Kilmarlic Golf Club

4 couples played here after a day at Currituck on the OBX. It was an enjoyable round but take note of three things - 1st, choose your tees carefully and don't just go by the yardage - 2nd, know that quite a few holes are cart path only (curbs prevent you from getting to the fairway to get your ball) - and 3rd, be aware that some of the sight lines on the holes can mess with your mind. You almost have to play it more than once to get a feel for where to place shots. The greens are fairly undulating but were in great shape and putted true. I would definitely play here again although it was a little pricey.

This is an excellent, though expensive, choice for golf on the Outer Banks.

The driving range and practice green are adequate though not particularly large. The practice green was slower than the course greens on the day we played.

The starter placed us as the third group out, starting on the back 9. We did not have to wait when we came around to the first hole for our second 9.

This is a course that one could benefit from knowledge. The sight lines and knowing which holes have trouble on the back of the hole is critical.

There are some very simple holes here (#1 and #10 are good chances for birdies) but then some ridiculously long par 4s on the front nine (Driver followed by 3 wood to green, Driver followed by 4 hybrid to sand trap.

The course generally plays narrower than it appears because the scrub off the fairway, though not tall, is thick and muddy on the day we played.

I did like that from a strategic standpoint, the golf course usually gives the player a preferred side of the fairway and also a side of the green to miss. For the daring player, there are also some tempting looks that are not usually advisable (first par 5 on the back nine, #11, over the swamp to the green suckered me into an 8 instead of an attempt at birdie or an easy par by laying up short and to the left. Ditto on #18 for a 7) It took me about 9 holes to figure this out, but I lowered my score by 8 shots on the back 9 by playing smarter.

The wind was deceptive and not easily discernible from the ground, particularly on the par 3s, so pay attention to the tall trees before hitting

The greens were slow, but in good shape.

The bunkers have relatively soft sand, so the ball can plug in the walls.

I played from the black tees and felt very challenged (11 index). My partner ( index 24) played from the white tees and had one of his most enjoyable rounds ever. Choose your tee box carefully.