Ed,
A few I liked within an hour's drive of Calabash:
Land-O-Lakes in Whiteville, NC. Costs 17 to walk, 25 w/cart, and occasionally it's only 20 w/cart. It's an older course built on some very nice terrain. Houses on a couple of holes, otherwise it's a very quiet and peaceful place to play.
Same people own
Carolina Shores, 22 miles up 701N in Elizabeth(?) NC. That one's a re-do by Gene Hamm. Definitely more modern but really fun to play. Again, only a few houses on a couple of holes and even though it's right off 701 it's really peaceful and quiet. Same pricing as L-O-L.
Both have interesting greens, were reasonably well maintained for the season and the price, and thay share a good mix of holes. There's a little more quirkiness at L-O-L.
Met the Super and his wife who manage both courses for the owners. Nicest folks you can imagine.
Another fun 20 bucker is
Conway CC, in Conway SC and it was built in the late 20s by one of that eras most profilic and underrated designers, Unknown (he/she happens to be one of my favorite architects
). It's not a long course and it lays close to the ground, unlike much of what's found in the MB area. Very pleasant nine holes of golf.