Byrd at Sea Trail Golf Resort and Convention Center: #1
Aerial view of the 1st hole from Byrd at Sea Trail Golf Resort and Convention Center
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Rating Index Rating
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3.7
443 Reviews (443)
5 Stars
93
4 Stars
209
3 Stars
78
2 Stars
40
1 Stars
23
Conditions
3.5
Value
3.8
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.9
70.0%
Recommend this course
339 out of 443 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
18 Reviews (18)
5 Stars
4
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.8
Layout
3.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.4
72.2%
Recommend this course
13 out of 18 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
38 Reviews (38)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.0
Layout
4.1
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.4
76.3%
Recommend this course
29 out of 38 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 6658 yards
Slope 129
Rating 72.6

The Willard Byrd course at Sea Trail Plantation is one of three courses on the property, which covers 2,000 acres of creeks and wooded lots. It's in Sunset Beach, N.C., once named the top coastal destination in the U.S. by Money magazine, and in 2003, Golf Week named Sea Trail in America's best residential courses of distinction.

All three courses, by Dan Maples, Rees Jones and Willard Byrd got 4-star ratings from Golf Digest. The Byrd course is built around several, man-made lakes, from 14-20 acres and features nicely undulating greens and Byrd's trademark decorative sand and waste bunkers, constrictive treelines and greenside bunkers.

The Byrd course opened in the fall of 1990 to good reviews. No. 18 finishes between two ponds at the clubhouse. The course covers 6,750 from the blue tees with a slope rating of 128 slope. Watch for No. 2, a 174-yard par-3 over water, and No. 3, a long par-5, a dogleg right with water on the left.

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Sea Trail Golf Resort - The Willard Byrd Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1990
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Champion Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Willard Byrd (1990)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "The Mel Sole Golf School at Sea Trail Golf Resort"
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Single Allowed Yes
Walking Allowed No
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Reviews

3.7
443 Reviews (443)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 63
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

Disappointing Conditions

We played the Byrd course this year with high expectations due due it's renovation last year. Unfortunately we were disappointed in several fairways were burnt out and the greens were not in the shape I would expect for being redone last year.

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

Nice Track nice staff.

Definitely will be back good in nice condition. Greens rolled nicely.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 29
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 29
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Byrd

The greens are so fast but roll true. Impossible pin placements. Ball stopped at hole and rolled 9 feet down hill. Crazy! Course is in great shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 07/04/2025:
We really appreciate the five-star rating! It’s great to know you enjoyed your visit — we’ll keep working to make every experience just as good.
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

I played the Byrd course. It was very good. Only thing I can pick on is the holes were cut on slopes and the greens were fast so putting was a challenge.. all in all a great place.with plenty of challenge. I would go back.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
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 14
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 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

I played Byrd and there needs to be better signage to get to the starting holes.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Lots of Room for Improvement

I will try to keep this short and start with the best things. I played the Byrd course which had apparently had the greens redone, and the green were really nice...but that was the best part of the course. The fairways were cut almost too short and were scalped in several place. It wasn't a lunch fairway at all.

My BIGGEST problem with the course is that I was playing in the summer and there was NO hydration! They had one drink cart running around BOTH of their open courses, so you were lucky to see the drink cart which we finally saw on hole 17. But the bigger problem is that they didn't have any water stations around. Most courses don't allow for coolers, but you better pack one when you come here. So far, this is my least favorite course in the area.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Response from on 06/11/2025:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We understand this visit didn’t meet expectations and will use your comments to make improvements. We hope your next visit is more enjoyable.
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Greens hard as concrete.

Ball won’t stop on greens that are hard as concrete. Grass sparse in fairways and tees. No driving range or putting or chipping green.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Response from on 06/06/2025:
Thanks for your review. We know there’s room to improve, and we’re already working to enhance things. We’d love a second chance to give you a better experience.
Played On
Reviews 2
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart
Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course

Nice course, very friendly from the front tees. Stayed for a bite on the patio and the food was good and the staff was friendly.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice course

Conditions were pretty good. Greens were in good shape and ran true to their rating of 10.9. Staff members were very nice. Stayed for a bite on the outdoor patio. Food was good. Nice facilities.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Pace was ungodly slow

Title says it all. The pace was almost unmanageable - 5:30 hours. Greens are like putting on cement at times but some of them were normal paced - so inconsistent would be the word I’d use to describe them. The scenery was very nice with a lot of wildlife - many different birds, black squirrels, gators and turtles. I think if the pace of play was better it’d be worth playing again, but I’d never pay full price at the pace

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice course

Course is very nice. Would recommend for your next golf trip.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Response from on 04/15/2025:
Thanks for the five-star rating. We’re thrilled you enjoyed your visit and appreciate your support. Our team looks forward to delivering the same level of excellence next time.
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