Golf Course Review: Morehead City Country Club, Morehead City, North Carolina

 

MOREHEAD CITY COUNTRY CLUB

Morehead City, North Carolina

April 5, 2023

OVERVIEW

FACILITY TYPE: Private

YEAR OPENED: 1952

ARCHITECT: Renovations advised by Curtis Strange

PAR: 72

LENGTH: 4,130 - 6,870

USGA RATING: 61.1 - 73.4

USGA SLOPE: 102 - 141

TEE OPTIONS: 6

WEBSITE: www.MoreheadCityCC.com

PHONE: (252) 726-4917

 

Nestled in the southeast corner of North Carolina along the Crystal Coast, between Wilmington and the OBX, is Morehead City Country Club. Built on sandy soil near the coastal marshlands at the mouth of the Atlantic, MCCC is a gem of a seaside course that’s always offering a new challenge. Depending on the weather, the wind, and the tees you choose to play, the course offers endless opportunities to hone your game.

Morehead is a place I consider a home course as my parents have been members there for a few years now. The conditions are always great and the course allows you to be creative, especially on the front nine. With a new clubhouse and new amenities available for their membership, Morehead is investing in the club.

COURSE CONDITIONS RATINGS

TEES: 3.5

FAIRWAYS: 3.75

GREENS: 4.5

BUNKERS: 3.75

SCENERY: 4.25

LAYOUT: 4.25

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OVERALL: 4.00

One of the best parts about playing Morehead is the conditions of the course. The greens are almost always slick and the wind must be taken into consideration. The layout offers a lot of options on how you want to tackle it, especially the opening 6 holes. Holes 3 through 6 especially offer great birdie opportunities. Holes 3 and 4 are driveable par 4’s, although it may not be the best strategy, and Holes 5 and 6 are par 5’s that run parallel to each other, and depending on the wind, one usually plays downwind and becomes reachable in two.

There are 5 par 5’s at MCCC and depending on the wind 2-3 become reachable. In addition to holes 5 and 6 are holes 13, 15, and 18, each of which offers great risk-reward. With all the greens at MCCC, it’s important to get your ball in the right section of the green to give yourself the best opportunity. If you catch a wrong section, you may have a sloping putt that’ll be hard to get close to. With most of the greens being on the smaller side, this places a premium on missing in the correct places.

The course has some notable signature holes such as the par 3 ninth, a brutal hole from the tips that plays directly alongside the marsh, and in the wind can push 240-250 yards. The hole is scenic and memorable. The par 5 eighteenth has a peninsula green that sticks out into the marsh with options to carry the marsh in a heroic attempt to get there in two, or you can play safe along the ridge which still requires a carry over the marsh but offers a better angle and easier next shot.

But to me, the best hole on the course is the par 4 eighth. It’s a mid-length par 4, slight dogleg right, with, in my opinion, the best green on the course, nestled next to a pond, adjacent to the par 3 ninth along the marsh. The contours of the green either offer a really fun opportunity to suck a ball down a backstop, or a brutally delicate shot that requires you to get the ball to stop on a shelf. Either way, the hole is both scenic and fun to play.

ACCESSIBILITY

COURSE DIFFICULTY: 3.5

WALKABILITY: 4.5

As far as walking goes, MCCC is about as easy as it gets. Alongside the water in the Carolina Lowcountry, there’s very little elevation change other than built-up tee boxes, greens, and mounding. The ability to walk the course in under 4 hours makes it even more fun. The course is built on a small footprint and all the holes connect, making the walks from green to tee quite short.

The difficulty of the course depends entirely on the tees you choose to play and the conditions. From the tips on a windy day, the course can be worthy of a proper championship despite the shorter holes. On a calm day from the forward tees, there are birdie opportunities awaiting any player wanting to go make them.

I’ve played the course right-handed many times, but I’ve also played with hickories and even left-handed. I’ve played with irons only, three clubs only, full rounds, or just a few holes. It’s a fun place to play and offers a new experience each time.

AMENITIES

GOLF SHOP: 3.5

PRACTICE FACILITIES: 4.25

COMFORT STATIONS: 3.5

One of the best parts about MCCC in my opinion is the practice area. There’s a real grass driving range with enough space that they can rotate the tees properly and allow them to recover. There’s a great short game area, big enough for a few people to be hitting at a time, and with enough space and contours on the green to practice various shots. And the putting green is large and offers a lot of slope and hole location options.

The club is investing in growing the amenities at the facility. With a new clubhouse, pool, and dining options, the club is attracting families and new members while giving their existing members something new and updated.

SUMMARY

Each time I visit my parents, we make it a point to play a round at MCCC. And whether I’m playing forward with Mom and Dad or playing back with friends, I know the course is going to do its part and offer a great experience.

MOVE BETTER - PLAY BETTER

COACH BLAINE ⛳🏌️‍♂️

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