The Big Cats Golf Course of Ocean Ridge Plantation

Lion's Paw occupies rolling terrain within Ocean Ridge Plantation, a residential golf community situated between Ocean Isle Beach and the Intracoastal Waterway in southeastern North Carolina. Designed by Willard Byrd with input from Nai Chung Chang and opened in the mid-1990s, the course takes its name from its routing through natural wetlands and coastal forest, where the layout incorporates significant elevation changes unusual for the Carolina coast. The property features several holes that play along or across marshland, with the back nine particularly noted for its use of the native landscape. The course measures over 7,000 yards from the championship tees and presents a parkland character defined by tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and water hazards that come into play on multiple holes. The design emphasizes positioning off the tee, as the fairways often feature doglegs or require carries over wetland areas. Several holes offer views across the marsh to the Intracoastal Waterway, and the routing takes advantage of the site's natural contours to create variety in stance and approach angles. Lion's Paw is part of a multi-course facility at Ocean Ridge Plantation that includes other layouts designed for different skill levels and playing experiences. The course serves both resort guests and members within the community, and its conditioning and playability reflect its role as a centerpiece amenity for the development. The combination of coastal setting and inland topography gives the course a character distinct from the flatter layouts common to much of the Carolina coast.