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The Carolina Club
US 158, Grandy
(252) 453-3588
www.thecarolinaclub.com
More and more Outer Banks golfers are
discovering the courses on the Currituck
mainland, and The Carolina Club, designed
by Russell Breeden, is one of the nicest of
the bunch. Located in Grandy, the course
is just 13.5 miles past the Wright Memorial
Bridge, about a 20-minute drive from
Kitty Hawk. The 7,000-yard, par 72 course
has, according to the Southeastern director of the U.S. Golf Association (U.S.G.A.),
"among the finest putting surfaces in the
eastern U.S." Indeed, The Carolina Club
management prides itself on its high level
of course conditioning, slick bent-grass
greens, and plush Tifway Bermuda fairways. Five sets of tees allow you to match
your game to an appropriate level of challenge. On this course, you will encounter
wetlands, woodlands, water, and bunkers
galore. Hole 7, a par 3, has an island green
that will challenge your club-selection
skills. The par 5 hole 18 offers the ultimate
in risk versus reward. Water and wind
direction factor in on this hole, where the
tee shot must be right on the mark.
There's a snack bar on the premises,
plus a pro shop. Rental clubs and carts are
available. Individual and group lessons are
offered by PGA head professional Doug
Kinser. Greens fees, including cart, are a
good value, ranging from $79 in June to
$39 in January, but they change monthly
so call for accurate prices. Youth rates are
available. Tee times are booked up to
three months in advance. The course is
open all year.
The Currituck Club
NC 12, Corolla
(252) 453-9400, (888) 453-9400
www.thecurrituckclub.com When The Currituck Club opened in 1997, Golf Magazine named it one of the "Top 10 You Can Play." In 1999, Golf Digest ranked it as one of the Top 25 courses in North Carolina, a great compliment for a young course in a renowned golfing state. This 6,885-yard, par 72 course is situated on 600 acres of pristine wetlands along Currituck Sound, surrounded by luxurious homes in The Currituck Club resort community. The natural beauty of this course makes it one of the most peaceful golfing spots around. Prominent golf architect Rees Jones designed the stunningly scenic links-style course with respect to the wildlife and waterfowl that populate the area. While protecting their habitats, he also offers golfers a course set amid dunes, wetlands, and marsh fringes. From the rolling dunes, golfers enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound. Within the property lie 15 acres set aside for the historic and private Currituck Shooting Club, whose lineage dates back to 1857. The back nine has several holes with some of the most beautiful views you'll ever see. The view from the elevated 13th tee offers a panorama of the ocean, sound, and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. The course features a full driving range. Lessons are offered year-round, along with weekly clinics by PGA professionals. Lessons start at $45 for 45 minutes. Golf schools take place from June through August on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. Junior golf school is offered on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.Rates include golf cart rental and vary according to the season. The clubhouse includes a restaurant, a bar and lounge with full ABC permits, a pro shop, locker rooms, bag storage, and a private members' lounge.
Duck Woods Country Club
50 Dogwood Trail, Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-2609 Duck Woods is the club to play on windy days, since it provides more shelter than the soundside clubs. This 18-hole, 6,161-yard, par 72 course was built in 1968. Designed by Ellis Maples, Duck Woods features a traditional layout with tree-lined fairways. Shots must be placed with care, especially on the par 5 14th hole, where water dissects the fairway. Water comes into play on 14 holes. You might want to warm up before your round; the course begins with a 481-yard par 5 and ends with a 506-yard par 5. While the club accommodates 900 members, it accepts public play year-round. Nonmembers can take advantage of the driving range and putting green on the day of play only. Target greens and a practice bunker are available. Duck Woods' pro shop is complemented by the presence of golf pro David Donovan, and club rentals. Members enjoy clubhouse and locker room privileges and the bar and restaurant. Beer and wine are sold to nonmembers, but no other alcoholic beverages are available, as the club does not hold a liquor license. Riding is mandatory for nonmembers. Booking is accepted a week in advance for members and two days in advance for nonmembers. Call for more information. Greens fees vary.
Goose Creek Golf and Country Club
US 158, Grandy
(252) 453-4008, (800) 443-4008
www.outerbanksgolfgoosecreek.com Goose Creek, a 5,943-yard par 72 public course on the mainland, offers an easygoing track complete with a hospitable atmosphere and some of the most affordable greens fees in the area. The greens and fairways on this flat course are blanketed with bermuda grass. Greens are relatively small. Trees line the course, with tighter fairways on the first nine but more undulating and open terrain on the back. Designed by Jerry Turner and built by
Jernigan Enterprises, Goose Creek is a
player-friendly golf course. Goose Creek's
Class A PGA golf professional is Tim
Burkhart. Water comes into play on five
holes. Hole 13 is considered the signature.
The hole plays differently according to the
wind (it's generally to your back during the
summer and in your face in fall and winter).
The clubhouse is a former hunting
lodge that the owners converted into private locker rooms. Take some time to
relax in the pine-paneled lounge for a cool
drink. The clubhouse menu includes all
sorts of sandwiches, plus everything from
buffalo wings to crab cakes.
A driving range and practice green are
available. Walking is allowed for members
only. This is a great course for the entire
family, and children are both welcome and
encouraged; however, it's recommended
that young golfers check in after noon.
Holly Ridge Golf Course
US 158, Harbinger
(252) 491-2893
Holly Ridge Golf Course is 1.5 miles north
of the Wright Memorial Bridge in Harbinger. Holly Ridge is under the management
of Wright Flight Golf. The front nine winds through a peaceful forest of native trees and picturesque ponds, while the more open back nine are
affected by winds. Holly Ridge has a full-
length, fully lighted grass practice area
and putting green. PGA Pro Danny Miller
has more than 20 years of experience in
teaching golfers of all levels. Private lessons and group clinics are available, as are
private lessons with video analysis. The
pro shop carries a great selection of
apparel, accessories, and equipment, and
the staff help with selecting the right
clubs. Walking is allowed on this course.
Pull carts, golf clubs, and, of course, golf
carts are available to rent. Greens fees are
a good value here, and they vary throughout the year, so call ahead. Juniors may
play for half-price but must have a valid
driver's license to operate a cart.
Mill Run Golf and Country Club
US 168, Currituck
(252) 435-MILL
If you're willing to drive a ways, Mill Run
Golf and Country Club offers a great bargain for Outer Banks golfers. The course,
opened in 1999, is just south of Moyock on U.S. Highway 168, about 50 miles from the
Outer Banks on the mainland and about 5
miles south of the Virginia state line. The
course is fun and enjoyable, not overly difficult; so if you're looking for a good-time
game, come here.
Mill Run is a great course for beginners. Course architect James Overton Sr.
designed the 6,651-yard course to take
advantage of the natural terrain and to
provide challenging play for golfers of all
levels. Mill Run is relatively flat and plays
somewhat like a links-style course, though
it's nowhere near the ocean or sound. It
does offer some challenges with wind,
ponds, and woods. Bunkers are still being
added to the course. The signature hole is
number 17, a par 3 with the carry over
water. Greens are in tip-top shape. A driving range, practice putting green, and
chipping green are available, and golf professional Kevin McCord offers lessons.
Walking is allowed here. The pro shop is
well equipped, and the on-site Hackers
Grill serves breakfast and lunch.
Nags Head Golf Links
5615 South Seachase Drive, Nags Head
(252) 441-8073, (800) 851-9404
www.nagsheadgolflinks.com
This soundside 18-hole Scottish links-style
course is in the Village at Nags Head off U.S. Highway 158 at milepost 15 1/2. Architect Bob Moore left most of the natural
setting intact, and the 6,100-yard, par 71
course is a real beach beauty. Golfers
enjoy idyllic views of Roanoke Sound from
nearly every hole. With the sound to the
west and the ocean to the east, wind
plays a significant role here.
It doesn't take but one quick gust of
wind to blow your ball off course on the
221-yard 15th hole, a lengthy par 3. The green is fronted by a pond. All but four holes are affected by water here. Nags Head Golf Links pro Gary Otto invites you to try this mercurial course. The environment is so refreshing that we think it's worth a round regardless of what's controlling the shots. Golf school is held mornings three days a week during summer. Golf Digest called the holes along the sound "among the most beautiful in the eastern U.S.," and went on to say that "Nags Head Golf Links is the longest 6,100 yards you'll ever play." Cart and greens fees vary, and starting times may be reserved up to one year in advance. Seniors pay special off-season rates. A nine-hole scramble is played June through August late Sunday afternoons. Please call to sign up. Enjoy good food and excellent views of Roanoke Sound from the Links Grill, which is open for lunch only. Nags Head Golf Links also has a bar, golf shop, driving range, putting green, and rental clubs. The course is open every day, except Christmas, from sunrise to sunset. Call for more information.
Ocean Edge Golf Course
NC 12, Frisco
(252) 995-4100 Ocean Edge is a public, nine-hole executive course that also permits 18-hole play. Look out for the big pond-- the first, second, fifth, and eighth holes play over the water. Ocean Edge is open all year. This 1,400-yard, par 30 Hatteras Island course covers 23 acres of dunes. Tee times are required. Golf carts and club rentals are available. Walking is permitted.
The Pointe Golf Club
US 158 East, Powells Point
(252) 491-8388
www.thepointegolfclub.com Golfer's heaven well describes this 5,911-yard, par 71, 18-hole championship golf course on the mainland. Both the recreational golfer and the professional will find a challenge on this verdant course created by Russell Breeden. Breeden's unique design features soundfront views from wooded and links-style holes with gentle mounds and slopes. This was the first course in the country to feature A1 bent-grass greens, a new disease-resistant dense grass. It's no surprise because the folks at Pointe are grass experts. Pointe owner Keith Hall is the president of United Turf. The course sports a traditional design, with water hazards coming into play laterally on 15 holes. The signature hole is number 6, a 457-yard par 4 with a carry over wetlands, a blind shot to the fairway, water, bunkers, and slopes to the right. You can fine-tune your game on the driving range, in the practice bunker, or on the full-size putting green. The Pointe offers a full-service pro shop headed by resident golf pro Doug Kinser. Other amenities include a clubhouse, carts, lessons, sales, and rentals. The Pointe Restaurant, which serves breakfast and lunch, has views of the 9th green and the 10th tee. Walking is allowed after noon for greens fee pass-holders, October 1 through May 24. Greens fees vary, so it's a good idea to call for timely information. Annual golf packages are offered through Outer Banks Golf Getaways (800-916-6244) and Outer Banks Golf Packages (800-946-5383); accommodations packages are available through area rental companies. The Pointe Golf Course is 3.5 miles north of the Wright Memorial Bridge. Call for tee times up to a month in advance.
Sea Scape Golf Links
300 Eckner Street, Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-2158
www.seascapegolf.com Keep your eye on the ball and not the view on this 18-hole, links-style championship course. You get a real taste of Outer Banks beauty with water vistas from almost every hole, especially from the elevated ninth tee. Sea Scape is cut into Kitty Hawk's maritime forest, just off
US 158 East at milepost 2 1/2. Designed by
Art Wall, the 6,052-yard, par 72 course
features bent-grass greens and fairways,
which are fairly wide. Sea Scape was host
of the 2000 North Carolina Open.
Opened in 1965, the links-style course
has been modernized, and now you can
expect cart paths on all holes. Wind is a
factor here, and you may find yourself
puttering around in the sand and brush
looking for your ball. Expect a challenge
on number 11: Look to play against the
wind on this 410-yard, par 4 hole. Sea
Scape will test your ability as well as your
patience, with five par 3s and five par 5s.
A scheduled golf clinic is offered for all
ages from June through August. Sea Scape
offers club fitting, rental clubs, and a driving range, bar, restaurant, and fully stocked
pro shop. Sea Scape pro Chris Busbee is
available to discuss your game or the
course. Sea Scape's clubhouse features a
fully stocked pro shop and Sully's Restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch.
Walking is not allowed. Greens fees
range from $55 to $100, including the cart.
Call ahead for tee times, especially if you
plan to play during the summer (there's no
established rule, but we were informed
that eight months in advance isn't too
soon). The course is open every day
except Christmas from 7:30 A.M.until dark.
The Sound Golf Links
101 Clubhouse Drive, Hertford
(252) 426-5555, (800) 535-0704
Tucked within Albemarle Plantation, The
Sound is a 6,504-yard, par 72, 18-hole
course. It's also a world-class golfing and boating community at the tip of the Albemarle Sound near Hertford. The beautiful
12,000-square-foot clubhouse overlooks
the water. Owner and designer Dan
Maples stamped his signature here. As
with all Maples-designed courses, you get
a break on the par 4s and 5s, but the par
3s are extremely difficult. It's a target golf
course with a few similarities to a links
course. Fairways are narrow, and marsh must
be carried frequently. It's a fair course
overall but a tough one from the back
tees. On the 7th and 13th holes, the landing areas are extremely small. Both are
par 4s. The golf pro is Jim Nodurft. The clubhouse includes a golf shop and restaurant,
The Soundside Grille, which serves lunch
and dinner. A driving range and putting
green are also available. The marina, available to the public, is the largest in the area. Walking is restricted, so call for details.
Tee times may be booked up to nine
months in advance. The course is a little
over an hour's drive from Kitty Hawk. Call
for greens fees.
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