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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
923 Reviews (923)
5 Stars
454
4 Stars
375
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
93.4%
Recommend this course
881 out of 923 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
19 Reviews (19)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.0
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.3
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.4
89.5%
Recommend this course
17 out of 19 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
77 Reviews (77)
5 Stars
42
4 Stars
25
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.3
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.6
90.9%
Recommend this course
70 out of 77 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.

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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
923 Reviews (923)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice Course. Fair Layout

I have played here many times over the years since it first opened. It is an open, links-style course. So, expect some wind here. There is a nice variety of shots. The price is less than the courses to the south. It is well worth it to go north of town.

Right now, the greens are fast and smooth. The fairways can be a bit thin in places. Given its location, there are areas that are frequently wet/soft. It is very good shape for the fall.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Perfect weather
Used cart

Slow, slow, slow

Pace of play was terrible. We had 3 different groups waiting on most tee boxes on both the front and back 9s. I called the pro shop to see if they would send a marshal and they said they would, but on one ever showed up.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good course

Good course, good conditions, pace of play was a bit slow playing behind their men's group.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great condition!

Course has a great a great layout and was in great shape. We played the day before leaving beach due to the hurricane, so it wasn’t crowded, making pace of play not an issue. Had grandson with us and he is a beginner, but we were not pushed. Let one single through and he was excited to see grandson out there learning the game. Would definitely return and r3commend.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

“I’ll Be Back.”

Only my 2nd visit, and it was my first impression that brought me back. I wasn’t disappointed. Happy to say I found and experienced all the perks that I found and experienced the first time. Guess warm welcomes and great golf is an everyday occurrence at Castle Bay. It is on my permanent rotation list when I’m in the area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 18
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course and layout, very friendly and helpful staff!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great game

Greens were recently dressed, but consistent and in good condition. Fairways were good and pace of play wasn’t an issues. Would definitely recommend playing Castle Bay!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

This place is great

This course is impeccably maintained. The greens were perfect and putting was fun because there was no hidden break so what you saw was actually what it was. I would play there again in a heartbeat.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Castle Bay

I have played this course for 20 years. This summer I have played it once in, August and September with same experience. We have played it for the last time. The person making the reservation was terrible and could barely speak English. We caught the group in front of us on the second hole and waited every shot for the next 16 holes. There were at least two holes open in front of them. We never saw a ranger or a beverage cart.. we pretty much “napped” for 5 hours.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 29
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A bit out there but nice

Really enjoy the (at sometimes) funky layout and the conditions were very good EXCEPT. they were mowing the greens in front of us and one of the mowers were leaving a rough putting suffice behind on a few holes. Not sure why you’d mow greens at 3 in the afternoon but … we enjoyed ourselves.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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