[Matt_Ward]

Been in the northeast corner of NC for a few days after treking through the Pinehurst area.

Played Nags Head on The Outer Banks area and wanted to get the comments of those who have played it.

Short course -- just over 6,100 yards and sports a 138 slope.

I'll weigh in after a few people respond.

thanks,

[Chip Gaskins]

Played it many times.  From right after it opened back in the 90s to as recent as eight months ago.

Ahhhh, what could have been. 

Sandy soil, windy spot, etc. 

Not that it is bad, its just always a shame when you see so many raw ingredients for a superb course that ends up doing a great job selling real estate, but not being the course it could have been! 

Short, quirky, windy, great in spots, etc.

#1 is good fun as a drivable par 4.

[Brian Ross]

I've played there several times.  Not exactly sure what you're looking for, but I would consider it grossly misnamed at best  

Sadly, golf on the Outer Banks makes Myrtle Beach look like Monterey.

Oh what I could do with a little $ and free reign on Ocracoke Island!  

[Carr Harris]

I played Nags Head for a week in march of 1998 so my memories of the course have some holes in it at this point. What I remember most is what's already been mentioned, It's a fun, quirky course with lots of wind. The one par three on the back (15?) along the sound is a solid hole, with the 1st, 9th, and 18th also being memorable. I do remember feeling almost claustrophobic on the one par 5 early on the back (13?,14?) playing through a manmade canyon of condos.

I guess what's most memorable for me is that Nags Head's pro shop is where I bought the putter that is still in my bag to this day.

[Bill_McBride]

I haven't played but saw it in about 1991.  It looked awfully narrow for such a windy area!

[Dale_McCallon]

Bill,

What you saw is correct.  Unless something major has changed since 2008??? the course is very narrow.  Pinched in by condos and vacation homes everywhere.  It is a short course, but with the wind and the tightness it was just not a fun place to play.

I've vacationed in OBX several times and while I like the area a lot the golf is pretty pedestrian.  I like the course at Currituck, but the rate gets pretty steep during peak season.  Kilmarlic is a residential course not too far from the main stretch of the Outer Banks.  Not spectacular, but I thought it was better than Nags Head or SeaScape (think that is the name of the other course on the Banks). 

[Matt_Ward]

I share the feelings that Nags Head could have -- should have -- been much, much better.

The site is narrow as most of the holes run on a north-south / south-north basis. The wind is ever present but unfortunately the bulk of the holes have the waist of a Miss American contestant. Couple that with nearly impenetratable plant life that rings the course in almost all areas -- save for where the rental housing closes in on the other side.

On top of that -- there are several instances of where holes are cut-off to force the player to lay-up. The long par-4 12th would be an even better hole if the pond were not present to force players to lay-up -- this is especially so when the wind comes from the south-southwest direction. On the flip side the preceding hole -- the 11th is a solid short par-4 of 349 yards -- careful positioning off the tee is essential to get near the pin.

Worst of all is the climatic hole -- the long 18th is 583 yards and it is as wide as Rte 12 which takes you up to Corolla from Kitty Hawk. There is NO room for ANY miss -- it's either you succeed or you fetch another ball out of your bag.

I can't think of another course I have played that is as short as Nags Head at 6,126 yards but still sports a 138 slope from the Champ markers.

Bill is spot on -- when you have THAT narrow a layout coupled with high and often times fierce winds the net result can often be a tough slog for those who fail to have total shotmaking control.

[Rich Brittingham]

Played there during a bachelor Party about 5 years ago, the short first hole was a bunch of fun as it played into a 40 mph wind, don't remember much after that.....

[Carl Rogers]

I played there about 8 to 10 years ago. 

I try anything once.

I have had no desire to return.

[Brock Peyer]

I lived across the street from it for 9 months and drove by it all the time and only played it one time, for a reason.  At first glance it is quite intriguing.  It's a shame because it could have been spectacular.

[Matt_Ward]

Brock:

I agree but for some reason, because of limited land and the general nature of the routing for the course -- most of the holes follow a predictable north-south / south-north routing. The wind makes things interesting but when you have a course that is so narrow and will swallow golf balls faster than Jaws the shark -- I have to wonder if a bit more thought could have been given. The possibilities for something much better were there. A missed opportunity indeed.

[Dale_McCallon]

Like I said, I have no love for the course at all, but I wonder if it truly was a "lost" opportunity.  I really have to think the golf course was the secondary concern of the developers.  i would bet that their biggest concern was how many rental homes/condos could be sqeezed into the area. 

I agree that the site would be a great place for a course assuming an architect got unrestricted access to the land.  But with the mantra of Nags Head seeming to be "cram a house in anywhere you can" I really doubt if he had the land we think he did.

[Matt_Ward]

Dale:

Point well taken -- agreed.

Housing is the central focus -- the place is literally engulfed with it -- anyone who pulls tee shot on the 1st will be an incoming golf ball for the houses situated there.

The issue is -- they did have the land -- they DECIDED to fit 18 holes as a secondary matter.

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