Scotch at Scotch Hall Preserve

Scotch Hall Preserve is an Arnold Palmer design situated in the rural Tidewater region of northeastern North Carolina, near the Albemarle Sound. The course occupies land that reflects the area's characteristic low-country topography, with relatively flat terrain punctuated by wetlands, mature hardwoods, and natural water features common to this coastal plain environment. Palmer's routing takes advantage of the property's natural drainage patterns and existing vegetation to create a layout that emphasizes strategic shot placement over dramatic elevation changes.

The design incorporates the environmental sensitivity typical of courses built in ecologically protected areas of coastal North Carolina, with generous natural areas and preserved wetland corridors that come into play on several holes. The flat landscape allows for wide fairway corridors in places, though water hazards and strategically positioned bunkers define the playing angles. The course serves a residential community within the preserve, and the overall character reflects Palmer's later work in similar settings—accessible to a range of skill levels while offering enough variety and challenge to maintain interest for regular play.

The Merry Hill area remains largely agricultural and undeveloped, giving Scotch Hall Preserve a quiet, secluded atmosphere distinct from more densely populated golf destinations in North Carolina. The course operates as part of a private community focused on conservation and low-density development in a region better known for its fishing and farming heritage than for golf.