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Rating Index Rating
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3.9
411 Reviews (411)
5 Stars
92
4 Stars
184
3 Stars
77
2 Stars
32
1 Stars
26
Conditions
3.5
Value
4.1
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.1
84.3%
Recommend this course
321 out of 411 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
17 Reviews (17)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.6
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.8
94.1%
Recommend this course
16 out of 17 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
74 Reviews (74)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
40
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
5
Conditions
3.4
Value
4.1
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.4
81.1%
Recommend this course
60 out of 74 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 7003 yards
Slope 132
Rating 74.0

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.

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Lions Paw
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Course Details

Year Built 1990
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens MiniVerde Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Willard Byrd (1990) Nai Chung Chang (1990)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Restaurant

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2021 #16)
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Reviews

3.9
411 Reviews (411)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 46
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Fun layouts

My group booked the 7:45. We had a frost delay until

9:15 but the food and hospitality was great. For the time of year the course was in good shape and I really enjoyed the layout. We ended up playing a second 18 to finish the day on Panthers Run with the carts in by 5 o’clock.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/12/2023

Thank you for the nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We are very happy to hear you enjoyed your visit and we look forward to seeing you again soon!

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not in great shape

Weeds on the greens in some places and even portions of the green missing any type of grass. But we played in a twosome very early and were done in 3 hrs.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 29
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Im positive you know what you doing there but keep greens in condition that you can put on them at least.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Staff very frienfly, except for one!

Played the course esrly afternoon and the starter/bag guy, Joe was funny and very Nice. Very Nice course, good conditions. I forgot me cell phone and should up to retrieve it. It had not been found. Inside the lady at the pto shop was helpfull taking my information but posssibly the pro or director of golf showed up and gave me a speech on how to not do this again, in a very condescinding way. Warned me to not check in the carts! I guess a 56 yeard old retired police officer looked like à criminal. Not impressed.on the very positive note, going outside one of the starter, an african american, sorry I did not see his name, took the time to call my cell on 2 occasions and found it. Extraordinary service!! He should get is bosses job, or at least SHOW him how to treat People with respect.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Better than was expecting

Read the greens were terrible, not so. Very fast and playable. Bunkers need a little TLC. Overall a fun layout. Will play again

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Back after a few years…

Was back after a few years following a previous positive experience. Pace was terribly slow and course was pretty dried-up with no maintenance of the sand traps.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

very nice course

great views, course condition was great, staff was exceptional

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 9
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Lions Paw Needs a Drink

Enjoyed playing Lion's Paw of the Big Cats. It was very firm, both the greens and the fairways. They could each use some softening up. It was very difficult to assess yardage as there were only markers embedded in the fairways, and it seemed like not on every hole. Thanks to an extra discount from GolfPAss it was a very good value.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather

Lions Paw is back

I played with my son and his best friend and was surprised how nice the conditions were. Tees and fairways were very good and the greens were in very good shape. Well worth the money and a great and challenging golf course.

Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 08/16/2022

Thank you very much for the nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and we hope you will come visit us again soon.

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Customer service is impeccable

From arriving at Lions Paw and being greeted by the attendants (all were amazing!) to speaking with the starter who didn’t talk down to you to stopping for water before our round to stopping for a sandwich at the turn to getting a cold one afterwards (btw Chrissy is wonderful).. this is a great place to golf.

Holes are well maintained. Some high grass areas probably due to it being so wet. This is now our favorite place to golf in The Sunset/Ocean Isle area - hands down!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 08/11/2022

Thank you very much for the awesome Five Star review of Lion's Paw. We are so happy you enjoyed your visit. We have been working diligently to provide our guests with a fun and memorable golfing experience and we certainly appreciate the feedback. Be sure to visit the other Big Cats course as well!

Thanks again!

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