7 Clubhouse Road, Ocean View, Delaware 19970, US
(302) 537-5600
Location Map

About Bear Trap Dunes

Located only 3 miles west of the beach town of Bethany Beach, Delaware, Bear Trap Dunes is a 700-home community that boasts serene open spaces, 27 holes of championship golf, and a variety of home types to fit any lifestyle, including single family homes, townhomes and golf villa condominiums. With amenities such as indoor/outdoor pools, a fitness facility, tennis courts, outdoor amphitheater, a clubhouse with restaurant and banquet facilities and a complimentary beach shuttle service, Bear Trap Dunes, owned by Carl M. Freeman Golf, a division of Carl M. Freeman Companies, not only offers vacation homes but a complete resort lifestyle. The course, designed by Rick Jacobson, features the Grizzly, Kodiak and Black Bear nines, all lined with native wetland grasses and natural sand dunes.

Facts

Price Range$$$
Property Class★★★★
Year Opened2001
Number of UnitsLess than 100

Amenities & Services

RestaurantsCasual
PoolIndoor
TennisYes
Fitness CenterYes
Practice FacilityYes
Banquet SpaceYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?Yes
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No

Golf courses at Bear Trap Dunes

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
681 Reviews (681)
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

A good challenge..

A good challenge in comparisons to other courses in the area. The tees and greens a bit chewed up (seems like someone who played that day wore steels). The layout is pretty challenging, a good amount of blind tee shots. Will definitely play again.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Played

Not a $100+ Course

This course is very over-priced for the conditions of the course this time of year. The course obviously has gotten plenty of play from golfers who do not care about tending to their divots and ball marks on the green.. Tee boxes were chewed up; greens were worn and bumpy with untended ball marks. Plus the score card provided no layout of the holes and on many of them, having not played the course for years, golfers were left guessing.

I played at 12:30p in a Saturday afternoon when the rate was $100. Staying home and playing a local Middletown course at < $50 would have been a better value with better course conditions. This is not a $100+ course given current playing conditions.

Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart
2.0
2.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 2.0
Value 1.0
Layout 2.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 2.0
Amenities 2.0
Difficulty 3.0
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Near the beaches

Fun Course, 3 9 hole tracts. Fairways are somewhat spongy and wet in low areas. Range is mats only, but a nice chipping green.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 3.0
Amenities 3.0
Difficulty 3.0
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Good value

Nice course in excellent shape. Staff is friendly and flexible.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played

Great Golf Course

Went to Bear Trap because of convenience and the quality of the course. Biggest drawback is the cost to play. I play in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and can find equal courses for better price. Biggest difference is that Florida has year round comfortable weather.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 3.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 23
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Played

Too expensive

Bear Trap is a fairly easy course that is nicely maintained. For the price the course does not come close to having that Wow factor. The practice areas are nice separate putting and chipping and driving with range balls included in fees. The course is really a 45 to 50 dollar course.

First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 1.0
Layout 3.0
Friendliness 3.0
Pace 3.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 3.0
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Overpriced

Love the course, been playing and vacationing at Bear Trap for years but have always felt its overpriced. I think $110 for an AM tee time is flatbout ridiculous!

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 1.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played

All around great day

Course is very challenging, greens are in great shape and hold shots despite being fast, staff were friendly and practice facilities are wonderful with separate chipping and putting areas

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Played

Bogus

Not worth the money. Boring.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 1.0
Layout 2.0
Friendliness 3.0
Pace 3.0
Amenities 1.0
T O P 25
Reviews 278
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Now I Know...

...what the pros must have to deal with. The fairways were ample, but your shots to the greens were treacherous. Greens were slightly elevated with closely mowed run off areas on all sides. Now you’re on these undulating green that were running 12 on the stimpmeter (I asked). There are 3 nines here, I played Grizzly to Black Bear. Favorite hole was the #3, short par 4 on the grizzly, cape hole around pond. Food was good and the staff very friendly. Play it after 2pm for a reduced rate.

Top 25 Contributor
New York Advisor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 5.0
Review 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Rough weather day still fun

On a cold and 20+ mph windy day, this course played very nicely. Only issue was the greens. Although immaculate, they were so firm, no one in our foursome needed to repair a ball mark all day. I attribute this directly to the uncharacteristically cold spring weather, as this issue existed at the other courses we played on this trip. Rest of course was maintained to the highest standard. From bag drop to finish, staff was great.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 24
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Bear Trap Dunes: An Ocean View gem

Excellent course, friendly staff and great greens. No GPS slows pace of play.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Walked
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 3.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 29
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

great course, great staff

We were scheduled to play all 27 holes, but the weather was very unforgiving. Rain, sleet, wind, snow and sunshine all in the same day. The course is in excellent condition, from tees to greens to bunkers. Even though the course never closed due to weather, the pro shop staff gave our group of 7 rain checks for the 9 holes that we couldnt play. That was very accomodating and gracious of them. We will definitely play here every time we are in the Ocean City, MD area.

Previously Played
Poor weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Good layout. Great greens.

The greens at Bear Trap were as good as any I've played. Very fast and true but not too firm to hold iron shots. It's early in the year but I will play it again soon.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 31
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Well done!

Great course conditions for March. Nice to play on near summer conditions this time of year. Hats off to management and grounds keeping staff.Fees are too pricey for me in season but a great deal at this time.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Review 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played

Great Winter Day

As usual staff at Bear Trap Dunes was very friendly. It had rained 2 to 3 inches the day before and the course was a little soggy, but that's to expected. Overall great day of February golf. Looking forward to our next round.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Average weather
Walked
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 19
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played

Golf in December

Course in pretty good shape even with considerable rain in previous week. Greens in really good shape. Had course to myself playing as a single.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 12
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Course very scenic and tough

The course was very nicely laid out and very challenging. The greens were extremely fast with tough pin placement.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Played

Where are the Marshalls.

Nice place to play, but I don't think they have mastered running three nines. After nine holes and getting things spaced out, they allowed member foursome to jump in front two groups ahead. Needless to say, the back nine (Black Bear) was torture.
Also the starter disappeared for 20 minutes and when I asked bag guys was told he was cleaning up driving range.

Won't recommend, and probably won't go back.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 3.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 1.0
Amenities 4.0
Review 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played

Great layout

We went out as a twosome and paired up with a full member Art. He was very kind and helpful and gave us lots of tips !!

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 3.0
Friendliness 1.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
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