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
610 Reviews (610)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Great Course @ Great Price

Bear Trap Dunes is a very good course. I'll play this course anytime the Golfnow price is good. Our only problem: frost delay! Our tee time was 12:36, plenty to do 18 holes. There was a 40 minute delay so we only got to play 15 holes (but for what we paid, no problem)

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best Hot deal of the year

Played in 2 1/2 hrs for $13. Course in decent shape . Definitely play again !!!!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Round

Always a good time at Bear Trap. I love this course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 86
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 500 Contributor
New Jersey Advisor
First Time Playing
Used cart

Wind creates the Challenge

The course is beautiful. The layout of the course was not difficult but with the wind gusting, it made the round very challenging. So it is good to have a "go to shot" with a low trajectory. There is water on the course but it is really only in play if you hit a very wayward shot (or are playing from the back tees that require you to carry water). If you play the forward tees you do not have to worry about forced carries.

The staff was very nice and helpful. The starter gave us tips when he greeted us and asked how we were doing when we made the turn. The on-course "amenities" were excellent (bathrooms at good locations) water at every hole.

I would play this course again.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Jack would not be happy!

Have played course many times and the last couple of rounds have been very disappointing. Greens were in terrible condition, play was ridiculously slow with no rangers on a packed course. For the golf experience and course condition, they are charging way too much for this track!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 41
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Fair weather
Used cart

Sloppy and wet.

The grounds maintenance did more damage then any carts coulds. Wet and sloppy with wet grass dropping on every green. Fairways and greens looked like they had been hit by a barrage of artillery fire. Unrepaired divots everywhere. The course lacks proper management. I had to sear h for the starter for the first course and he was non-existent for direction to the second nine. Picked a course and played. Never saw the starter again. No one to help with bag after the round. Troon needs help.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice experience overall but pricey

Wide fairways and a very interesting layout with plenty of risk-reward decisions. Course longs to be a premium course but not really up to $95.00 a round IMHO. Staff is great and super friendly and accommodating. Pace of play on Sunday was horrible. Play during the week if you can.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bear Trap Dunes

Greens were bumpy due to being air rated recently. Played Black Bear to Grizzly. Some fairways we're burned out in spots while others were soggy. Couple greens on Grizzly had patches that were lost nothing but sand present. Staff were friendly and professional. Playing there again for a tournament on the 28th and hope it's in better shape.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Wet, Wet. Wet.

This course is extremely convenient for me and I really like the layout, etc. The condition of the course however, leaves a lot to be desired. It was as wet as I have probably ever seen a course in spite of the fact that they have had little to no rain in the ten days before we played. Some fairways were so wet, and not necessarily in low spots, that drives would plug. In the center of the fairway. Others (#9 Grizzly) clearly had some severely wet spots yet they had run mowers right through them and created huge ruts in the fairway. The approach to #1 Grizzly was so wet that a well struck seven iron plugged in the turf. Ironically, the range was not on the mats for the first time in my memory. Unfortunately, it was difficult to find any grass on a range that clearly suffered from the same lack of attention as the rest of the course. When you are getting $100+ for a round you have to do better. In a day and age where the USGA is promoting fast and firm there really is no excuse for such poor practices. It is a shame because this could be a really top place to play. Make one wonder if the owners (Freeman Cos.) or the management company (Troon Golf) are paying attention.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good value

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

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously 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!

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously 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

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

Bogus

Not worth the money. Boring.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 278
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 25 Contributor
New York Advisor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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