When you live at Kingfish Bay in Calabash, NC, you’re sitting at the northern gateway of one of the greatest golf regions in the world. The Grand Strand and Brunswick County together offer more than 100 courses within easy reach — more than you could play in a year of weekends. So which ones belong at the top of your list?
Here are the ten courses that Kingfish Bay residents return to again and again — a mix of championship pedigree, scenic beauty, pure golfing pleasure, and about a stone’s throw away.
1. Rivers Edge Golf Club — Shallotte, NC
If you play one course from this list, make it Rivers Edge. Arnold Palmer’s 1999 design along the banks of the Shallotte River is, by most measures, the finest golf course in Brunswick County — and one of Palmer’s signature achievements anywhere on the East Coast. Seven holes play along or over the Shallotte River, including four consecutive finishing holes that are as spectacular as anything you’ll find in coastal golf. Golf Digest ranked it among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. Golf Magazine listed it among the country’s top 20 best new courses. The 2023 Golf Course of the Year by the Myrtle Beach Golf Course Owners Association. The slope rating of 149 from the tips tells you everything you need to know about the challenge. The par-5 9th — “Arnie’s Revenge” — is one of the most discussed holes on the entire Grand Strand. About 30 minutes from Kingfish Bay. Worth every minute of the drive.
2. Brunswick Plantation & Golf Resort — Calabash, NC
Practically in your backyard, Brunswick Plantation is one of the most decorated courses in the region — voted among the Top 50 Golf Resort Communities in the United States. Three completely different nine-hole loops give you three distinct 18-hole combinations: the Azalea, carved through pine forest with large lakes and Caw Caw Creek in play; the Dogwood, winding through dense hardwoods with the creek as a recurring hazard; and the Magnolia, a links-style layout with mounds and large bunkers as its primary defense. The championship setup stretches to 6,895 yards with a 72.7 rating and 131 slope. You could play this course three times and feel like you played three different tracks. It’s the most requested course on the North Strand for a reason.
3. The Pearl Golf Links — Calabash, NC
Dan Maples built The Pearl in 1987 to work with — not against — the 900 acres of Calabash River marsh surrounding it. The result is 36 holes across three nines (East, West, and North), with six holes on the signature West Course playing directly along the Calabash River. No matter which combination of nines you draw, you’re in for one of the most visually beautiful rounds in the area. Once ranked the #1 golf course in North Carolina by Golf Advisor, The Pearl is the kind of course that reminds you why you fell in love with the game. It’s also just a short drive from Kingfish Bay — practically a neighbor.
4. Thistle Golf Club — Sunset Beach, NC
Named for the original Thistle Golf Club established in Scotland in 1815, this Tim Cate-designed masterpiece is unlike anything else on the Grand Strand. Its 27 holes — the Cameron (North), Stewart (South), and MacKay (West) nines — play as three different 18-hole combinations across a mostly treeless, windswept site with stacked-sod bunkers, rolling fairways, and flawless greens. Golf Digest awarded it 4½ stars. It’s been ranked among the top courses in the Carolinas. The clubhouse goes all-in on the Scottish heritage theme, featuring 200-year-old memorabilia straight from the original club’s archives, giving the entire experience an authenticity that money usually can’t manufacture. Less than 10 minutes from Kingfish Bay.
5. Tidewater Golf Club — North Myrtle Beach, SC
Tucked between the Intracoastal Waterway and Cherry Grove inlet, Tidewater occupies one of the most striking pieces of real estate on the entire Grand Strand. Architect Ken Tomlinson drew inspiration from Merion and Pine Valley, refusing to incorporate anything artificial into a design that works completely with its surroundings. The result is South Carolina’s most-awarded golf course — a layout offering panoramic views of tidal marshes, the ICW, and the Atlantic Ocean, with a challenge calibrated to test skilled players while remaining rewarding for all levels. About 20 minutes south of Kingfish Bay.
6. Crow Creek Golf Club — Calabash, NC
One of the most consistently praised courses in all of Brunswick County, Crow Creek is regularly ranked among the Top 50 golf courses in the region — and one of the few remaining North Strand courses to feature bentgrass greens, which play faster and truer than the Bermuda alternatives found elsewhere. The signature hole is the 574-yard par-5 seventh, with water running along both sides the entire length of the hole. Tim Cate, the architect behind Thistle, again shows why he’s the most underappreciated designer in the Carolinas. Crow Creek is the most requested course on the North Strand. Right around the corner from Kingfish Bay.
7. Carolina National Golf Club — Bolivia, NC
The only Fred Couples Signature Design in the Brunswick/Myrtle Beach area, Carolina National is widely considered one of the most underrated courses on the entire Grand Strand. Three distinct nines — Egret, Heron, and Ibis — wind through river, marsh, and hardwood forest, with wildlife sightings practically guaranteed on every round. The combination of Couples’ playable but strategically demanding design philosophy and the visual richness of the Bolivia marsh landscape makes this a course that surprises even golfers who think they’ve seen everything the region has to offer. About 25 minutes from Kingfish Bay.
8. Sandpiper Bay Golf Club — Sunset Beach, NC
Designer: Dan Maples | Holes: 18
Another Dan Maples gem, Sandpiper Bay is the definition of a player-friendly course done right. Wide, generous fairways and consistently excellent conditions make it an ideal starting point for a golf trip, but don’t mistake playability for lack of character — the layout is thoughtfully routed through the natural marsh terrain and coastal landscape that Maples knew better than any designer of his era. It’s a course that brings out your best golf rather than punishing you for imperfection. A perfect day-one arrival round, and an easy repeat once you’ve got your sea legs. Minutes from Kingfish Bay, right in Sunset Beach.
9. Sea Trail Golf Resort — Sunset Beach, NC
Designers: Dan Maples, Rees Jones & Willard Byrd | Holes: 54 (Three 18-Hole Courses)
Sea Trail offers something unique: three complete 18-hole courses designed by three different legends — Dan Maples, Rees Jones, and Willard Byrd — giving you three completely different playing experiences within a single resort. The Rees Jones course is generally considered the standout, with a more demanding layout and more dramatic use of the natural terrain, but all three offer strong value and excellent conditions. For golfers who want variety without having to drive between multiple destinations, Sea Trail is a one-stop shop for a day of serious golf. Located in Sunset Beach, just minutes from Kingfish Bay.
10. Meadowlands Golf Club — Calabash, NC
Designer: Willard Byrd | Holes: 18
Willard Byrd is best known locally for Brunswick Plantation, but his work at Meadowlands deserves its own recognition. Named 2019 Myrtle Beach Golf Course of the Year, Meadowlands has a well-earned reputation for welcoming golfers of all abilities without sacrificing interest or challenge for experienced players. The conditioning is consistently outstanding, the layout is intelligent, and the location — less than 10 minutes from Kingfish Bay — makes it one of the easiest picks for a spontaneous round. When you live in Calabash and want 18 holes without a long commute, Meadowlands is almost always the answer.
The Best Part? This Is Just the Beginning.
These ten courses represent the cream of the crop, but they’re far from the only options available to Kingfish Bay residents. Oyster Bay, Farmstead, Brick Landing, Tiger’s Eye, Eagle Nest, and a dozen more sit within easy reach — enough to go months without repeating yourself.
At Kingfish Bay, the golf is always close. The river is right outside your door. And your private oceanfront Beach Club on Sunset Beach is just 10 minutes away when you’re ready to trade the fairways for the waves.
That is coastal Carolina living at its best.
Discover what’s possible at Kingfish Bay — new homes in Calabash, NC, designed for coastal living.
