Kilmarlic
If you know about Kitty Hawk – the place near where the Wright Brothers made the first powered flight in history – you know something about the Outer Banks of North Carolina. After all, that’s why the state’s license plates say “First in Flight.”
And while it seems Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers National Memorial might be enough of a draw to visit this remote region of the Tar Heel State, there’s so much more to the Outer Banks than four short flights back in 1903. There are historic lighthouses, beautiful beaches, wild horses, Carolina barbecue, cool bars and restaurants, and several really fun golf courses.
Notice that we said several, not close to a hundred that you might get down the coast a ways in Myrtle Beach, for example. And that’s just fine. After all, how many courses can you play in a few days or even a week? And you might want to play a few of these more than once.
There’s also unique accommodations, and even a donut shop that you will never forget. Let’s take a look at one of our favorite destinations of any kind.
How to get there
The Outer Banks, aka OBX, is actually a 200-mile long stretch of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. So really, the best way to travel there unless you’re driving, is to fly into Norfork, Va. (ORF), rent a car, then drive about 90 minutes south.
On the way, a stop at the Currituck BBQ Company to enjoy some genuine Carolina barbecue is highly recommended. The pulled pork sandwiches covered with coleslaw and a vinegar sauce, yardbird, sides, and desserts are so good, you’ll want to check this out on the way back if you can. It’s located in Barco, less than an hour from Norfolk/Virginia Beach area and right at the de facto entrance to the Outer Banks.
On course
While you’re definitely going to want to take in the sights and sites while you’re at OBX, we are coming here for a golf trip, so let’s take a look at what the Outer Banks has to offer, and why it’s unique.
The best of the lot is arguably The Currituck Club, a wonderful Rees Jones design that measures close to 6,900 yards from the back tees and is located in Corolla at the north end of the North Carolina Outer Banks. The course runs along the Currituck Sound with a combination of wetlands and other water features, as well as sand dunes and some formidable bunkers in the fairways and protecting the greens. It’s been ranked among the 25 best courses in North Carolina, which is pretty impressive, considering it’s the same state that has Pinehurst’s 10 golf courses as well as some other incredible layouts.
Perhaps no course screams OBX more than Nags Head Golf Links. Designed by Bob Moore and opened in 1988, this is probably the most linksy feeling of all the courses. Don’t let the yardage fool you either. It’s one of the longest 6,100 yards you’ll ever play, because of the wind and tight fairways that will force your hand from time to time. This course is also gorgeous. The ninth, a par-4 that plays right along the sound, is a good example.
Another great choice is Kilmarlic Golf Club. Opened in 2002, the course is laid out among 650 acres on Powells Point through wetlands, and a forest of pines, oaks, and dogwoods. It’s only 6,500 yards from the tips, but it’s a good enough test that has played host to the North Carolina Open twice and an annual fall college golf tournament.
Some of the other courses you can play include Occano (formerly Scotch Hall Preserve), The Pointe Golf Club, and The Carolina Club.
The Pointe and The Carolina Club are sister clubs. Designed by Russell Breeden and Bob Moore, The Carolina Club is a 7,000-yard layout with generous fairways, a few lakes and ponds, and large greens. If it’s not too windy, you can score out there. Most of all it’s just a lot of fun. The Pointe, which was also designed by Breeden, is player-friendly, too and located across the highway from Kilmarlic.
Finally Occano is an Arnold Palmer design that opened in 2008. This championship layout – which plays more than 7,200 yards from the back set of tees – is located along the Inner Banks along the Albemarle Sound in Merry Hill. The course is gorgeous with lots of great water views.
Carolina Club
Other stuff to do
The great thing about taking a golf trip to OBX is that there is so much else to see and do, and it’s unlike anything else in the United States. As we pointed out earlier, this is where you’ll find a large memorial, museum, and gift shop dedicated to the Wright Brothers feat of four successful powered flights back in December 1903 at what is now known as Kill Devil Hills, just south of Kitty Hawk.
You’ll want to check out some of the historic lighthouses, too, some of which you can climb. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on Hatteras Island, which was built in 1868, is the tallest in the United States at 208 feet. A little closer in is the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla. It’s pretty tall, too, at 162 feet.
There’s hunting and fishing opportunities, too, and get this, you can even drive on the beach if you have a permit or see the famous wild horses on the Currituck beaches via organized tours. And speaking of the beaches, they are stunning, and the water is clear. And you can check out the local wildlife at the Pea Island and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuges.
There’s also the historic town of Manteo on Roanoke Island, which offers boutiques, bookstores, gift shops, and some of the area’s best restaurants. Manteo is also home to the Elizabethan Gardens, a beautifully landscaped garden showcasing the flora and fauna of the Elizabethan era. And it’s a good choice as a base with a variety of inns, bed and breakfasts, and waterfront condominiums, while vacation home rentals are all along the Atlantic Ocean from Corolla to Nags Head.
And speaking of restaurants, the Outer Banks has a lot of good ones, like the Lost Colony Tavern in Manteo. Its name comes from the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island, which was a late 16th-century attempt by Queen Elizabeth I to establish a permanent English settlement founded by Sir Walter Raleigh in Dare County. Lost Colony offers great craft beer and food.