Members (Irwin Back/Cate Nine) at St. James Plantation

St. James Plantation's Members Course combines two distinct nines designed by Hale Irwin, a three-time U.S. Open champion who transitioned to golf course architecture after his playing career. The Irwin Back nine and Cate nine together form an 18-hole layout that serves the residential community in Southport, located along North Carolina's southeastern coast near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. The course opened as part of the larger St. James Plantation development, which encompasses multiple golf courses and residential neighborhoods.

The routing takes advantage of the coastal plain topography characteristic of this region, with relatively gentle elevation changes and natural wetland areas that come into play on several holes. Irwin's design philosophy typically emphasizes strategic options for players of different skill levels, with multiple teeing grounds and risk-reward scenarios built into the layout. The course features Bermuda grass fairways and greens suited to the warm, humid climate of coastal North Carolina.

St. James Plantation operates as a private club serving its residential community, with the Members Course functioning as one of several golf options available to property owners and their guests. The club facilities include a clubhouse with dining services typical of residential golf communities in the region. The course provides a home layout for members who live within the plantation's gates, complementing the other courses on the property that were designed by different architects.