These public and semi-private courses have something for everyone with affordable rates, clever designs and more.
Plenty of golf courses await in Wilmington, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. It seems people keep asking, “where can you play golf around here,” quite a bit, so we rounded up some of our favorite fairways.
Here are the public courses you should check out in Wilmington:
Wilmington Municipal Course
Designed by Donald Ross, this course is hailed as one of the best municipal courses in North Carolina. The rate for locals wanting to walk 18 holes is an affordable $27.
Popular golfing podcast “No Laying Up” recently featured the course in their “Tourist Sauce” Youtube series, if you want a peek at the different holes. Grab a tee time online here
Inland Greens Par 3
The City of Wilmington also has a fun and affordable par 3 course. Inland Greens is located between Market Street and Mayfaire. Play an 18-hole round for $16 on weekdays, or even cheaper if you are a city taxpayer.
Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest
Cape Fear National is one of the highest-ranked in the area with native marshes and a course considered, “straightforward.” Designer Tim Cate placed his signature — bunkers running along the length of the hole — on three different links. GolfWeek has named it one of the top plays in the Carolinas. Learn more here.
Carolina National Golf Club — The Egret 9
Designed by Fred Couples, this nine-hole course is on the banks of the Lockwood Folly River in between Supply and Oak Island. Find egrets, just like the course’s namesake, flying along the course and lots of natural wildlife in this challenging course. Learn more here.
Compass Pointe
Leisurely play this 18-hole course with some challenging greens, before kicking back at the club restaurant. Find water features and white sand bunkers in this course tucked into the master-planned Compass Pointe development.
Non-members can play for around $60 with no cart included. Or consider hitting on the range for less than $10. Learn more here.
Castle Bay
Off the beaten path, this Hampstead course is a favorite among local golfers looking for something affordable and challenging. Castle Bay has affordable rates with a well-maintained course. Players seem to flock here because of the courses’ traditional Scottish design, but then stay for the good prices. With few trees, players battle out shots against the coastal winds.
Beau Rivage Resort
Beau Rivage has one of the highest elevation changes in the area with rolling hills that go up to 75 feet. This course has something for everyone and reviewers tout is as an “escape from the flat terrain,” of the Wilmington area. Locals can play for under $50.
