The Pearl Golf Links

The Pearl Golf Links West Course, designed by Dan Maples and opened in the mid-1990s, occupies a distinctive coastal setting in Calabash, North Carolina, part of the region known as the Brunswick Islands along the state's southern coast. The course sits on relatively flat terrain characteristic of the area, with routing that winds through natural wetlands, tidal marshes, and stands of native vegetation. Maples incorporated the low-country landscape into the design, using the existing water features and coastal topography to create strategic challenges while preserving the site's natural character. The layout features several holes that play alongside or across marsh areas, requiring carries over wetlands and careful club selection in the coastal winds that frequently affect play. Maples designed generous landing areas off many tees but protected greens with bunkers and natural hazards, creating a course that accommodates recreational players while offering strategic interest for lower handicappers. The flat terrain allows for walkability, though most players ride given the distances between some green-to-tee transitions. The Pearl complex, which includes multiple courses, serves primarily as a public-access facility and has been part of the Myrtle Beach golf market, drawing visitors to the area's concentration of courses. The West Course represents Maples's approach to working with coastal Carolina landscapes, emphasizing playability and natural aesthetics over dramatic manufactured features. The course benefits from its proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway and the ecological diversity of the coastal plain environment.