Stunning Coastal Forest Setting

Kilmarlic Golf Club:

The Ultimate Outer Banks Stay & Play Option.

Posted by: Rick Parnham

The Play: The newest in the collection of golf courses along the Outer Banks Golf Trail is certainly the most complete facility for the traveling golfer. Kilmarlic Golf Club, located in Harbinger, North Carolina, offers a superb combination of stay and play. This creative Tom Steele design opened in 2002 and is proudly managed by former Canadian Tour player and Director of Golf, Bryan Sullivan. In a state already filled with an abundance of esteemed facilities, the course quickly became a highly regarded golf option in the region. Being selected to host the North Carolina Open in both 2004 and 2009, Kilmarlic deservedly got the attention of the Mid-Atlantic golf scene.

Shot Making Options at Number 12

Cut from a stately maritime forest and adjacent to the tidal marshlands, the routing is compact, playing 6550 yards from the tips, yet lends an aura of seclusion on many of the holes. Generous home sites dot a few of the fairway corridors, but are set far enough back that in many cases the residences are hidden from view, thus providing a very natural feel as if the holes were laid upon the canvas with a gentle hand. A creative blend of precision shot making combines with many heroic risk / reward  decisions throughout your round offering a memorable collection of holes sure to leave you wanting another chance to navigate and tempt par.

After a straightforward, medium length par 4 opener, the routing takes you to a secluded corner of the property, presenting an expansive pond surrounded by towering southern pines. The second is a challenging par 3 playing over the water and framed by a pair of bunkers left and right.The lengthy par 4 fourth hole presents a  true risk / reward opportunity early in the round. After the straight-away tee shot, a sharp dogleg left occurs since the fairway ends at a natural wetland and must be carried with the approach. The large deep green is fronted by pot bunkers short of the target adding more difficulty to the mid to long iron shot.

Remarkable Number 17

The back nine routes through towering stands of coastal pines and skirts the tide marsh leading to Albemarle Sound.  A knee-knocking tee shot happens at the 11th, the near-island green complex over the same waters found on the second hole.  The uniquely designed par four 12th offers a breadth of options navigating the U-shaped dogleg right hole. Holes 14 - 18 are a fine mix of length, precision,  strategy and tact. The risk / reward 14th is a short par 4 beautifully designed with pot bunkers and ponds enhancing the challenge and shot making demands. The lengthy par 5 found at number 16 tempts you to take on the vast wetland and mounded fairway with your second shot setting up a wedge to the green, while the demanding par 3 number 17 has an expansive, multi-tiered green set atop buttress wooden wall lining the left side.  The finishing hole is a mid-length risk / reward par 5, requiring a deft touch to navigate the pot bunker in the middle of the fairway and the pond that frames most of the left side from tee to green.

The Stay: The Club at Kilmarlic is the Outer Banks most complete stay and play golf venue. The Club offers two different accommodation options for your visit. The Club Cottage sits adjacent to the clubhouse and overlooks the serene beauty of the 18th green. The spacious and well appointed golf themed four bedroom “cottage” sleeps eight comfortably and is a perfect place to host a buddy or family trip. Relaxing opportunities can also be found on the front and back porches both with beautiful views of the course. And should the group be up for even more friendly competition a night around the billiard or poker table can satisfy more good natured fun.

The Club Cottage

A new addition to the lodging choices are the collection of 18 cottages located just inside the main entrance to the property. The cottages have two bedrooms, each with its own bath, along with a loft that has two more twin beds, providing space and comfort for up to six guests. The unique aspect of this option is the collection of cottages are built around a 5,000 sq ft lighted putting green. Combined with the addition of a short course of four holes, none longer than 40 yards, your wedge and flat stick game will get a workout.

Kilmarlic Golf Club

215 Westside Lane,

Powell's Point, NC

27966

(252) 491-4220

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