Getting To Know: Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Brad Walker who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest is the newest golf course in the Brunswick Islands area. We offer 18-holes of premium public golf in a setting of unmatched beauty. Located in Brunswick Forest, the Coastal South's fastest growing community, Cape Fear National is just 5 miles south of historic downtown Wilmington and 45 minutes north of Myrtle Beach off of US 17, making it an ideal stop for golfers on their way into or out of Myrtle Beach.

Recently named the "#11 Best Course You Can Play in NC - 2015" by Golfweek, Cape Fear National is an absolute must-play for both the beginner and avid golfer.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Cape Fear National is known for being the golf course you play on the way in or on the way out of the Myrtle Beach or the Brunswick Islands. We are conveniently located for those driving from/back to the north/north east or those flying into/out of Wilmington International Airport (ILM).

Beyond location, the aesthetics of Cape Fear National and attention-to-detail are unmatched in the area. We boast country club caliber conditions with bent grass greens and overseeded fairways/tees late fall through the spring, so we are always green.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Select the right tees. We encourage our traveling guests to move up a tee box not only for pace of play but because we are at sea level and the ball does not travel as far.

In the summer of 2016, we will be adding GPS to our carts. This will give our golfers great insight on how to play some of our more difficult holes.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Besides the below awards, Cape Fear National is a course at which you never get tired of playing...that may be the best compliment I can give the course. I've personally been here before its soft opening in late 2009 and it's always fun to play whether you're hitting it well or not. It's a beautiful layout, always well-conditioned and aesthetically pleasing.

* Top 10 Best New Courses 2010 - Golf Magazine
* Best New Courses List 2010 - Golfweek Magazine
* Best Residential List 2011-2014 - Top 100 (old & new courses) Golfweek Magazine
* Next Best Residential List - 2015 Golf Magazine
* Top 10 Best Courses You Can Play in NC 2011 & 2012 Golfweek Magazine
* #11 Best Course You Can Play in NC 2013-2015 Golfweek Magazine
* Top 10 Best NC Courses, Coastal Region - 2014 Business NC Magazine

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Hole #13 is our postcard hole. A long waste sand bunker lines the entire right side and crosses in front of the green. If you are looking for a Kodak moment, head to the back tee and climb the small berm to get an elevated shot of the hole.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My favorite section of the course is holes 13 through 17. The course winds to the outer regions of the property and you feel like you are out in the middle of nowhere. My favorite hole in that stretch is hole #15. This par 5 calls for an accurate tee shot down the right half of the fairway. A bunker guards the right side of the fairway and water is in play along the left fairway while two strategically placed bunkers guard the right side of your second shot/layup. One of the best views on the golf course is the view from #15 green looking back to the tee box where you see water and also a great view of hole #16 in the distance.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
The Blackened Chicken Wrap is our most popular lunch item served with house-made chips. If you want some extra kick order the sandwich with a Jalapeno wrap.

If someone has played the golf course before, any recent new changes?
Since opening, we have softened the golf course by removing much of the tall native grasses just off the fairways. The course now is more forgiving. Later this summer, we will be adding GPS to our carts which will allow golfers to better visualize hole layouts, judge layups, and get accurate distances.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 6989
Slope: 136
Rating: 73.8
(Unmarked Championship Tees stretch to 7217 yards)

More Information
Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest
1281 Cape Fear National Drive
Leland, NC, 28451
910-383-3283
www.capefearnational.com