The Best Public Golf Courses in Topsail Island, NC

Topsail Island is a 26-mile-long barrier island that sits north of Wilmington, off the North Carolina coastline. The island varies in width between 500′ and 1500′ and protects dozens of marine and wildlife refuges.

At the island’s northernmost tip, you will find North Topsail Beach. Midway on the island is Surf City, and locals refer to the southernmost tip as Topsail Beach. All areas of the island have fantastic vacation rental homes and are great places to spend your beach holiday, with slightly varying amenities and ambiances.

When vacationing near Topsail Island, North Carolina, golf is king. Several public Topsail golf courses are within a few miles of the island. There are also driving ranges and even a few miniature golf locations to keep the fun alive.

NORTH SHORE COUNTRY CLUB

North Shore Country Club is located in Sneads Ferry, about two miles from North Topsail Beach along the Intracoastal Waterway. This Bob Moore-designed course offers golfers of all levels a challenging and enjoyable experience near North Carolina’s coastal marshes.

The 18-hole 72 Par course is surrounded by tall pines, offering peace and seclusion during your play. The bentgrass greens and 419 Bermuda fairways provide ideal playing conditions year round.

North Shore Golf Club’s semi-public course offers a slight slope and rolling mounds. And the five tee boxes can accommodate all levels of players.

The swimming pool, tennis courts, and pro shop rentals are open to visitors, while the private oceanfront beach access is for members only.

OLDE POINT COUNTRY CLUB

Olde Point Country Club is located at 513 Country Club Dr., 11 miles down the coast from Topsail’s Surf City. It sits on the mainland parallel to Topsail Beach.

Jerry Turner crafted the Olde Point Golf course, combining rolling terrain, tree lines, and waterways for a challenging year-round course. The Bermuda fairways and Paspalum greens throughout the 18-hole course are immaculately kept.

Achieving the 72 Par on the Olde Point course takes work. The slope is moderate, and the course measures 6913 yards.

Olde Point is a semi-public country club offering memberships and open amenities. The club’s practice facilities and Pro lessons are available to the public.

CASTLE BAY COUNTRY CLUB

Castle Bay Country Club sits off coastal highway US-17 in Hampstead, NC – 22 miles from Topsail Island. The Scottish links-style, 18-hole championship course will challenge even the best players. The Castle Bay golf course is an easy choice if you are looking for a Topsail challenge.

Familiar water and sand hazards are strategically placed throughout its 6328 yards of Bermuda grass. Wind plays a factor on most Topsail golf courses — making perfect shot placement difficult.

The driving range and short game practice facility are great places to warm up as you wait for a tee time. Castle Bay Country Club also features a Pro Shop, lessons, and traditional pub grub at the New York Corner Pub.

PARADISE POINT GOLF COURSE

Thirty-nine miles, about an hour’s drive north of Topsail Island, is the Paradise Point Golf Course. Located well within Camp Lejeune, NC, just past the Naval Hospital. While public, Paradise Point is considered a Military course, and players must have military access to play either course.

George Cobb, a former Marine, designed both 18-hole golf courses – the Scarlet and the Gold. The Scarlet is a par 70 while The Gold is a par 72.

The golf complex has two driving ranges, one on grass and one with covered bays. There are also three putting greens to work on your short game. Or, if lessons would help, they are available at all levels of play.

IRONCLAD GOLF & BEER GARDEN

Try a tee time at the Ironclad Golf & Beer Garden if you want to play something a bit unconventional. Ironclad is part of a 178-acre entertainment complex that includes the golf course, clubhouse, restaurant, beer garden, and pickleball complex.

Located in Hampstead, NC, Ironclad Golf course is about a ten-mile drive down the coast from Topsail Island.

It is an 18-hole par 71 public golf course. The course is designed by Russell Birney with Bermuda grass and divided into a back nine and the Ironclad course.

A six-choice tee box accommodates all levels of play. The course has a pro shop, lessons for all levels, a restaurant, and the Ironclad Beer Garden.

BUCCANEER COUNTRY CLUB

Buccaneer Country Club is a short 7-minute drive from Topsail Island. It is a terrific 18-hole and par 72 challenge. The choice for year-round play in Burgaw, NC.

The well-groomed fairways and topsail greens are creative on a minimal slope, with dual tee boxes for adjustable play. If you are walking, the course is a hike — 6651 yards in total.

Buccaneer Country Club offers club and cart rental and practice areas for long and short games if you have left your clubs at home.

DUCK HAVEN GOLF CLUB

Rayford Trask Sr is the master planner of Duck Haven Golf Club’s 18-hole, par 72. Located via a 30-minute drive towards Wilmington, NC, Duck Haven Golf Club is a year-round public no-frills golf club.

Bermuda grass keeps this course immaculate, and cart and club rentals and lessons are available.

SWINGIN THINGS GOLF COURSE (FLETCHERS LANDING)

If you need a place to hit a bucket of balls, Fletchers Landing is a no-nonsense golf complex complete with miniature golf, a driving range, and a pro shop. Located 25 miles north of Topsail Island in Jacksonville, additional amenities include a batting cage and picnic area.

ROCK CREEK GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Rock Creek Golf Club is a convenient 30-minute drive to Emerald Isle and Topsail Island’s beaches. Rock Creek is an up-and-coming gem and one of the best courses in Eastern North Carolina.

The semi-public course is designed by Jerry Turner and boasts an 18-hole, 7102-yard, par 72 championship golf course featuring North Carolina’s first Jensen Dwarf greens.

Player-friendly yet challenging, the course has wide fairways covered in 419 Bermuda grass and peppered with strategically placed water hazards. The Jensen Dwarf greens offer a perfect putting challenge at each hole.

HIT THE GREENS ON TOPSAIL ISLAND

Perfect for a fall day at the beach, choose between any of these public golf courses near Topsail Island. All with different course amenities and level of difficulty, you’ll love playing at some of the best golf courses on the North Carolina coast.