hosts a U.S. Open Finals Qualifier” as the course did in June 2024.

Ibarguen is proud of one review that said, “it’s like going to a private country club and a public fee.”

“We’re accomplishing that goal pretty well,” he said.

Learn more about golf discounts at golf.duke.edu, hillandalegolf.com and hr.duke.edu/discounts. Anyone interested in joining the ladies “9 after 5” group can contact Ingram at jennifer.ingram@duke.com or Duke University Golf Club Head Golf Professional Rob Pilewski at rob.pilewski@duke.edu.

Watch Chad Gibbs, PGA Assistant Professional at the Duke University Golf Club, demonstrate how to use your driver to hit the ball.

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