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Lion's Paw at Ocean Ridge Plantation
Rating Snapshot
About
Lion's Paw Golf Links is an open, hilly course that treats the golfer to spectacular views of a beautiful creek valley and its adjoining wetlands. A wild and untamed layout, Lion's Paw features deep sugar white sand bunkers and MiniVerde greens.
A stunning 23,000 square foot clubhouse serves both Lion's Paw and Panther's Run golf courses and offers residents and visitors the perfect place to ready themselves for the upcoming challenge on the links. Designed with a safari theme, the clubhouse includes a full-service pro shop, a snack bar and Tamers Restaurant and Lounge, an elegant dining room serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Lion's Paw has been described as Willard Byrd's finest work. Part wild, part rustic and quiet, this magnificent course presents a lion's share of adventure and breathtaking scenery.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 72 | 7003 yards | 74.0 | 132 |
| White | 72 | 6457 yards | 71.3 | 128 |
| Gold | 72 | 5872 yards | 67.5 | 118 |
| Gold (W) | 72 | 5872 yards | 71.0 | 126 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 5363 yards | 69.0 | 121 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue M: 73.5/137 | 417 | 517 | 204 | 428 | 415 | 228 | 402 | 520 | 386 | 3517 | 400 | 202 | 383 | 527 | 418 | 445 | 384 | 185 | 542 | 3486 | 7003 |
| White M: 71.0/131 | 387 | 477 | 178 | 385 | 399 | 175 | 364 | 495 | 352 | 3212 | 375 | 188 | 372 | 493 | 396 | 408 | 353 | 154 | 506 | 3245 | 6457 |
| White/Gold M: 69.2/126 | 351 | 477 | 128 | 385 | 366 | 136 | 364 | 495 | 352 | 3054 | 375 | 172 | 322 | 493 | 393 | 382 | 353 | 131 | 506 | 3127 | 6181 |
| Gold M: 67.3/115 W: 72.7/133 | 351 | 433 | 128 | 361 | 366 | 136 | 332 | 478 | 336 | 2921 | 349 | 172 | 322 | 431 | 393 | 382 | 319 | 131 | 457 | 2956 | 5877 |
| Red M: 64.2/108 W: 68.8/124 | 335 | 416 | 108 | 326 | 353 | 125 | 303 | 455 | 305 | 2726 | 307 | 110 | 300 | 413 | 321 | 366 | 286 | 121 | 406 | 2630 | 5356 |
| Handicap | 1 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 18 | 12 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 1 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 14 |
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Course Details
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Bar, Grill, RestaurantAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2021 #16)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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72 year-old with good swing form! Photo submitted by PKStamm2418 on 01/18/2026
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Carlos was a great welcoming committee Photo submitted by james9852821 on 10/14/2025
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Photo submitted by u000007843074 on 06/13/2025
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Photo submitted by u000007843074 on 06/13/2025
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Photo submitted by u000007843074 on 06/13/2025
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Photo submitted by Richard1399167 on 05/16/2021
Greens need help
I understand from discussion with staff that the the infestation of Poa Ana grass on the greens is an issue however there were other areas which needed help. Sand was inconsistent from some bunkers (compacted) to others were there was white fluffy sand.
I must admit the layout of courses in this area is appreciated. It pays to think regarding shot placement which is the way it should be set up.
Solid!
Overall! Great course for the money. Course was in great shape! Minus bumpy greens.. not unplayable but not ideal either if you’re used to playing on true putting greens.
Thank you for the very nice four star review of Lion's Paw. The greens will be getting better daily as we have taken a very aggressive approach to finish off any lingering invasive grasses in them and they should be putting more smoothly each day as we move along. Thanks again.
Thank you for the nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We hope you will visit the other three Big Cats courses as well.
Greens full of weeds and spray painted green
Very poor greens and had 6 groups on hole 13. Many better options than here unfortunately.
Thank you for the nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw! We really appreciate it. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Great value!
Great course for the money. Only thing to note would be condition of the greens. I plan on playing this again and again.
Thank yo for the nice Four star review of Lion's Paw. We appreciate you patronage and hope you will come visit us again soon. We have taken extensive measures to address the issue you decribed and the conditions should improve rapidly. Thanks again.
Excellent course
Only negative issue was the greens. Painted and dormant, too fast on slope section of green and lots of small patches of grass growing everywhere on green surface making putting very bumpy.
Greens need work!
Course layout is good. But fairways quite dry and hard and greens are terrible ( very bumpy with lots of weird tufts of grass or weeds all over)
Made putting a hopeless experience. Will not play again.
Greens are lost.
Well we squeezed in an afternoon round. All is good except the greens seem lost and have been for a while. Cart path nicest in Carolina
Did make a new friend in photo.
Horrible
It’s amazing that they charge money to play on this course. Greens were awful, mostly dirt with the mixed in weeds. The practice green has a 2x2 square of dirt on it. Putts pretty much bounce through the weeds the whole way. No chance of judging speed or break. Fairways weren’t good at all. Left after 9 holes. Save your money or find somewhere else to play. This was incredibly disappointing.
Greens
Course has good challenging layout but the weeds on the greens are like playing Plinko
A hit it hard off of the tee course
This course is open off of the tee. It is also long. Very fast greens with long approach shots make it hard to score on this course. Choose your tees wisely!
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Thank you for taking the time to review your visit to Lion's Paw. We are in the process of a major bunker restoration project that will see any problem bunkers refurbished and improved as we move through the remainder of 2023 and beyond. We hope you will visit us again soon and see our continued progress.