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Brunswick
County: North Carolina's "Golf Coast"
CALABASH, N.C. - As
you drive north on U.S. Highway 17 from North Myrtle Beach and
over the state line, tourist traps and miniature golf courses
give way to Mom-and-Pop seafood restaurants, quaint beach cottages,
and rustic roadside gift shops. Anchoring the coast of this
pristine region are the Brunswick Islands - a group of barrier
islands that run from the world famous "seafood capital"
of Calabash, North Carolina, all the
way north to the Cape Fear River south of Wilmington. The scenery
is unriva led, as Carolina Oaks and Pines blend together to
give the area a true mid-Atlantic feel.
This is Brunswick County, one of the undiscovered gems of the
Grand Strand and truly North Carolina's "Golf Coast."
This bucolic setting is home to nearly a third of the Strand's
golf courses, ranging from bargain level public access tracks
and mid-range surprises to high-end daily fee and semi private
layouts. With marshland layouts such as Marsh Harbor and Oyster
Bay, Brunswick County lays claim to some of the most scenic
courses in the entire state.
A slew of new high-end daily fee courses such as Arnold Palmer's
River Edge, Tim Cate's Tiger's Eye and The Thistle, Rick Robbins'
Crow Creek, and Willard Byrd's Farmstead have opened their doors
over the past three years. Now, with over 30 golf courses, Brunswick
County has clearly established itself as one of the east coast's
premier golfing destinations.
With affordable family owned and operated facilities like the
Calabash Golf Links, The Meadowlands Golf Club, and Brunswick
Plantation, Brunswick County can cater to the budget-minded
golfer as easily as it can the affluent. There truly is something
for every level of golfer, economic and skill, in Brunswick
County.
Yet somehow, the numerous golf courses of the area have eluded
hordes of golfers from the Midwest and Northeast over the years.
Is it because of the county's remote location and rural infrastructure
and position just outside of the shadow of Myrtle Beach? Or
is it simply because the locals have remained tight-lipped about
their little jewel so as not to spoil its shine? It's hard to
say. But one thing is for sure: Brunswick County has not been
overlooked because of the product being offered.
So if you seek a golf trip that revolves around thirty-six holes
a day, a beer and a bed, then Brunswick County is the prescription
for what ails you. Unlike its commercialized cousin to the south,
this area once described by early settlers as "some trees
and some marshlands" is more likely to overwhelm you with
wildlife than nightlife. Between the seafood restaurants, the
unspoiled beaches, the offshore fishing and a handful of eclectic
shops and restaurants, Brunswick County offers golfers and nongolfers
a myriad of other recreational opportunities.
Brunswick County is refreshingly short of "all-you-can-eat"
joints and chain restaurants, but is chaulked full of local
eateries that will keep you pot bunker deep in seafood and steaks.
For seafood lovers, Calabash awaits
with an endless array of fried Grouper, Snapper, shrimp and
scallops. In between the fishhouses you'll find some of the
Grand Strand's most original Italian restaurants, and plenty
of "cheesburgers in paradise" in the local taverns.
Nightlife Brunswick County is not totally non-existent - you
just have to seek it out. For some local fla-vor head to Victoria's
Sports Bar or Sharky's in Ocean Beach across the Ocean
Isle Beach Causeway. Or, pack up the crew and head for Myrtle
Beach where you won't run out of things to do at the plethora
of bars and restaurants at Broadway at the Beach, or North Myrtle
Beach's Barefoot Landing.
Take a minute to peruse our "area-by-area" guide to
the Carolinas "Golf Coast - Brunswick County.
Calabash
The southernmost point in the Brunswick Islands, Calabash has
earned the nickname "The Seafood Capital of the World."
Over a dozen seafood restaurants, built along the docks of this
quaint fishing village, feature local seafood delivered fresh
off the fishing boats right to their back doors. The area's
method of cooking has become known far and wide as "Calabash-style"
You may spot a number of golfers at the neighboring tables,
as Calabash has several courses that rank among the best in
North Carolina.
Shallotte
One of the first areas settled in the county, Shallotte has
been the center
of activity in the South Brunswick Islands for over a century.
This small inland town is brimming with retail shops, restaurants,
and accommodations. The river pilots of the 19th century determined
that Shallotte's location, approximately halfway between Wilmington
and Myrtle Beach, and central to all the islands, made it the
ideal site to serve as the commercial hub of the South Brunswick
Islands. Just
minutes from beaches, golf courses, and other recreational activities,
the same holds true today.
Ocean Isle Beach
With seven miles of quiet beaches and a peaceful quality of
life for its residents and visitors, the friendly village of
Ocean Isle typifies the Brunswick Islands experience. Visit
the Museum of Coastal Carolina for an in-depth look at island
life. You'll also find unique shops, as well as marinas, deepsea
fishing, and canals with backyard crabbing and fishing. The
well-kept private lodgings, hotels,
condos, and golf resorts make this laid-back island community
very inviting to visitors and vacationers. And, at certain times
of the year, you can watch the sun both rise and set over water.
Sunset Beach
Perhaps demonstrating how little things change in this area,
the smallest of the Brunswick Islands is reached by driving
across the only remaining pontoon bridge on the East Coast.
The last area island to be developed, Sunset Beach boasts remarkably
wide snow-white beaches, huge dune ridges, and marsh areas,
with a very natural and secluded feeling. Large pastel cottages
set back behind the dunes make this island a favorite return
haven for family gatherings and vacations. At dusk, Sunset Beach
puts on a show worthy of its name, with spectacular sunsets
made more dramatic by the unusual east-west alignment of the
island.
Holden Beach
After prospering as a commercial fishing center in the 1920s,
Holden Beach evolved into a fullfledged family vacation spot
in the 1930s. Not surprisingly, Holden Beach is still known
for its excellent offshore fishing and features a full-service
fishing pier for both casual and serious anglers. Fishing season
is still celebrated with both a spring and a fall festival.
Until recently, the island was accessible only by ferry, but
now a two-lane, elevated bridge connects it to the mainland.
Visitors will enjoy 11 miles of tranquil beach, unique retail
shops, amusements, and restaurants.
Oak Island
While the most populous town in the Brunswick Islands, Oak Island
enjoys a small-town atmosphere that has attracted visiting families
for generations. Oak Island was founded with a strong sense
of community and public access. Public beach accesses (most
with parking), public boat ramps, canoe and kayak-friendly areas,
as well as parks, playgrounds, extensive sidewalks, and pedestrian
and recreation trails, make Oak Island an ideal haven for the
active nature lover.
Caswell Beach
While Fort Caswell saw action in several wars and eventually
gave the island its name, your "action" may consist
of the gentle surf and mild tides of the south-facing beach,
situated at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. The cylindrical
Oak Island Lighthouse, the brightest lighthouse in the United
States, easily identifies this quiet, 4-mile-long family beach.
Bald Head Island
Visitors return again and again for the serenity of Bald Head
Island, though not by car. Bald Head is accessible only by a
private passenger ferry departing from Southport. Once on the
island, your transportation is limited to golf cart, bicycle,
or foot. A renowned safe haven for wildlife, water fowl, and
loggerhead turtles, this island resort setting features natural
beauty, 14 miles of unspoiled beaches, a maritime forest, and
world-class golf, all overlooked by the weathered sentinel "Old
Baldy," one of the Atlantic's most striking lighthouses.
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