Outer Banks, North Carolina
North Carolina’s Outer Banks region is a long, curving stretch of barrier islands that are so thin that in spots, it’s difficult to imagine a golf course fitting on the land. But that’s part of the draw: the coastal setting, the water views, the challenge of the constant wind pushing the ball away from its goal.
The Outer Banks golf experience is “certainly quality over quantity,” said Martin Armes, spokesman for PlayOBXGolf, the Outer Banks Golf Association.
“It’s not like your Myrtle Beach that has a 100 golf courses,” he said. “Basically, it’s the ultimate coastal experience.”
Currituck Club, Nags Head Golf Links, Sea Scape Golf Links and Duck Woods Country Club sit on the barrier islands, and the Pointe Golf Club, the Carolina Club and Kilmarlic Golf Club are all on the mainland. Duck Woods is a private club that allows outside play on its course.
At Nags Head, four of the holes “play hard along the water,” Armes said, and the ocean wind pushing off the coast “makes it challenging.” The last four holes at the Currituck Club play along the Currituck Sound, and as the 15th hole comes into play, “you can stand up, and you can see both the sound and the ocean,” he said.
On the mainland, the Tom Steele-designed Kilmarlic course is nestled amid maritime forest and the Albemarle Sound wetlands. The club is building more golf cottages and accommodations.
Brunswick Islands, North Carolina
Besides its beaches and laid-back vibe, Brunswick County has more than 30 golf courses, earning it the nickname North Carolina’s Golf Coast. Two courses — Bald Head Island Golf Course and Oak Island Golf Club — sit on two of the county’s five islands. The rest sit on the mainland, and although not all have a view of the ocean, many are close enough to catch the breeze.
“With so many golf courses, you could come for a month and not play the same one twice,” said Mitzi York, executive director of the Brunswick County Tourism Development Authority.
Sea Trail Golf Resort and Convention Center in Sunset Beach has three courses designed by Rees Jones, Willard Byrd and Dan Maples, as well as putting greens and a driving range. Some of the top-ranking courses in the county are the four so-called “Big Cats courses” at Ocean Ridge Plantation: Leopard’s Chase, Lion’s Paw, Panther’s Run and Tiger’s Eye. Two of those, Leopard’s Chase and Tiger’s Eye, landed on Golfweek’s 2015 list of “Best Courses You Can Play, State by State.”
Farmstead Golf Links in Calabash has also received nationwide attention for its 18th hole, a 767-yard par 6. And Farmstead offers players another unique opportunity: the chance to play in two states. The course begins in North Carolina and crosses over into South Carolina for a few holes, with the tail end of the massive 18th fairway bringing golfers back into North Carolina.
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pinehurst Resort is one of the oldest golf clubs in the nation; the United States Golf Association was founded in 1894, and Pinehurst was founded in 1895. But Pinehurst is famous for more than its age.
“What makes Pinehurst renowned is our golf legacy,” said Eric Kuester, director of group sales. “We’ve hosted so many notable championships. It’s the gold standard of championship pedigree.”
The resort’s No. 2 course hosted back-to-back U.S. Opens in June 2014, and the resort has been the site of four U.S. Opens since 1999. Before that, it was home to PGA Championships, Ryder Cup Matches and, for nearly 50 years, the North and South Open Championship, to name a few.
Of Pinehurst’s nine courses, No. 3 is the shortest, making it both walkable and unintimidating. Guests can play it in less than three hours, Kuester said. But professional golfer Ben Crenshaw has purportedly said the holes are “filled with interest.”
No. 8 was designed by Tom Fazio and built in 1995 to celebrate Pinehurst’s centennial. The course gives guests a private-club experience away from the hustle and bustle of the resort, Kuester said. Last summer, the resort bought the Jack Nicklaus-designed National Golf Club and rechristened it Pinehurst No. 9.
Pinehurst is building a $4.6 million swimming facility with a heated pool, Jacuzzis and fire pits, slated to open July 1, and plans to open in September the Deuce Pub, which will face the 18th green of No. 2, with a full menu and a long list of craft beers.
