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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
943 Reviews (943)
5 Stars
461
4 Stars
386
3 Stars
62
2 Stars
20
1 Stars
14
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.3
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.2
93.6%
Recommend this course
899 out of 943 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
32 Reviews (32)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
17
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.7
Value
4.1
Layout
4.6
Pace
3.7
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.5
90.6%
Recommend this course
29 out of 32 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
56 Reviews (56)
5 Stars
29
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.3
Layout
4.6
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.6
92.9%
Recommend this course
52 out of 56 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
943 Reviews (943)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 52
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

All Greens Were Temporary

If I knew the course was in such poor condition (I know it was a short term problem), I would not have scheduled a tee time!

Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course

This course was well maintained. My only complaint is that it was a very hot day and there are no trees on the course!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 70
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

A nice afternoon on the golf course

Castle Bay is a lovely course that is well maintained.

Due to the use of temporary greens, the course had fewer golfers...which was our gain.

We enjoyed cooler temperatures and well maintained fairways as we completed our round in 3-1/4 hours.

Will definitely return soon.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Too good to be true

Played here many times and always been impressed with the conditioning so after finding a $27 weekend tee time , I thought it seems too good to be true.

It was. The course had temparary greens ranging from 50 to 100 yards in front of the real greens, and had 6 inch diameter pipes in the ground for holes.

While I know that any course can have problems with the course conditioning at any time of year, it would be nice to let online bookers like myself know in advance before they turn up at the course, only to be very disappointed.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course

This course was on temporary greens. I would have not booked it had I know.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Previously Played

Course is under repair

Course is under repair

They are redoing the greens and fairways currently and have temporary greens, FYI

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great course, terrible timing

Great course for sure. Ive been about seven or eight times since last year. Its the only links style in my area and I think is a good representation of the links style. They have pretty good deals on different apps and checking in and a little practice on their putting green and pitching range are always a great warm up. Only real critique I have, is for whatever reason play on the back nine is always slow. The back has more yardage and hazards, plus holes are closer together. Given that, its still gets super clogged in the afternoon when everyone tees off at 11am or after. Course can get pretty mushy and wet limiting to cart path and balls plugging if there's been 3 or 4 good rain days in the week.

But right now I would not go. I was out Sunday 2 days ago and learned they are moving the greens to use Champion Bermuda grass instead of whatever it was before. They started July 15th and Im not sure I heard a date they might be finished. Right now they mowed temporary greens to compensate(hence why I only payed 25 for the round). The new greens are no more than 15foot in diameter and the hole is actually on the crest of the space they mowed. They put 6in cups in to help but the whole green side experience is ridiculous and destroys all motivation to play after hole 1.

Think of a perky boob. The nipple is the cup and its like that on half of the holes. Also they are all placed 50-65 yards in front of the actual old greens so yardage is always off. No wonder the parking lot was more than half empty at 11:30 on a Sunday.

I get they are doing something huge to improve the course, but the temporary things are so poorly thought out and its only to keep people booking times for money. I would call ahead and make sure the renovations are finished because Im not going back there until they are.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 52
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Temporary Greens

Most importantly the staff was very friendly and "up front"! I was told all the greens were temporary. Unknowingly, I found that the temporary greens were located in very extreme locations. I only played 7 holes and then left. When the permanent greens are functional I'd certainly enjoying the course again.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Reseeding greens had temp greens set up but would not have played if we knew ahead of time

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Lack of communication

Played this course several times and was my 2nd time boo ki kng on golf now app. When we got to the course in the morning the golf Tennant ssidnthat there were temporary greens due to the redoing of the regular greens. If I and the 3 guys I was with would have known that would have never booked the round a waste of money. Gentlemen in the workshop said they let everybody know so how it did not get to the golf now app I have no clue. Wont be paying this course anytime again in the near future.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good layout

Course was in great condition. The only thing is that just resurfaced the greens. So they were rough.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Most Bang For Your Buck In The Area

What a great place to play. Short drive from Topsail and worth the $50 to play. Fairways were in great shape & greens were rolling well. The practice greens rolled exactly like the course which. Only downside is the bent greens were taking a pounding in the summer & people were not fixing ball marks. If you are playing in hot summer months, the earlier you can get out the better.

The clubhouse is all your need to be successful. Do check out merchandise - may items were 15-20% below what an unbranded shirt or hat would be at retail such as golf galaxy.

Great place to play, look forward to coming back.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good value for the price. Greens were in pretty good shape. Landing areas in fairways were ample. Would play again when in the area.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Time

Course is tight but fair, come here every year to

Play and this gem will be on schedule.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
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 Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once 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 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

Could not have played a nicer course. Absolutely wonderful.I can not say one bad thing about the course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Enjoyable day

I played the blue tees which was around 6300 yards. It was a good test and required using most all the clubs. It was fair test of golf skill. My recommendation is to play the course if you are in the area !

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Solid Course

Enjoyed this course. Pretty wide open for the most part, but has some holes that require you to be very accurate off the tee. The layout was fun and had its challenges, including heavy marsh and high grass areas which you’d expect from this style course. Overhead folks talking about a greens renovation project they will be undergoing in the 2nd half of 2019. I would definitely play this course again, but probably not with temporary greens.

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