The Brunswick Islands

Myrtle Beach is the Promised Land for those looking for great golf on more than 100 courses along with fast food, long stretches of beach and inexpensive digs. Although Myrtle Beach's "Grand Strand" is typically known for its strip malls, high-rise condo hotels and entertainment options, a bit farther north you'll find a quieter side to Myrtle Beach, the Brunswick Islands around Wilmington and Cape Fear. Here the pace is more leisurely, more low key with fewer line-up buffets and more villa-style accommodations while the good golf continues at more than 30 courses open to the public.

At Brunswick Plantation & Golf Resort in Calabash (known as "The Seafood Capital of the World") there are three nines designed by Willard Byrd: Magnolia, Dogwood and Azalea. Each offers a different golf experience with water coming into play especially on Dogwood and Azalea while bunkering and mounding create the challenges on links-style Magnolia.

For a great golf course that doesn't beat you up, tee up at Cape Fear National in the Brunswick Forest development. This Tim Cate design plays through marshes, wetlands and acres of wiregrass and pampas plus a good slug of sand. With a windswept rugged feel, it's a perfect echo of the surroundings with hardly a glimpse of houses or other fairways. You may have seen much bigger alligators than those lurking on the banks of Cape Fear, but what is even scarier are the fluffy deep bunkers like those on hole #5.

At Sandpiper Bay in Sunset Beach, there are three pretty nines, aptly named Sand, Piper and Bay. Designed by Dan Maples, the master of friendly resort golf layouts, these recently renovated courses are cut through natural pine forests providing good playable golf complemented by excellent MiniVerde Bermuda greens. Other resort amenities include a zero entry pool, tennis, hot tub and clubhouse.

Farmstead Golf Links in Calabash is great fun to play even from the back tees stretching 7,242 yards. Designed in the minimalist style by Willard C. Byrd, it's known for its 18th hole, a whopping par 6 playing 767 yards that actually crosses the North Carolina/South Carolina border - look for a small sign to the right of the cart path as you get near the green. There's no beverage cart on the SC side. It's all about the liquor license. In spite or this quirky feature, Farmstead is a solid track with a wild, windswept feeling richly endowed with memorable holes.
Tom Cates designed three of the four "Big Cats," exceptional tracks in Ocean Ridge Plantation in Sunset Beach (Tiger's Eye, Panther's Run and Leopard's Chase; Willard Byrd created the fourth, Lion's Paw). In the works is the fifth Big Cat: Jaguar's Lair, also by Cates. Tiger's Eye is one of the Northern Strand's must-play tracks cutting through towering long leaf pine groves and striking coquina rock formations while Leopard's Chase is a bit more forgiving for the less experienced golfer.

Among other great tracks are the wind-swept and spectacular Bald Head Island Golf Course accessed by ferry and Oyster Bay Golf Links.

Where to stay & eat

Ocean Isle Beach, a slip of land off the main coast is a neighborhood of modest-sized homes and mid-sized hotels including the family-friendly Ocean Isle Inn. Rooms are not fancy but they work well for golfers with mini-kitchens, balconies and views of the sea.

For comfortable condo accommodations check out Brunswick Plantation where accommodations come with fully equipped kitchens, large central living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms with ensuite baths and balconies, many overlooking the golf course. Other condos and home rentals are available in golf communities like St. James Plantation, Bald Head Island, Porters Neck Plantation and Winding River Plantation.

The Brunswick Islands have a number of causal, locally owned restaurants with a big nod to freshly caught fish and seafood. Try Sharkey's on Ocean Isle Beach, Dockside Seafood House in Calabash and Twin Lakes Seafood in Sunset Beach.

Off-Course Activities

Fishing is big here with anglers casting from Sunset, Holden and Ocean Crest beach piers and several deep sea fishing charters sail out of Calabash, Southport and other harbors. There are lighthouses to climb and nature preserves to explore. A fitting slogan "More beach for your blanket" celebrates the many beaches that attract people from near and far.

More Information
NCbrunswick.com; NCbrunswickgolf.com