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Wilmington and Cape Fear Coast CoursesBald Head
Island Country Club This George Cobb course opened in 1975. It has bermudagrass greens and fairways and is routed through dense coastal forest. The club recently regrassed the greens and improved its facilities. The golf course at Bald Head Island is special, and any golfer who visits the Wilmington area should make the time to take the ferry over to this secluded island to play this course. If Bald Head were more accessible and more publicized, it would easily rate as one of North Carolina's finest courses. But thankfully, Bald Head is neither publicized or highly rated by magazines--and therein lies part of its charm. While a lot of coastal golf courses advertise themselves as "pure links" or "a Scottish links experience," most of these claims are rubbish. And while very few true links courses resemble Bald Head, Bald Head might come the closest to being the real thing of all but a very few of the hundreds of courses on the Carolina coast. Wind is always a factor at Bald Head, whether it's the prevailing south-westerly or the colder, stormier nor'easter. If your ball flies above the tops of the dense coastal forest, it can be blown all over the place, thus Bald Head invites shotmaking. In particular, it favors low, piercing, controlled shots that can run up to a green. Because of the wind and the fact that most people are on vacation when they visit Bald Head, George Cobb didn't "overdesign" the course. Another more modern architect could have gone overboard with this site, shaping it into a monster: Bald Head's understated architectural elegance is part of the course's appeal and character. Still, there are plenty of superb golf holes. The par 3 second, 190 yards from the tips, is one of our favorite one-shot holes. After walking off the first green, you dash through a gap in the woods and there it is: simple, gracious, majestic and completely away from everything. The final three holes on the back nine typically play into the wind and if you can follow par (5-3-4), you're a player. Many fine golfers are ecstatic to leave the ninth with a bogey: the drive, which must split two wetland areas, is sheer terror. The par 5 11th, dare we say it, must be somewhat modeled after Augusta National's 15th. It's 510 yards from the tips, usually downwind, leaving a second shot of about 225 yards; a small pond guards the ever-so-shallow green. See what we mean? The par 3 sixteenth tees off from what might be the highest point on Bald Head Island (with the exception of the lighthouse). When the prevailing wind blows, it's 180 yards over water right into the teeth; many will pull out their drivers to reach this green in regulation--and come up short. Bald Head's greens are large, its bunkers relatively few and far between and its fairways mostly generous, but the course is never a pushover. Condos and civilization impede the view on only the last two holes, but for 16 holes, at least, Bald Head is pure golf and pure fun and, of all the courses we've seen, comes closest the ideals of Scottish seaside golf. Amenities include a driving range, practice green, pro shop, locker room, bar, rental clubs, a beverage cart and snack bar. Two croquet greenswards, four tennis courts and a swimming pool are available. The club dining room and restaurants are popular and comfortable. Greens fees average $71, including cart. It's best to stay here if you want to play here. Temporary club memberships, including use of all club facilities, are provided with packages. Walking is allowed most times of the day, and it's a great walking course. A few words about Bald Head Island: It can only be reached by private boat or passenger ferry, a 30-minute ride from Indigo Plantation in Southport, 2.5 miles across the water. No vehicles larger than electric golf carts are allowed here. From atop Old Baldy, built in 1817, you get a view of the 10,000-acre island's dunes, marshes, creeks and beaches--home to abundant wildlife and a few human residents. The island lies at the mouth of the Cape Fear River where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. At the yacht harbor, you can spend several hours on the restaurant deck at Eb & Flo's, the island's gathering place for the general public. You'll fit right in if you drink your Heineken from the can and play cards while eating fresh seafood from a paper plate with your fingers. Beau Rivage Plantation This 18-hole championship course was designed by Eddie Lewis and built in 1988 with bentgrass greens and bermudagrass fairways. It's considered a difficult course and somewhat resembles a desert around many holes. Except for the tricky sand traps, the course's topography includes gently rolling hills dotted with Carolina pines and live oaks draped in Spanish moss. It has unusually high elevations (it's the highest point in the city of Wilmington) and a unique character created by these rises. Water comes into play on eight holes, but the course is playable--not penal. The natural forest between the 3rd, 4th and 5th holes is a conservation area filled with wildlife, including alligators. If your ball goes in there for some odd reason, wish it well and leave it alone. The 2nd hole is a 515-yard par 5 dogleg right with trees flanking the right side. You may want to lay up for your third shot because the green has an obligatory bunker guarding the front side. The 18th hole is a par 5 of special interest. It snakes to the right, then cuts back to the left. This course is on rolling hills and holds a number of blind shots among its narrow fairways. Amenities include chipping and putting greens, a driving range, club rentals and a clubhouse with a bar, grill, restaurant, pro shop and locker rooms. A pool, tennis courts and gourmet dining are available for lodge guests at this family-vacation destination, just a few miles outside Wilmington. Approximate cost, including cart, ranges from $30 to $50. Walking is not allowed. Belvedere Plantation Golf &
Country Club This course was designed by Russell Burney in the early 1970s and refurbished in 1991. It's 15 miles north of Wilmington and just north of Old Pointe Golf and Country Club (see the subsequent entry in this chapter) on U.S. 17 N.--convenient if you want to play 36 holes in a day. The wide fairways are 419 bermudagrass, and the elevated greens are bentgrass. The course is set among 1,000 homesites, none of which are too close to the course, and the condos can be rented for an extended golf vacation. The course is popular for its scenery, including the wildlife in the surrounding forest. Osprey, gray heron and Canada geese can be spotted among the tall pines, and the waterway view from No. 5 is peaceful. Both No. 3 and No. 8 are considered signature holes. No. 3 is a par 3 requiring a carry over a lake. It's 180 yards from the back tees to an elevated green that slopes toward the lake. No. 8 is a par 5 that also requires a drive over a lake, which extends down the entire right side of the fairway. A creek crosses the fairway in front of the small, elevated green. If you're a long hitter, you can go for the green in two. Water comes into play on eight holes, and groomed waste areas are abundant. Only members may walk. Approximate cost, including cart, ranges from $18 to $43. A practice green and driving range are available. Tennis courts, a marina and a restaurant are also on site. Brierwood Golf Club Dr. Ben Ward designed the first (now the back) nine holes, which opened in 1976. The second (front) nine opened in 1979. Brierwood was the first course built in the South Brunswick Islands. The course is set on flat terrain with houses bordering most holes. You'll find bermudagrass on the greens and in the fairways. With water on 14 holes, Brierwood offers a challenging but fair test. Even from the back tees, the course is not a backbreaker; however, your wayward drives may find one of the ponds or end up out of bounds and in someone's back yard. Even with all the water, you won't find many long carries. The emphasis is on accuracy, particularly off the tee. The few bunkers you'll find are around the greens, which are midsize and somewhat flat. Overall, your shots off the tee need to be sensible and straight. If your approach shot misses the green, you still have a good chance at getting up and down. But, if you reach the green in regulation, a good putt will yield a birdie--you can't ask for more than that! Amenities include a putting green, bar, snack bar, pro shop, rental clubs and a beverage cart. Tennis courts are adjacent to the course, and the local fishing is excellent. Walking is for members and their guests only. Approximate cost, including cart, is $38. The Cape Golf & Racquet Club This 18-hole layout by Gene Hamm encompasses an area on the peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic coast. Ponds, a marsh and 24 lakes lend character and challenge to this course. The 3rd hole is a 197-yard par 3. If your tee shot is short, you face a narrow landing area due to water on the left and right of the hole. Woodland and bunkers back the green. The 13th hole is another notable par 3 (221 yards). You must cross two bodies of water from the championship (blue) tees--a deceptive shot with the wind in your face. Also of interest, the 15th and 17th holes have double greens. Water comes into play on 16 holes. A driving range, practice putting and chipping greens, a pro shop, restaurant and lounge are on site. A pool and tennis courts, adjacent to the clubhouse, are available to members and guests. Approximate cost, including cart, ranges from $30 on weekdays to $45 on weekends. Walking is not allowed. Duck Haven Country Club Raiford Trask designed this 18-hole course with bermudagrass fairways and greens. Pine trees line the wide fairways. The layout features just 18 sand traps--fewer than on the average course. While nobody would flatter Duck Haven by placing it among Wilmington's elite courses, the course caters to those who enjoy a simple, inexpensive round on a straightforward yet attractive golf course with no condos or other impediments. Most of the holes are tantalizingly straightforward with all the hazards--mostly drainage ditches--in clear view. Those in search of la crème de la crème should head elsewhere, but those in search of a low-cost game will find Duck Haven to their liking. Perhaps one day, the owners will hand this excellent site over to a first-rate golf course architect. But why bother? There's a practice green but no driving range. The course amenities include a pro shop (of sorts), locker room, snack bar, rental clubs and a beverage cart (on weekends). The year-round cost is $20, including cart. Walking is allowed. Echo Farms Golf & Country Club Gene Hamm designed Echo Farms in 1974 on a former dairy farm. The owners made a number of improvements in 1995, upgrading the bentgrass greens. Most of the bermudagrass fairways are tree-lined. Ian Scott-Taylor made further improvements in 1998. The 8th hole is a par 5 on which your second shot must account for a dogleg left (you have to lay up); your third shot must carry over a pond to an elevated green. The 16th is a long, straightaway par 5 with three fairway bunkers in the driving area. Play your drive to the right of the bunkers to avoid trouble. Wide fairways and plenty of water characterize the course. This course is well maintained, and the staff is proud of its quality. Echo Farms is set in a residential community, and a large nature preserve within its boundaries is home to abundant and diverse wildlife. Amenities include a driving range, practice greens, a pro shop, locker room, club rentals, a bar and restaurant. Lessons and clinics are taught here. Greens fees range from $25 to $30, including cart. Walking is allowed only with a member. Fox Squirrel Country Club Bermudagrass greens and fairways blanket this course, which was designed by Eddie Riccoboni. Water comes into play on almost every hole on the front nine. The fairways tighten on the back nine along corridors of tall longleaf pines. The 2nd hole is an interesting par 3--173 yards from the men's tees, and your tee shot must carry a lake. The 9th hole is a difficult dogleg left with barrier trees that flank the left side and a ditch that runs about 80 yards in front of the green. The hole measures 426 yards from the men's tees, and the prevailing wind is often in your face. You won't find a single straightaway hole on the back nine, and the numerous doglegs make for interesting shots. Several of the doglegs on the back nine are fun; almost every one provides a chance for birdie or par. The 18th is a good way to finish--a par 5, dogleg left with large centered mounds in the fairway and natural white sand outlining the hole. Wildlife is prevalent at Fox Squirrel, including (you guessed it!) North American melanistic fox squirrels as well as deer, alligators and birds in the wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary. The retirement-community atmosphere is quieter than many resort-type courses, and the staff is friendly. The course's beauty makes it a locals' favorite. Eagles Grille and Pub is in the newly remodeled clubhouse, with an outside deck overlooking the "big lake." This full-service facility is suitable for tournaments, outings, banquets or corporate functions. Greens fees range from $25 to $32, including cart. Walking is allowed anytime, so take advantage of it. North Shore Country Club Bob Moore designed this 18-hole course, which opened in 1988. It's a few minutes from Topsail Island Beach. The relatively wide bermudagrass fairways are adorned with extensive mounding, tall pines and lakes. Greens are seeded with bentgrass. Water and wind remind you that you're near the ocean and require a different game plan every round. Water comes into play on more than half the holes. The course is scenic, with frequent views of the Intracoastal Waterway. It is always well maintained. The finishing holes on both sides are challenging and require long carries over water off the tee. The 18th hole emphasizes length--it plays 460 yards from the back tees, with a slight dogleg left and usually into the prevailing wind. You tee off over water and then must clear another pond to a large, slightly elevated green with two bunkers guarding the front. Drive down the right side and forget about those traps, but realize this adds length to the hole. Amenities include a pro shop, driving range, practice green, rental clubs and a bar and grill. Greens fees range from $40 to $55, including cart. Walking is allowed after 3 PM. Oak Island Golf & Country Club This George Cobb course, completed in 1964, is one of Brunswick County's oldest. It was improved in 1995 and is inviting to golfers of all levels who enjoy its bermudagrass fairways and greens. You'll definitely need all your clubs to play Oak Island. The sea breezes are the challenge here. The wind may help you on one hole, then hurt you on the next. Water, sand, open fairways and the differences in individual hole layouts lend character to this course. You won't find adjacent fairways here. If you shoot wide of the fairway, you're in the trees. One of the more notable holes is the par 3 7th, which plays 191 yards from the back tees. You must carry over water to an elevated green, heavily trapped on both sides. Both finishing holes are interesting. The 9th is a slight dogleg right with a trap in the corner. It measures 426 yards from the back tees usually into a head wind; it can be 475 yards on some days. The 18th is a 553-yard par 5. It's a straightaway shot, but you must hit into the same head wind. You must clear water on the third shot, which, depending on the wind, may require as much as a 3-wood. Amenities include a pro shop, rental clubs, a bar, restaurant and lounge, locker rooms, a driving range, putting green and a pool. The approximate cost is $40, including cart. Walking is allowed on weekdays after 1 PM. Tee times are accepted up to two days in advance. Old Fort Golf Course This 18-hole course, designed by Raiford Trask Sr., opened in 1990. Bermudagrass covers the greens and fairways. This wide-open layout has few trees and few traps. Fairways are wide, and greens are large. Water is a factor on about half of the holes, more so on the back nine. The owner's favorite hole, the par 3, 196-yard 8th, is a toughie because of its length and small green with surrounding sand trap. The 17th is an interesting par 4--433 yards from the back tees--as it requires both tee and second shots that carry water. Wind is also a factor on this course near the Intracoastal Waterway. Practice greens, a driving range and rental clubs are available. Approximate cost is $22, including cart. Walking is allowed at the same price. Olde Pointe Golf and Country Club Jerry Turner designed this 18-hole course in 1974. Fairways are 419 hybrid bermudagrass, a big improvement from the previous coastal bermudagrass. The spacious greens are bentgrass. The rolling and scenic terrain ambles amid woods, lakes and streams. The 12th, 13th and 14th holes are all considered signatures because of their scenic beauty on the lake. The tricky 11th hole is (in)famous. It's a narrow par 5 of 589 yards with a gradual dogleg right and a downward slope into the woods. It's hard to score par on this hole--the wind from the ocean almost always comes into play. A large putting green, driving range, chipping area, practice sand bunker, pro shop, snack bar and club rentals are available. Construction of a large member clubhouse is complete. The pro shop offers a good selection of gear, including women's clothing and accessories. Lighted tennis courts and an Olympic-size pool are available to members. A boat ramp on the Intracoastal Waterway invites golfers to arrive by boat and is adjacent to a recreation area where tournaments can conclude with social functions. Greens fees, including cart, are approximately $35 on weekdays and $50 on weekends. Walking is allowed by members only. Porters Neck Plantation and Porters Neck Plantation along the Intracoastal Waterway originated in 1732 when John Porter purchased 930 acres of King George II's original land grant from then-owner Maurice Moore. It remained a working plantation until a few years ago. Today, it's a private country club community, but the golf course is available for limited public play. The course, homesites and amenities were carefully placed among the rolling hills and dogwood and pine forests, and a traditional ambiance has been preserved. Beautiful custom homes are mingled with patio homes and provide a distinctive air, yet they don't interfere with the golf course's playability. The 18-hole bentgrass, Tom Fazio-designed course was built in 1991. The trecherous par 4 14th features water up the entire left side of the hole; the second shot must be well placed on the green. If the pin's up front, aim short of the hole. With the flag to the rear, well... you'll probably want to look ahead to the 15th. No. 8 favors the straight hitter. It's a par 5 measuring 506 yards. You do have a chance to reach the green in two with well-played shots. The bunkers right of the green should be avoided at all costs. Also, a fairway bunker on the left could be deadly. The 20,000-square-foot clubhouse offers a grill room, locker facilities and pro shop complete with quality items and rental clubs. Practice facilities are nearby. The staff is friendly and helpful, and we heartily recommend the spectacular course. Ladies' events are offered frequently, and the course stays busy. It's minutes from Wrightsville Beach and convenient to downtown Wilmington. In 1999, the course hosted the North Carolina Amateur. Monday through Thursday, approximate greens fees are $65 per person, including cart. Weekend rates are higher and subject to change. No walking is allowed. Topsail Greens Golf & Country
Club Topsail Greens--more than 20 years old--was designed by Russell Breeden. This 18-hole course is tight and, typical for an oceanside layout, windy. Fairways and greens are bermudagrass. It's considered a shot-making course that favors brain over brawn. Water comes into play on seven holes, and several greens are elevated. The island green on the par 3 No. 8, the signature hole, plays 159 yards from the men's tees. This scenic beauty of a hole is a true test of accuracy. The 11th has a water hazard about 220 yards from the tee, which still leaves some 180 yards over the large lake to the green. It's a solid par 4. The staff here is friendly, and the course is kept in fine condition. A new large practice green, driving range, pro shop, bar and restaurant, beverage cart and club rentals are available. Approximate greens fees range from $25 to $30, including cart. Walking is allowed after 3 PM. Wilmington Municipal Golf Course This 18-hole Donald Ross design, which opened in 1926, has fewer water hazards and more flat terrain than most area courses. Fairways and greens are bermudagrass. Generally, fairways are relatively wide, and water hazards are not extreme. The city completed a successful renovation of the course in 1998. One of our favorite holes is the 4th, a par 3 of 184 yards that plays from an elevated tee to an elevated green. A big valley in between leads to a big hill afterward if you shoot too long. To the right and left are woods. To the far right is a pond. The clubhouse has showers and lockers for men. Practice greens, a pro shop, rental clubs and beer sales round out the amenities. Greens fees are inexpensive: $7 to $8 for residents and $11 to $12 for nonresidents. The cart fee is an additional $8. Walking is allowed, and you may set a tee time seven days in advance. This is one of the busiest 18-hole courses in the Carolinas, hosting 80,000 golfers annually. It's popular for its playability and low cost, and the friendly staff is a big plus.
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