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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
921 Reviews (921)
5 Stars
453
4 Stars
374
3 Stars
61
2 Stars
19
1 Stars
14
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.3
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.1
93.2%
Recommend this course
879 out of 921 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
17 Reviews (17)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.9
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.4
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.3
88.2%
Recommend this course
15 out of 17 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
78 Reviews (78)
5 Stars
42
4 Stars
26
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.5
91.0%
Recommend this course
71 out of 78 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Castle Bay's welcoming staff consistently make golfers feel at home, from the pro shop to the beverage cart. The links-style layout offers a fun challenge for all skill levels, with fairways and greens reliably well-maintained.

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Style Links
Par 72
Length 6698 yards
Slope 130
Rating 71.3

Although it is tucked away just north of Hampstead, Castle Bay Country Club will make you feel as though you've been transported to the British Isles. The golf course offers an authentic Scottish-links design that incorporates the natural wetlands of its coastal Carolina location, giving it a truly unique character. The landscape of rolling dunes is covered with native grasses but completely devoid of trees. Tall sand bunkers are strategically placed throughout and there are also expansive waste areas, both characteristics that are true to its links nature. Water hazards come into play on several holes as well. Accurate shot placement is the key to doing well on this course and just like any seaside links layout, the coastal breezes play a prominent role. Much of the difficulty of the golf course comes from negotiating with the prevailing winds.

Book a Tee Time at
Castle Bay Country Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1999
Golf Season Year round

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

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

Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage

Available Activities

Swimming

Available Sports

Fitness, Tennis
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Reviews

4.3
921 Reviews (921)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice layout and great value!

A links style course with enough hazards that you need to play smart golf - course well maintained with water plentiful for a warm September day!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great day at castle bay

It was slow going most of the day due to packed tee times and general heat of the day. But we got around in 4 hrs 20 minutes which was pretty good considering how packed it was .... staff was excellent as usual ... and course was in fantastic shape ... especially considering we just had huge storm last week. While most of courses in the area were closed or cart path only Castle Bay was business as usual. I was very happy with my 2 rounds there this weekend and it remains a shining star in Hampstead.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
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 Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Castle Bay Has Earned “Replay” Status!

While in the TopSail area for summer vacay, my father and I have already played here twice and are seriously considering coming back once more for the finale round!

Decent course layout; greens and fairways in good condition considering temps & time of year; nice staff; fair prices - what’s not to like?! The pace of play! Each round has been 4 1/2 hours w/o stopping at the turn. We were having to wait at just about every hole while ducking shots coming in from the group behind us. Please have your Marshal manage expectations and stagger the groups a little better. Oh, and have a cart come around more frequently selling cold drinks & snacks.

Overall - Good rating that I’d recommend to friends!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Slow play, meh conditions. HOT!

Probably the hottest round I've ever played. Heat index was 110+. Conditions were okay. Green collars and tee boxes were pretty bad. Greens were soft. Pace was SLOW. We waited on every hole, all the way around. Course is pretty wide open and easy except for a few holes. They did have GPS carts with rain hoods.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 68
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

A hot, humid day on the links

It was hot and humid and a beautiful day for golf.

The fairways and greens were in better condition than I have seen them in a couple of years.

Too bad my game didn’t match the course conditions!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fun Course to Play and well run

Had wonderful weather and an enjoyable golf experience!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Solid course

Tee time was backed up due to a storm, but the course was excellent once we got out. Even after a storm, the greens were rolling great.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice course

Unique layout for our area. Well worth the drive from Wilmington. Fairways and greens were in great shape. GPS on the cart gives you exact distance to the pin as well as contours. Driving range was grass, not mats. Overall much better than your options in Wilmington.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
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