Back
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 |
Hot Deals at Lions Paw
1-4
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Grill, RestaurantAccolades
-
Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2021 #16)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
-
72 year-old with good swing form! Photo submitted by PKStamm2418 on 01/18/2026
-
Carlos was a great welcoming committee Photo submitted by james9852821 on 10/14/2025
-
Photo submitted by u000007843074 on 06/13/2025
-
Photo submitted by u000007843074 on 06/13/2025
-
Photo submitted by u000007843074 on 06/13/2025
-
Photo submitted by Richard1399167 on 05/16/2021
Nice course with new greens
We played on a Friday afternoon with another couple and it felt like we were the only one on the course. Staff was friendly and helpful. The layout of the course is beautiful, with a mixture of playing along tree lines and wide open areas. It could be even more pretty if the greenkeepers would take more care round the greens. It seems like they didn't mow it for a couple of days. Tee boxes and fairways are in good shape. The greens were renewed in the fall, so there is not much grass, yet. The ball was still running well with a good speed. Every green has a big slope from one side to the other, so you never get an easy approach shot or put. Tough to play. Buttom line a nice course and definitely worth the money. But I would recommend to play Leopards Chase instead.
Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Panther's Run. We greatly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. I will pass this information along to our Director of Agronomy and our head greens superintendent and make sure they are aware of the issues you described. It is our goal to provide all of our guests with a fun and memorable golf experience and we will do everything in our power to make improvements wherever possible. Thanks again and we hope you will visit us again soon!
Thank you for the very nice four star review of Lion's Paw. We hope you will visit us again soon and see our continued progress as we are striving to earn Five Stars from our future guests! Let us know how we are doing! Thanks again.
Thank you for the very nice four star review of Lion's Paw. We hope you will visit us again soon!
Thank you for the very nice four star review of Lion's Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well.
Thank you very much for the awesome Five Star review of Lion's Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Thank you for the wonderful Five Star review of Lion's Paw! We hope you will visit us again soon and be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well.
Nice course but pace of play was terrible
Pace of play was terrible with no Marshall on the course. They had a tour bus full of golfers who had no problem stopping to take photographs when they should have been playing the game. The result was stacking everyone behind them.
Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. I will pass this information along to our golf director and see what can be done to improve the situation. We typically have at least one ranger/marshal on each of the Big Cats courses every day, so this would have been a very unusual situation. We apologize for any inconvenience and we will take whatever steps necessary to address this issue and improve our operation. Thank you again and we hope you will visit us again soon and see our continued progress.
Greens virtually gunplay
Practice range closed. Cart path only though fairways were dry and firm. Greens were mostly unplayable. Grass was thin or non-existent. Previous cup holes were not filled and rolled properly. With these conditions, course should never charge full price or even Golf Now rates.
Thank you for taking the time to review your recent visit to Lion's Paw. Unfortunately we did experience 2.5" of rain on the evening before your round, so the director of agronomy determined we should keep the carts on the path for the day, to prevent damage to our fairways, etc. Regarding the greens, the greens have been reported to be in very good overall condition for early spring. Looking at other recent reviews on this site, I see comments like "Great Greens" just a few days prior to your round. So I am rather confused by the description you reported. In speaking with our staff and golfers playing today (03/26/24) everyone has told me the greens are still in very nice condition. I apologize we fell short of your expectations on this visit. If you will reach out to me at blong@oceanridge.com, I would be happy to work with you to find a mutually agreeable solution. Thanks again.
Great greens
The course had a few challenging holes but it was a fun course to play. The greens were fast but well appointed. I will definitely be back.
Thank you for the wonderful Five star review of Lion's Paw! We agree, the course is looking great and is always a blast to play. Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well. Thanks again!
A Good Deal - Decent Coruse
Enjoyed this round at Lion's Paw. Played in two-some and moved around the course in just a few hours. Tee'd off just after 1 pm and played the front 9 again. No one reeally in front of behind us all afternoon. Great deal for the green fees.
Note - no GPS on carts
Thank you for taking the time to review your recent visit to Lion's Paw Golf Links. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. Thank you so much for the very nice Four Star review!
Talamore Golf Resort Stay & Play Package
Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club Stay & Play Package
Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club Stay & Play Package
Francis Marion Hotel Stay & Play
Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Panther's Run! Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well.