Carolina National
Situated in the low-country marshlands of the Lockwood Folly River - just north of Shallotte, North Carolina, this Fred Couples signature course retains two main elements...challenge and precise shot planning. Carolina National is referred to as one of North Carolina's best golf courses. Golf Digest has rated this 27-hole course as one of the most renowned along the eastern seaboard. Since Carolina National continues to maintain a healthy wildlife refuge, they are recognized as an Audubon-Certified Sanctuary.
No two experiences are alike at Carolina National. Spanning over 7,000 yards from the tips, golfers will quickly determine the game style needed for them to conquer this course. Three of the nines are named in honor native birds: The Heron, The Egret, and the Ibis. Golfers favor The Heron because of its impressive track of luscious greens and the view of the Lockwood Folly River. There is a green on this nine that is almost completely surrounded by the Lockwood Folly River. The strategically placed trees pose a threat and require golfers to strategically plan their tee shots.
Despite the many great features of Carolina National, this course has flown under the radar for far too long. The course is an exceptional facility with favorable conditions, playability, fair challenges, and abundant scenery. Golf at Carolina National...an outstanding course packed with challenges and rewards. Daily golf deals and discount golf is available year round. Book your Myrtle Beach tee time now!
| Egret | ||||||||||
| Hole # | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Black | 388 | 427 | 577 | 384 | 184 | 445 | 219 | 390 | 388 | |
| Red | 361 | 412 | 548 | 366 | 156 | 412 | 185 | 374 | 361 | |
| Blue | 350 | 357 | 506 | 340 | 138 | 369 | 181 | 316 | 350 | |
| White | 322 | 343 | 463 | 295 | 131 | 309 | 162 | 303 | 322 | |
| Gold | 276 | 300 | 421 | 257 | 106 | 279 | 139 | 271 | 276 | |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
| Heron | ||||||||||
| Hole # | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Black | 400 | 530 | 384 | 365 | 203 | 432 | 443 | 173 | 587 | |
| Red | 378 | 502 | 325 | 328 | 191 | 370 | 401 | 158 | 549 | |
| Blue | 361 | 458 | 312 | 312 | 182 | 350 | 374 | 141 | 508 | |
| White | 330 | 420 | 298 | 303 | 162 | 271 | 313 | 112 | 469 | |
| Gold | 318 | 318 | 201 | 243 | 121 | 247 | 267 | 105 | 443 | |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | |
| Ibis | ||||||||||
| Hole # | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Black | 552 | 339 | 420 | 417 | 167 | 431 | 530 | 194 | 394 | |
| Red | 522 | 334 | 389 | 371 | 160 | 351 | 514 | 175 | 372 | |
| Blue | 472 | 325 | 345 | 334 | 138 | 335 | 488 | 166 | 352 | |
| White | 422 | 259 | 330 | 287 | 125 | 310 | 423 | 155 | 329 | |
| Gold | 408 | 250 | 314 | 248 | 106 | 283 | 356 | 124 | 239 | |
| Par | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
1643 Goley Hewett Rd. Se ,Bolivia NC 28422
David White
Overall Rating: 3/14/2020Played on Thursday and found the Heron course to be difficult but fun. The Ibis course was good but not maintained as well as Heron. Biggest issue was no signage to guide you around the courses. We came off number one, went to the next tee, realized after we teed off, we were on the wrong hole. Asked another group and learned we were on number 7. Five dollars worth of paint and 5 minutes of employee time, no problem. Also, no drinking water anywhere on the course, no trash cans. Bunkers need work. FAST GREENS!
Source: Google Reviews
Ethan Adler
Overall Rating: 3/6/2020Really fun layout, staff always friendly. Fun to play all 27 holes, get the special that includes lunch/beer. Good for vacationers, course isn’t too ‘stuffy’. Some challenging holes. I always look forward to playing here.
Source: Google Reviews
Gary Schumacher
Overall Rating: 11/25/2019A challenging golf course with multiple tee layout to accommodate golfers of all skill levels. The greens were tricky but the ball seemed to roll nicely. I must say a premium is placed on accuracy of your shots as we found that it is easy to lose balls in the high Bermuda grass rough. I seemed that someone in our foursome lost a ball on every hole on Egret. Pace of play was good and the beer at the clubhouse was cold and the food was good. Enjoy.
Source: Google Reviews
Bill Garner
Overall Rating: 11/18/2019Been a member of Carolina National for a little ,over a year now and have played several golf courses in the area. Carolina National has the best layout of any golf course I’ve played down here. The visual perspectives from each of the tee markers really show off the layout and requires different shot making from the player. Right now, the course is in great shape and the greens are running beautifully. Having three nines is also very appealing to groups coming down who want to play more than one round a day.
Source: Google Reviews
Al Yountz
Overall Rating: 11/16/2019I love this course!! The 3-nine layout gives you unique challenges, amazing views, wildlife and fun to play. I would highly recommend this course for any level. I was fortunate to have Carolina National as my home course for years. I always go back and take my friends to enjoy this gem.
Source: Google Reviews
Stuart Chinnery
Overall Rating: 11/15/2019Three nine-hole courses provide a variety of interest and challenge. All holes are very playable and some very picturesque.
Greens and fairways are in great shape when last played in October 2019.
Staff are always extremely friendly, restaurant serves a great lunch at a reasonable price.
One of the best courses in this area.
Source: Google Reviews
Richard Brown
Overall Rating: 11/15/2019You can't find a more rewarding, challenging golf course in the Brunswick County. From the cart guys, to the pro shop and the Plantation Grill, you will experience a courteous, helpful staff. This goes a long way to enriching your golf experience. With the three nine hole corsets, you will also play at a good pace. Bag drop off with ample parking makes this a wonderful golfing experience.
Source: Google Reviews
Lawson Inman
Overall Rating: 7/28/2019Greens were in excellent shape. Nice facilities. Cart guys were very attentive and hard working. Nice mix of scenic holes along the water and winding holes though the wetlands and forest. Highly recommend.
Source: Google Reviews
Donald Reichard
Overall Rating: 7/19/2019My friend and I played in response to an ad in the paper leading one to believe that the course was in pristine condition. Reality was far below from that advertised.
All the bunkers were unplayable. They were basically mud holes with the higher faces having been washed out or caved in, and we are not talking recently.
The rough was 5" deep, the fairways at least 1 1/2". The cartpaths are in extremely bad condition, best to stay off them if you don't want back surgery. The aprons around the greens were also too high. Fortunately, the greens were in fine condition but the speed varied.
We were told by one of the rangers that they had cut way back on their number of course maintenance employees; hence the they were way behind on normal maintenance such as mowing and keeping bunkers playable which was obvious.
We complained to General Manager following our round but he was in total denial. He said he lived on hole #2 so he knew everything. Our guess is that the staff keep things looking pretty good in his backyard and he hasn't ridden around the course in a long time!
The course is very pretty but the playing conditions are not at this time.
Source: Google Reviews
doug wahl
Overall Rating: 7/2/2019This is my favorite course in the tri-county area that surrounds Willmington. When I play golf I want to feel like I am bonding with nature. To be sure this course does wind its way through a subdivision but you never feel like you are in a residential area. There are actually times when you feel like you are totally secluded in the middle of nowhere. There is so many things I like about this course- but any review has to start with the beauty of the par threes. Two of them have views of the marsh in the background and are just breath taking. The rest of the course is also very pretty and when I played this past weekend was it was in great shape (other than the cart paths). And no course that I've ever seen has been more creative on where they put their tee-boxes. Moving from the men's to the low handicap tee box (blue to the gold)changes each hole dramatically... it doesn't just add distance, it changes the angles of everything. It's like it is a totally different hole... and then if you dare to move to the tips (black tees), again everything changes. .The only other local courses I give a 5 rating to are the Thistle (which is $30 more expensive) Cape Fear National (which has too much construction going on around it and Castle Bay (which is all the way in Hampstead). My only complaint about Carolina National is it's made up of three 9 hole courses. I tend to like courses where you play the same 18 everytime. For instance on of the courses has a beautiful split fairway on a par 4. I was really looking forward to playing it... but I got the other two 9 hole courses. Truth is no matter what I would have gotten, I would have felt like I was missing out on one of my favorite holes. Really the best way to play Carolina National is to play all 27 holes in one outing... which is best accomplished with the cooler weather of the fall. I will be back
Source: Google Reviews
Joshua Norwood
Overall Rating: 5/28/2019I played here for the first time in a captains choice tournament and we thoroughly enjoyed the course. My only complaint was the greens were rather bumpy. Other than that we had a blast. The folks that greeted me and helped around the carts were awesome! The guy running the tournament and the proshop staff could afford to take some lessons from the cart staff on how to be polite and helpful. Yes, it was hot and busy but don't act like you are miserable having to be help the people that are paying your salary.
Source: Google Reviews
Hector Cruz
Overall Rating: 4/6/2019Course was in great shape considering all the rain from the previous day. Greens were fast and rolling straight. Overall, a very good experience. Our only complaint was the shape of the cart path...rough shape in places...bumpy ride. Will definitely play again.
Source: Google Reviews
mo val
Overall Rating: 10/14/2018Dont waste your time or money they never cut grass you will loose your balls in plain site.
Talk to guy up desk . He offer the GM'S email
Wth. Bad conditions
Source: Google Reviews
Karlton Glover
Overall Rating: 9/3/2018My first time playing here but it definitely won’t be my last. This may be my favorite course down in this area. Everything about it was great. The pace of play was slow but it didn’t even bother me because every other aspect was so good. This course has the ability to be anything you want it to be with the 5 tee boxes. Perfect course for the long hitters but also great for people who don’t have the distance. The fairways rough and greens were in perfect shape. I would definitely recommend this course to anybody. Great job by the staff
Source: Google Reviews
Stan Sudol
Overall Rating: 5/26/2018Played at Caroline national about 1 month ago and was disappointed in the greens.Well I went back yesterday and too my surprise Greens were much improved. Give them another 2 weeks. Need a cut and roll and most will be fine!
Source: Google Reviews
Roland Fortner
Overall Rating: 5/19/2018The course is really quite beautiful in terms of layout and I could see how it has the potential to be quite lovely, but on a recent trip to Myrtle Beach to play golf this month (May2018), two golf courses, The Legends and Carolina National, failed to inform us until we were ready to tee off that their greens had been largely destroyed over the winter. On most greens, we were putting on sand or dirt, or greens pocked with dead area. I don’t thing we saw a decent green on either course. I can’t believe the courses didn’t re-sod their greens for peak season and more importantly, I thought it was dishonest to charge out-of-state visitors peak season rates for courses in such poor condition. It was also dishonest letting us book these courses and not informing golfers us of the terrible green conditions until they we were ready to tee off. I travelled over 1300 miles from Nebraska to play here.
I understand why courses are reluctant to tell golfers when the course is in bad shape because people might cancel, or go elsewhere. As it is though, such dishonesty from these two major course in the Myrtle Beach area will likely lead us to choose other golf destinations in the future. It may be a long time before we return to Myrtle Beach for golf.
Source: Google Reviews
Richard Calhoun
Overall Rating: 4/27/2018How can you defend your greens? Here are pictures I took from of one of them. Again, I had read some poor reviews previous to my visit so I called to see if the course had improved and was told the greens were in near perfect condition. Does this look like near perfect greens? Your reply to my previous post did not even address the fact that you or your employee lied to me and thus stole money from me and the other members of my foursome. I understand several courses in the area have had troubles with their greens. It happens. However, I called Sandpiper Bay, where I had a tee time, to check their green conditions. They were honest with me and told me they were still in sub par condition. I did cancel the round but I will definitely go back there time and time again because of their honesty. I spoke with one of your employees after our disappointing experience and was told this wasn't the first time he had heard the same complaint about customers being lied to regarding course conditions. Stop lying to customers just to get their money. It will catch up with you in the long run!!!!
Source: Google Reviews
Pete McCollum
Overall Rating: 3/19/20181st visit Saturday March 17.. We enjoyed all three nines.. One of the few courses we played last week not twisted through a housing development.. Friendly helpful staff.. Look forward to returning sometime in season When your greens come back..
Source: Google Reviews
Suzanne Butler
Overall Rating: 2/19/2018Carolina National Golf Club, located on the Winding River plantation, is home to three equally attractive out-and-back nine-hole loops: the Egret, Heron and Ibis. This is a big-dimension layout that roams its way over a wide area of modestly undulating, mainly wooded terrain. Plenty of small lakes, ponds and wetlands making their presence felt, while tall pines line several fairways, providing a screen behind which real estate often sits. There is much to applaud and enjoy in this challenging and scenic course.
If we had to pick a favourite nine, it would be the slightly tighter Ibis, with its more natural feel and containing some of the best of the 27-holes.
Source: Google Reviews
Adam Sederlund
Overall Rating: 6/14/2016This was a great course to play on. Played all 27 holes and enjoyed them all. The course is kept in good shape, although being well north of the Myrtle Beach cross might have something to do with it.
Source: Google Reviews
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Carolina National is referred to as one of North Carolina's best golf courses.
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