Coasting Through

Cape Fear Coast Golf Roundup

The imposing Battleship NORTH CAROLINA rests serenely anchored in retirement across the broad and brooding Cape Fear River from downtown Wilmington. Its massive guns still look ready to fire salvos on a moment’s notice, though, in actuality, it has been more than 60 years since its mighty presence prowled enemy waters during World War II.

The decommissioned floating fortress is the port city of Wilmington’s most prominent historical landmark, but far from its only notable one. Knowledgeable golfers, for instance, lured to the charms of this North Carolina coastal destination, may be thrilled to know that they can play an original layout by esteemed architect Donald Ross, designer of U.S. Open host course Pinehurst No. 2, for a mere pittance. Ross completed the Wilmington Municipal Golf Course in 1926. More than eight decades later, it remains open for public play with greens fees topping out around $35. Ross’s signature domed greens will challenge the short game of players of every level. The city course annually hosts both the men’s and women’s city championships.

Wilmington has revitalized its commercial waterfront area with an array of restaurants, coffee houses, artisan shops and clothing boutiques that beckon tourists and shoppers. It also offers a modest but memorable assemblage of courses for golfers more attuned to tranquil and historical settings rather than destinations featuring neon-lit thoroughfares dotted with putt-putt layouts every block.

Wilmington is the centerpiece of the Cape Fear Coast region, which also includes Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Along with the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, other top attractions in the area include Fort Fisher and the North Carolina Aquarium.

On the local golf scene, Porter’s Neck Country Club is a Tom Fazio layout that has been ranked as the top coastal golf course in North Carolina by Golf Digest magazine. The par 72, 7,112-yard layout features generous landing areas with strategically placed bunkers that catch errant tee shots, and greens that are large but undulating. It can be a challenging course from the back tees with a slope/rating of 75/136. Porter’s Neck is open for public play, but not on everyone’s budget. Greens fees reach beyond the $100 mark for the layout that opened in 2006.

Golfers interested in affordable stay-and-play packages should consider Beau Rivage Golf & Resort, tucked off Hwy 421 on the way to Carolina Beach. First-time golfers pulling into the Beau Rivage clubhouse parking lot may think they have stumbled on Scarlett O’Hara’s Tara Plantation due to its Old South architecture.

The Joe Gessner-designed Beau Rivage course surprisingly features rolling topography that is more often found in the state’s Piedmont region. The tannin-stained waters common to this area dramatically come into play on a number of holes, particularly No. 4 and No. 5, back-to-back par 3s requiring lengthy carries on the tee shots.

Beau Rivage was one of the pioneers in the region to install TifEagle bermuda on its putting surfaces. Truer rolling greens may be difficult to find anywhere on the coast.

Golfing groups tend to return to Beau Rivage year after year due to its diverse layout, superbly conditioned greens, complete practice facilities and inexpensive golf packages that start at $164 for two nights accommodations, three rounds of golf (with cart) and two breakfasts.

Other Cape Fear Coast public golfing options include Echo Farms and the Inland Greens par-3 course. Echo Farms Golf & Country Club is a semi-private course designed by Gene Hamm that originally opened in 1974. British architect Ian Scott Taylor redesigned the course in 1998, providing it with Scottish links style playability.

Inland Greens is an 18-hole par-3 layout guaranteed to sharpen a golfer’s short game and iron play. Hole distances range from 75 yards to 160 yards. Golfers can play all day for the tidy sum of $14.

The city of Wilmington, unquestionably, knows sports. An inordinate number of world-class athletes have spawned from the area: Michael Jordan, NFL quarterbacks Sonny Jurgensen and Roman Gabriel, and Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon to name the short list.

Wilmington also knows golf and visitors should strongly consider toting along their golf clubs on their next trip to this enchanting city by the Cape Fear River.

By Patrick Jones

added: December 19, 2008

updated: December 22, 2008