The hardest golf courses in Bald Head Island, North Carolina
The hardest 18-hole golf courses within about 25 miles of Bald Head Island, North Carolina, ranked by USGA slope rating from each course's longest men's tees, with course rating as the tiebreaker. 5 courses have complete, verified tee data.
Also covers Caswell Beach.
Heron/Ibis
Carolina National Golf Club
Bolivia, NC, USASlope rating 146, 74.6 course rating, Black tees, 6,961 yds
PublicFred Couples & Gene Bates
- 3.5Conditions
- 3.0Layout
- 3.0Value
- 4.0Scenery
- 4.0Facilities
- Driving range
- Grass range
- Putting area
Bald Head Island Country Club
Bald Head Island, NC, USASlope rating 142, 73.9 course rating, Black tees, 6,832 yds
PublicGeorge Cobb & Tim Cate
- 5.0Conditions
- 3.0Layout
- 1.0Value
- 5.0Scenery
- 1.0Facilities
- Driving range
- Pristine
- Grass range
Rivers Edge Golf Club
Shallotte, NC, USASlope rating 140, 72.7 course rating, Gold tees, 6,909 yds
PublicArnold Palmer & Erik Larsen
- 4.4Conditions
- 3.7Layout
- 3.3Value
- 4.6Scenery
- 3.8Facilities
Very tight. Not really a driver course. It’s in a neighborhood and the homes are just way too close and takes away from what could be a decent golf course. A couple of frustrating golf holes made worse by the narrowness around the course
Written by
@jstevelman
- Hidden gem
- Views
- By water
Beau Rivage Golf & Resort
Wilmington, NC, USASlope rating 138, 72.9 course rating, Blue tees, 6,527 yds
PublicJoe Gessner
- 3.5Conditions
- 4.0Layout
- 1.0Value
- 4.0Scenery
- 2.1Facilities
- Driving range
- Pristine
- Putting area
Oak Island Golf Club
Caswell Beach, NC, USASlope rating 133, 73.3 course rating, Blue tees, 6,717 yds
PublicGeorge Cobb
- NRConditions
- NRLayout
- 4.0Value
- NRScenery
- 4.0Facilities
This George Cobb designed course with the 14th as its signature hole is known for its beautiful surroundings and the ever changing winds patterns making it play different every round.
Written by
@NCgolfer
How we rank
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Bald Head Island, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
Heron/Ibis at Carolina National Golf Club is #1 on Course Vaults in and around Bald Head Island, North Carolina at Slope 146 (74.6 course rating · Black tees · 6,961 yds). 5 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Bald Head Island, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
Slope rating is the USGA measure of how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer, from 55 to 155 (113 is average). Course rating is the expected score for a scratch golfer from the same tees.
Yes. It includes qualifying courses within about 25 miles of Bald Head Island, not only courses whose address is in the city.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 4:11 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
