The Emerald Golf Club

Nice enough course, but even at the whites it was rather short for me. (Guess I should have moved back a little.)

Most of the reviews read like this is "the go to" course in the area, but I found the course to be rather "lame looking." Number 1 and 10 look identical. No "wow" type holes I found. The greens were in pretty bad shape too, very bumpy and slow.

Do not play without calling to make sure they are not hosting high school matches!

The assistant manager was nice and signed me in at 12 noon. He informed me that the high schoolers were teeing off at 1 PM but they would not be a problem for me. Well he was a tad wrong. I only completed 7 holes on the front nine (at one over by the way), before one of his assistants came up to me and asked me to actually skip the 8th and 9th holes and go straight to 10, to accommodate the high school kids.

I never had such a request, but I obliged. Problem is by the time I got to hole 10 it was packed with two foursomes of old guys like me.

By the time I got to number 13 I had been out three 3 hours (to play 9 holes.) I just left, couldn't take the waiting anymore knowing it would be dark before I even came close to finishing 18.

Was gonna ask for a 9 hole pass next time I came back but I don't wanna go back as "the Emerald" just ain't worth the $ nor the drive for me.

When you are around New Bern save yourself a lot of headaches and go play Harbour Pointe or Carolina Colours and even better go play the best course in a 100 mile radius of New Bern, The Beaufort Club in Beaufort NC!

Greens and fairways in excellent condition. I normally play blue tees, but recommend further back on this course.

Very nice layout, big fairways encourage you to bomb away, nice greens, 5 sets of tees make it easy to get the right length. Short from ladies tees, so my wife loved it and had no trouble reaching greens in regards. Will play it again for sure.

although we had downpours the night before the course was in decent condition, cart path only but still had a great round.

Very nice and well kept course. Greens are different as they are brownish in color. But they roll fine and are well manicured. Roomy fairways for the most part, so off quality shots still have a chance to be playable without penalty. Very enjoyable and always a chance to put up a good scorecard.

I've been playing this course about once a week since Sept. The first time I played the staff was friendly and accommodating but since it's gone downhill. You'd think after playing so many times the Pro would at least recognize me and attempt to remember my name as most courses appreciated good customers but not here. It seems as thought there is a certain set that can and do as they please and the rest of us are on our own. They constantly overbook the place resulting in rounds of 5 hrs. or more. There is no visible ranger on the course directing traffic. So most shots you end up sitting and waiting causing the experience to be less than good. The course is a beautiful course which kept me coming back always hoping that my experience would change. This past Wednesday was the last straw. Again slow play, unfriendly staff and a five-some in front of us that acted as though they owned the course. I've been looking in the area for a course to join as a member and this won't be it.

Since I live in the neighborhood, I play this course almost exclusively. I'm trying to get my game back in shape so I've been playing from the white tees. My only complaint in so doing is the par threes are awfully short. The blues look much more challenging and I'm sure the tips will give most good players all they can handle. The course also offers yellow and red tees.

To me, the course is always in great shape except after a heavy or prolonged rain when the course can become quite soggy and it's cart path only. Otherwise it's carts anywhere. The greens are quick but true. The tee boxes are in good shape and the bunkers are weed free. The sand, however, is a notch above sandbox quality. The course is fairly open but there are some spots where the OB is fairly tight. The ground brush in the woods is kept to a minimum so it's tough to lose a ball unless you go way into the woods.

I think most golfers will find this to be the best course in the near New Bern area.

I've played this course a dozen times at least . This time however was way overbooked and having to wait on a cart is ridiculous . They sent the starter home for some reason and no Marshall was seen. I do know the price for the course is reasonable but between members and a cheap rate there are always problems. I will play there again just not after a holiday.

Beautiful day! Only problem was the lack of women's clothing in the Pro Shop.

Good course, not too long. Greens are quick and tough but roll true.

The staff and course were great. We were able to tee off on time behind other groups who never slowed the course down. Fast greens with challenging pin positions.

Emerald Golf Course is well kept, not overly crowed and over all at nice course. Could use more water stations located about the course.

The Emerald Golf Course is a hidden gem.... The course is in great shape and the greens are fast and true. Even though they put down sand on all the greens, the still bite on approach shots AND roll true. The fact that they are fast, makes it easier to putt. I believe this course favors a right handed golfers fade. On some holes I had to draw the ball, but only remember doing it twice off the tees.

I golfed in the afternoon on a hot deal and had the course to myself. I played the front nine in 70 mins and the back nine in 80 mins....

The homes along the course are brick ranches that are on one side of the fair way while the other side of the fairway are trees. The landing zones are fairly big. I will make sure I play this course again.

I drove up from Topsail Island because all the courses around here are wet and cart path only... You will enjoy this old world charm and the course challenges golfers of all skill.

Overall this course is kept in top condition. The greens are pro quality speed and the course is playable by all skill levels. There is a first class driving range, chipping green and putting green. This is the closest course I have ever played that you could considerl professional level.

I played this course on a vacation. It was late June so I expect Southern courses to be a bit brown and crusty. It was the second course I played and the first one was very lush and the greens were soft, receptive, and rolled well. Emerald did not. There was visible sand on the greens so they may have recently been punched but they were quite hard with almost no ball marks and the roll of the ball was a bit erratic.

As for the layout, it was a good challenge. A few of the par 3s had a forced carry over water. Several holes had water in play along the length of the fairway. Most holes had OB left and right as the course winds through homes.

The card says the course has been used for PGA Tour Qualifying School and for several Curtis Strange charity tournaments but that was 15 - 20 years ago. It may be high time to do some rehab and pay attention to course maintenance; perhaps more accolades will come.

Greens and fairways in great condition. Plays friendly, flat greens, open fairways. Fun place to play !

Great people, great course, and they even let my one year old ride with me so I could play! Thank you Jerry and your staff you are great and will come back and play again soon.

Almost didn't play here because of the weather. It was 43 degrees with wind chills in the mid 30s. The course was still saturated after being rained on for a few days prior. Got a hot deal from golf now,so decided to play anyway. Really enjoyed the layout. Greens,tees and bunkers were in great shape. Only a handful of players out there that day,so pace of play was not an issue. Would like to play again in warmer and dryer conditions.