Coastal Classics: Outer Banks Golf makes its mark again in 2025

Shaped over centuries by wind, water and time, North Carolina's Outer Banks has always been a place of natural wonder. Before World War II, few people visited this isolated stretch of coast. But when bridges and roads arrived to aid wartime defense, they also opened the gates to tourism - and eventually, great golf.

Today, the Outer Banks blends smart development with determined preservation, from the windswept dunes of Jockey's Ridge to the wild horses of Currituck. And perhaps nowhere is the region's connection to the outdoors more fully enjoyed than across its stunning golf courses - four of which have landed among North Carolina's "Top 60 You Can Play" for 2025.

According to the North Carolina Golf Panel, now celebrating its 30th year, The Currituck Club ranks highest at No. 19, followed by Kilmarlic Golf Club at No. 25, Nags Head Golf Links at No. 46, and The Carolina Club, a 2025 newcomer at No. 50.

With their dramatic views and breezy challenges, these Outer Banks courses consistently offer one of the best-value golf trips in the state - and beyond. Whether you're looking for coastal links or inland parkland-style layouts, the OBX lineup is as diverse as it is memorable. Add in roomy accommodations, easy access, and plenty to do off the course, and you've got an all-in-one sportsman's destination.

Each course offers something unique. Take The Currituck Club, a standout on North Carolina's Top 100 list at No. 63, where Rees Jones's masterful routing winds through 600 acres of maritime forest, dunes, wetlands, and seascape. Crafted on "the type of land where golf began," it's the OBX's crown jewel.

Then there's Nags Head Golf Links, a favorite for its ever-changing winds and scenic inner waterway setting. Designed by Bob Moore and once ranked No. 5 on the state's "Best Short(er) Courses," it evokes the feel of a classic Scottish links - wild sea grass, rugged shoreline and all.

A few miles inland, Kilmarlic Golf Club delivers a lush, lowcountry experience with marshland, forest and wetlands in play on nearly every hole. Designed by Tom Steele and nestled along the Albemarle Sound, it ranks No. 82 in the state's Top 100 and is known for its on-site golf cottages that cater to traveling groups.

The Pointe Golf Club, the first championship course you'll hit after crossing the Wright Memorial Bridge, is celebrated for its immaculate conditions and A-1 bentgrass - a dense, disease-resistant turf that was a national first when installed here. And The Carolina Club, positioned just off U.S. 158, is perfectly placed for that final round on your way out or a welcoming opener on your way in.

For those looking to combine golf with coastal adventure, www.PlayOBXGolf.com offers customizable packages to help plan the perfect trip.