Carolina National

1643 Goley Hewett Road SE , Bolivia, NC

The Golf Insider is the Myrtle Beach authority on golf course rankings with reviews and rankings by golfers, for golfers

7.9

(34 Comments)

Opened in 1998 and located on the north end of the Grand Strand in Bolivia, N.C., Carolina National is the only Myrtle Beach area course designed by 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples. It is one of a handful of area facilities with 27 holes—the Egret, Heron and Ibis nines. All three birds after which those nines are named, as well as an awesome variety of local wildlife, can be found throughout the course, which winds its way through coastal forest and out onto expansive tidal marshland bordering the Lockwood River. Golf Digest gives the course 4 ½ out of 5 Stars on its “Places To Play” ranking.

Each of the nines plays to a par 36, with five par fours, two par fives and two par threes, making for a par-72 golf course no matter how which combination of nines one plays. Many visitors will play all three nines while on property, given the unique character and challenge of each. The signature hole at Carolina National is undoubtedly the par three 5th hole on the Heron nine. It measures 203 yards from the back tees and features a green complex that juts out into the marsh with commanding views of the Lockwood River. The tee boxes are arranged do that the hole can play from massively different angles, affording the opportunity for very different looks on consecutive plays. Given Carolina National’s robust membership, this is a welcome feature. A number of other holes include split fairways and centerline bunkers, which add considerable interest to the experience of playing a round.

The facilities at Carolina National are excellent, with a 320-yard long driving range, 14,000 square foot putting and chipping green and a spacious clubhouse housing an excellent dining room called the Plantation Grille. The Grille served members and guests alike seven days a week for lunch, as well as dinner on Tuesday and Friday nights.

Carolina National Golf Club boasts a current Golf Insider rating of 8.6, with particular emphasis on course conditions, especially the course’s bentgrass greens.

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Paul (Fairfield, CT), 04/30/2013

Overall Score

[ 1.83]

Proshop

[1]

Grill

[1]

Staff

[1]

Tees

[6]

Greens

[1]

Fairways

[1]

My wife and I met a couple we know Sunday at Carolina National for an afternoon round of golf. What a disappointment, for a supposed 4 and 1/2 star golf course it really fell short. I have played the courses up and down the Grand Strand all winter and this one was in the worse condition of any we have played. The fairways were spotty and the greens very lumpy and inconsistent. We spent most of the time on the Ibsis nine with two or three groups backed up on every tee box. We made the turn at 2 hours and 45 minutes with two groups on the tee. We were looking at a 6 hour round with no "player assistant" people seen all day. We decided to leave. On the way out my friend went into the "Pro Shop" to register our complaint about the conditions and slow play. Only to be met with total disconcern from the young man behind the counter who's answer was "No one else has complained". I will not travel the distance from Myrtle Beach to play this course again nor would I suggest it as a course to play to any of my friends or anyone who would ask.
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Ron, 03/18/2013