Reviews of Carolina National Golf Club (Golf)

J. Frances

Loved it! Staff is great and even as a not so good female player I felt welcomed and definitely enjoyed the course. I will be back!

Donald Reichard

My 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.

Suzanne Butler

Carolina 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.

Thomas Toms

Very friendly staff started from checking in at the pro shop by a nice young lady that made me feel welcome and gave me good information before I played. The course was in excellent condition and a treat to play. Worth the drive to play. The person that took my cart when I was finished asked me how I liked the course and completed a wonderful experience.

Pete McCollum

1st 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..

Scott Young

Enjoyed the Heron and Ibis 9's today. Greens were perfect, receptive, and a good speed! Fairways were perfect. Staff members were exceptionally hospitable!! Highly recommend this place. You can't find a better experience!! But buy a yardage book...it's worth the $5!!!

Roland Fortner

The 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.

Gary Crispens

This is a championship golf course that has multiple tees for all skill levels. It has every golf challenge with blind shots, dog legs, plenty of sand in fairways, water, deep Bermuda rough, fast greens and an island par 3. Staff are all very friendly and welcoming. Sign up for occasional email specials.

Paul G Thomas

This place is a cow pasture.Why they had "cart path only" I don't know.Even the greens weren't green unless you count the green fertilizer!!!

Aaron Largent

Greens were in bad shape with bare spots & green paint. Course elected not to overseed fairways. Tee boxes were rough. I've played this facility many times over the past 5 years & it's in the worst shape I've ever seen. Very disappointing! Played Egret to Ibis today.

mo val

Dont 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

David Trask

Played today. Greens are in great shape - can't blame the greens for any missed putts.

Joshua Norwood

I 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.

doug wahl

This 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

Lawson Inman

Greens 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.

Karlton Glover

My 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

Rick Slater

Awesome course, awesome day!

Stan Sudol

Played 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!

Walter Luttrell

Overall, a good, solid golf course. Staff very friendly and course ranger came around to make sure pace of play was acceptable. Fairways in great shape. Green were just aerated, but still rolled well, which speaks to how much they are willing to go to make their course in good shape. Only negative was that some of bunkers were so hard they were unplayable. Bunkers everywhere so beware the beaches. Good course though. Worth the $50

Steve Shaw

Nice course. I really enjoyed the round here. Nice and very helpful staff. My high school daughter was a little concerned when we learned they were pairing us with another twosome. But after meeting the two very nice gentlemen ( one who lives on the course) she was at ease. They were very encouraging to her. Thanks for an enjoyable round Ori and Caroline National.

Michael Grimm

Had a great time, greens are beautiful

Hector Cruz

Course 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.

Noah Mott

Read some negative reviews about this course and have to say that they are unwarranted. This isn't a top tier course, but this course is well worth the money. Everything was at least in good shape. Layout was nice. Staff was friendly.

Debra Smith

Called to get a tee time and was treated very rude. I guess they don’t like females but these 2 ladies are fast and are 10 handicappers. Didn’t play the course as we clearly weren’t welcome!

Patrick Anderson

Great course and in perfect condition. Booked for 12 on March 19, 2013 and were greeted by friendly staff. Not known to us we all got coupon for one free menu item and two beers after our round. We asked about playing the third 9 after lunch and they said no problem. Course is in amazing condition even for early spring. We had a great day and well worth the drive north from Myrtle Beach.

Kyle Mcandrew

This is the worst golf course I have ever played in my entire life and I say that with total seriousness. Out of the 18 holes that I played, there were 12 greens that were unplayable. The staff was very short with me and didn’t not seem to want to provide the experience that should come with playing CN golf. Until this place turns around I will not be back.

Richard Calhoun

Played on 4/21/18. Called a few days in advance to check on course conditions because I had seen some poor reviews online from a couple weeks earlier. The guy in the pro shop told me on the phone that Egret was in "near perfect" condition and that Heron had a "couple bad places". Let me tell you, it was the worst course I have ever played. The layout is great but the greens and the fairways were unplayable. Fairways had NO GRASS and were hard as a rock. The greens were a disgrace. They were painted green and felt like concrete. I know that several courses down here had a rough winter. However, flat out LYING to a person just to get their money is down right criminal. This course use to be one of the best in the area when Bluegreen ran it. Current management should be ashamed. I will be filing a complaint with the BBB and the NC Secretary of State. I am sure golf course management will not reply to this post. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COURSE!!!!