From one weekend duffer to another, let’s be honest: Golf isn’t what it used to be. The popularity of the game has fallen in the last several years, while the cost of running and watering courses has only increased. Consequently, many of our favorite locations have either closed down or converted to private clubs- most recently Cape Fear National in Leland closed its doors to public golfers in February to become a members only facility.
And still the Cape Fear region offers some of the best golf anywhere in the country. For fun we decided to put together our dream golf course made up of our favorite local 18 holes. Like a standard 72 par course, our course includes four par 3s and par 5s plus eight par 4s.
Par 3s
#4 at Beau Rivage Wilmington
Blue 191/ White 172/ Red 79
The number 4 at Beau Rivage is the first of back to back par 3’s. This one requires players to cross a pond with a fountain to a green that dramatically slants from the back to the front. There is not much room to bail out. The safe play is to aim right, but there is a well-placed bunker leaving you with an impossible up and down. The perfect placement on the t-shot is anywhere in the front of the green which on most days will leave golfers with an uphill putt. (Picture courtesy Beau Rivage Facebook Page)
#4 Azalea at Brunswick Plantation Calabash
Black 204, Blue 184, White 152/ Gold 135/ Red 94/
Standing on the tee box it will feel like you are playing at the famous Island Green at the Players Championship in Florida . This is a really fun hole that never plays the same way twice. Wind direction will dramatically change your club selection here. Anything dry is a huge success! (Picture courtesy Brunswick Plantation Facebook Page)
#5 on the Heron and #5 on the Ibis Course at Carolina National Bolivia, North Carolina
203 Black, Blue 182, Teel 162, White 122
This is two for the price of one. The Fred Couples designed Carolina National was built to make use of its natural surroundings. The course, which is made up of three 9-hole courses that golfers play in various configurations includes two of our favorite par 3’s in the region. The number 5 on the Heron Course, along with the number 5 on the Ibis course, are two very similar and stunning holes. On both holes you tee off to greens that overlook the marsh. These are not particularly challenging holes. What makes them special is the view. Regardless of how your round is going when you arrive at either of the number fives, you can forget about the game and just focus on the beauty of nature. (Photo courtesy Carolina National Golf Club)
#11 Tiger’s Eye Ocean Isle
165 Black, 155 Blue, 128 White, 85 Red
The stunning island green 11th hole at Tiger’s Eye Golf Links is a real beauty to behold! The smallish green complex is almost completely surrounded by water, with a wall of ancient coquina boulders (which are full of fossils, including mastodon teeth) serving as a bulkhead around the green. Wind is always a factor when you select your club on this hole, as there is absolutely no margin for error on three sides of this undulating green. A small bunker complex on the front right might be your salvation for any tee shot that doesn’t quite have enough. (Photo courtesy Tiger’s Eye Golf Club Facebook Page)
Par 4s
#3 Wilmington Municipal Golf Course
437 Blue 410 White
Known as the “Bell Hole” the number 3 at the “Muni” requires golfers to move the ball from left to right on their tee shot. This is the perfect hole for those who can fade the ball or those who have learned how to aim far left and play into their slice. If you find the fairway your second shot will have you standing in a small valley aiming at a slightly elevated green. Since this part of the fairway is hidden from the t-box, after hitting their approach players are asked to ring a small bell informing the group behind them that the landing area is now safe. (Photo courtesy Wilmington Municipal Facebook Page)
#18 at Leopard’s Chase Golf Club Ocean Isle
439 Black, 417 Blue, 369 White, 332 Gold
The par four 18th at Leopard’s Chase is one of the most visually stunning golf holes on the East Coast. You start out with a long tee shot to a gradually narrowing fairway. Aim for the center! Too far left and the “Beach Bunker” will gobble up your ball, leaving a long treacherous iron shot over the lagoon fronting the slightly elevated green. Too far to the right and you will be playing from the shallow but wide waste bunker that runs the length of the entire right side of the hole. As you approach the green, you can’t help but marvel at the ancient coquina bounders that form the spectacular waterfall fronting the putting surface. Take it all in, but don’t forget you still have to hit one more good shot to end your round on a high note. Helpful Hint: Because of the elevated bentgrass green, the lagoon that sits atop the waterfall is not clearly visible from the fairway On your approach shot, hit one more club than you’re thinking.
#18 Castle Bay Hampstead
266 Golds, 257 Blue, 226 White, 215 Green
This is simply a fun hole to play, and arguably the average golfer’s best chance at an eagle in the Cape Fear Region. After a long round you get to let loose on your final t-shot with this drive-able par four. The green is elevated but guarded in front by three pot bunkers. Skipping the ball on the green really isn’t an option. If you can fly it from tee to green and stick the landing, the average weekend players will have a genuine shot to score big.
#18 Panther’s Run, Ocean Isle
425 Black, 410 Blue, 380 White, 315 Gold
Standing on the tee box, you are surrounded by a vast panorama of scenic vistas, including the stunning Tiger’s Eye clubhouse looming in the distant background. Be sure to take it all in before hitting your last tee shot of the day. Rolling mounds frame either side of the generous fairway and the downhill tee shot can even lead to one of your all-time tape measure shots! But beware, if you drive it to the very end of the fairway, you will be faced with a downhill lie over a large pond to the massive elevated TifEagle green. A truly spectacular finishing hole on one of the area’s most scenic courses.
#3 Beau Rivage, Wilmington
301 Gold, 281 Blue, 261 Gold
Known by some as “the rock hole” (nicknamed for a boulder that sits in the fairway) the number three at Beau Rivage is not a long par 4, but it is very challenging. With water on the left, and a fairway that slightly turns to the left, only pull out the driver if you know how to draw the ball. By contrast players who have a natural fade or slice need to pull another club out of the bag- a three wood or even a long iron work well. But it’s the second shot that really makes this one of the best holes in the region. Like many holes at Beau Rivage the number three green is guarded by a long pine tree. You can’t get around it, certainty can’t go through it, your only option is flying the ball above the tree with a wedge and landing it softly on the green. Be careful if you’re long on the approach you run the risk of getting wet because there is also water behind the green.
#9 Ibis Course, Carolina National Country Club, Bolivia
394 Black, 372 Gold, 352 Blue, 329 Green
With one of the few split fairways in the Cape Fear region golfers have to pick their poison off the tee- do they want to take on the water or the sand. The best angle into the green is to play it to the left, but that means your second shot will have to fly over water. Golfers who want to chicken out can go to the right but that leaves them with a very awkward approach angle over a very tricky greenside bunker. Both shots play slightly uphill to a moderately sloped green.
#4 Crow Creek, Calabash
424 Black, 375 Blue, 325 White, 287 Red
This is not a hole for the timid or the slicer! The lake running along the entire right side of the hole makes players want to stay well left. Beware of this strategy as it will add some length to an already long hole and forces the approach to play toward the water. Leaving the driver in the bag on this hole might save a stroke…or three.
# 6 River’s Edge Shallotte
462 Gold, 432 Black, 398 White, 371 Green
The longest par 4 at River’s Edge is one of several outstanding interior holes on this course. Like many Arnold Palmer-designed holes putting your ball in the best position for the approach shot requires you to take on a hazard. At number six, the best approach is from the right side of the fairway, but if you’re too long your ball could be wet. If you miss the green on the second shot and wind up in the bunker you will leave yourself with a tough up-and-down.
Par 5s
# 14 Castle Bay Hampstead
567 Gold, 555 Blue, 437 White, 430 Green
One of the most unique holes at Castle Bay, this dogleg left par 5 fairway is crossed two times by wetlands. Trees and wetlands border the fairway, those choosing to go-for-it in two, try and get as close as you can to the first hazard crossing. Then a long fairway wood or hybrid may reach the green. Three shot play will place a premium on distance control to navigate your way over the two wetlands areas leaving a wedge or short iron into the green. Try and stay beneath the hole as this large sloping green slopes hard from back to front creating a challenging two-putt for most.
#4 Stewart Course at Thistle Golf Club Sunset Park
543 Tips, 515 Blue, 475 White. 459 Gold
A true definition of a risk/reward hole. The safest play is left off of the tee. This will take the majority of the water out of play. The further right you go, the shorter the second shot; however, the risk is greater with a longer distance to carry the water. Once you navigate the tee shot, your second shot can reach the green to give you an eagle putt. Be mindful of the bunkers that line the right side of the hole and prevent you from running the ball on.
#7 McKay Course, Thistle Golf Club Sunset Park
555 Tips, 546 Blue, 526 White, 503 Gold
One of Thistle’s signature holes. A very long and difficult par 5 that requires two forced carries. The first is off the tee. A tree lined left side prevents you from cutting the corner while a bunker awaits you at the dog leg. After the tee shot comes a straight forward lay-up, but don’t go too far or you will be in an environmental area. The second force carry comes on your approach shot into a two tiered green protected by overhanging trees and a bunker
#9 River’s Edge Country Club Shallotee
570 Gold, 536 Black, 509 White, 461 Green, 429 Teel
You know a hole is challenging when it’s called “Arnie’s Revenge.” Every golfer in the Cape Fear Regional needs to play this hole at least once. Aim down the left center of the Fairway off the tee. The smart second shot should be played toward the middle fairway bunker leaving you a wedge to a very narrow, deep green. For higher handicaps a snowman and a dry ball are a huge accomplishment on this tricky and challenging hole.