GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.2
375 Reviews (375)
5 Stars
146
4 Stars
154
3 Stars
47
2 Stars
14
1 Stars
14
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.4
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.6
Amenities
4.2
82.5%
Recommend this course
333 out of 375 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews

About

Holes 9
Type Public
Par 36
Length 3517 yards
Slope 139
Rating 37.0

Situated along the banks of the Lockwood Folly River, Carolina National Golf Club takes advantage of the scenic low country landscape. The 27-hole course was designed by Fred Couples, whose preservation of the terrain earned the course the certification as an Audubon Sanctuary. The golf course is divided into three nines that are played in 18-hole combinations. The Heron, Egret, and Ibis are named after the birds that call the course home. Each nine offers a different set of challenges. The Heron is both the most scenic and the longest nine. The three par 4s all measure over 400 yards and the final hole is a par 5 that is 587 yards long. The layout has a few holes that play along the river, including the par-3 fifth, which has a green that is almost entirely surrounded by water. This nine will reward strong mid-to-long iron play.

Course Details

Year Built 1998
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Champion Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Fred Couples (1998) Gene Bates Kipp Schulties (1998)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies No
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire is required. No denim.

Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2019 #20)

Reviews

4.2
375 Reviews (375)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 7
Forced Carries 6
Water Hazards 6
This course/club is great for:
Locals 7
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 6

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good Courses but watch out for slow play

Have been coming and playing Carolina National for 10+ years now. Over the past 2 years the conditions have declined a bit. This past visit the greens were crusty and baked out and the tee boxes were fluffly and had not been mowed.
The worst issue was pace of play.
It took our foursome 2 hours and 55 mins to play our first nine on the Heron side. Had to wait on every shot and then when we reached the 4th hole there were 3 groups on that one hole. We then made the turn to Ibis and really sped up(LOL) and played that nine in 2 hours and 35 mins for a 18 hole total time of 5 hours and 30 min round. Yes we called the Pro Shop...no answer. Spoke to a ranger at the turn. No explanation given. Glad we did not have dinner reservations as we would have been late.....
May have to skip playing this course next year....

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/13/2021

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine!

Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great family experience

I took my 3 kids golfing and we had a great time. Staff was amazing and made us all feel welcome. Food in the restaurant was great and not expensive. Course is challenging and was in great shape for this time of year. I have played other courses in the area and this will be my favorite. Thank you to all the staff for making my families holiday golf outing such a great experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/02/2021

Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Somewhat disappointed

Nice course that could have improved my experience with better conditions of the cart paths, amenities and friendliness of staff.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/02/2021

Thank you so much for leaving us with your feedback. We value our customer experience, so your review is important to us. We will make note and we hope to see you back at Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine!

Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 11/24/2021

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine!

Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 11/02/2021

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine!

Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Always a pleasure

I have played here many times. Course was in very good condition. Today, greens had a layer of sand down. But, they still putted very true and we’re consistent. Plenty of teeing choices. Recommend!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/27/2021

Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine.

Played On
Reviews 65
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/26/2021

Thank you for visiting us at Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine. We appreciate your 4-star rating and review. We hope you join us for another round soon.

Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/25/2021

Thank you for visiting us at Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine. We appreciate your 4-star rating and review. We hope you join us for another round soon.

Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Pace of Play

To continue, today was similar to most other days, slow play with no attempt to correct it. My 3 groups played the first 9 holes in 1'50" each as we were the first groups out. The 2nd 9 holes took 2 1/2 hrs. Women members who were first out on a different 9, quit after 15 holes that took 4 1/2 hrs. There was a severe backup with 3 holes to play. Can you imagine how long those holes would have taken to play?

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/25/2021

Hello. Thank you for reviewing the course. We apologize for the delay of play during your round. This is by no means the standard we strive to achieve. We work hard to accommodate everyone who visits our course and to best control pace allowing everyone to finish in a reasonable amount of time. We will continue to look for ways to improve, and we are glad to see you rated the course conditions to be great during your game. Thank you for playing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine. We hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Perfect weather
Used cart

Slow Play!!

So, my recent Facebook page post appears to have been taken down. Carolina National management doesn't like negative posts. It basically said, if you don't mind playing at a snail's pace and with no care by management to address slow play, this is the course for you. CN's expectations for a round is 4 1/2 hours. For most courses, this is totally unacceptable. But, even with this acceptance, rounds typically take nearly 5 hours. And, that is OK with management. They just care about selling tee times. If I weren't an 18 year member and live in the community, I would go somewhere else.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/25/2021

Hello. Thank you for reviewing the course. We apologize for the delay of play during your round. This is by no means the standard we strive to achieve. We work hard to accommodate everyone who visits our course and to best control pace allowing everyone to finish in a reasonable amount of time. We will continue to look for ways to improve, and we are glad to see you rated the course conditions to be great during your game. Thank you for playing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine. We hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Blind golf

If you did not play this course with someone who knew their way around you would waste a lot of shots
Beautiful course .... Great day

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/19/2021

Thank you for visiting us at Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine. We appreciate your 4-star rating and review. We hope you join us for another round soon.

Played On
Reviews 231
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 25 Contributor
First Time Playing

Awesome. Great shape. Fun layout. Treated very well..

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/18/2021

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine!

Played On
Reviews 46
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/25/2021

Thank you for visiting us at Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine. We appreciate your 4-star rating and review. We hope you join us for another round soon.

Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Nice Course

Played here yesterday. Good course with fairways and greens in excellent condition.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/08/2021

Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine.

Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course

Enjoyed this course. Great shape. Greens firm and fast. Really fun layout

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/01/2021

Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine.

Played On
Reviews 88
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

Fun at the beach

Played Egret and Herren for the first time.Pace of play was great and tees and fairways perfect.Greens were a little bumpy on Herren and greens rolled around a 10. The course has a lot of character and makes you think before hitting a shot. I would definitely play here again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/27/2021

Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine.

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/14/2021

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Carolina National Golf Club - Ibis Nine!

Nearby Courses
Bolivia, North Carolina
Semi-Private
4.1644857143
375
Bolivia, North Carolina
Public
4.1644857143
375
Lockwoods Folly, North Carolina
Semi-Private
3.9412882353
420
Southport, North Carolina
Semi-Private
5.0
1
Shallotte, North Carolina
Public
4.4647714286
217
St James, North Carolina
Semi-Private
4.0
1
Southport, North Carolina
Semi-Private
5.0
1
St James, North Carolina
Private
0.0
0
Southport, North Carolina
Semi-Private
3.3333333333
2
Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Semi-Private
3.7426352941
425
Southport, North Carolina
Municipal
4.0
1
Caswell Beach, North Carolina
Semi-Private
3.5714285714
6
Golf Packages

Talamore Golf Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $137 (USD)
SOUTHERN PINES, NC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Talamore Golf Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Mid Pines Golf Course, Mid South Course, Tobacco Road Golf Course, and The New Course.

Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club Stay & Play Package

FROM $167 (USD)
SOUTHERN PINES, NC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Mid Pines Golf Course, Pine Needles Golf Course, Tobacco Road Golf Course, and The New Course.

Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club Stay & Play Package

FROM $167 (USD)
SOUTHERN PINES, NC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Mid Pines Golf Course, Pine Needles Golf Course, Tobacco Road Golf Course, and The New Course.

Francis Marion Hotel Stay & Play

FROM $187 (USD)
CHARLESTON, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Francis Marion Hotel and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of RiverTowne Golf Course, Charleston National Golf Course, Wild Dunes – Harbor Course, Wild Dunes – Links Course, and Stono Ferry Golf Course.

Wild Dunes Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $197 (USD)
CHARLESTON, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Wild Dunes Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Wild Dunes – Harbor Course, Wild Dunes – Links Course, RiverTowne Golf Course, and Charleston National Golf Course.
Now Reading