MAGNOLIA GOLF COURSE IN WILMINGTON
Filling a market niche in Wilmington has made Magnolia golf one of the most popular plays in the Cape Fear area. But Crean says he is equally excited to be a part of the ever-popular Grand Strand golf market, even if his course is bringing up the northern part of the map.Inclusion in Myrtle Beach's impressive repertoire of fine golf courses is a nice luxury, but Magnolia Greens has plenty to offer as a stand-alone golf facility. Jackson's superb routing and imaginative layouts garnered a 4-star rating from Golf Digest, and the course was voted the "Third Best New Course in North Carolina" in 1998 by North Carolina Magazine. In addition to 27 holes of championship golf, the facility boasts a 12,000 square foot putting green, a practice bunker and chipping area, and a driving range with numerous grass stations, a water cooler and club cleaners.Book with confidence thanks to the Best Price Guarantee from Expedia.com The magnolia golf course is situated in a residential development that features a variety of custom homes. However, Magnolia has also made provisions for the traveling golfer in the form of a series of one and two bedroom golf villas. Magnolia's staff have created a number of golf packages that even include other area courses. Magnolia's 27 holes are vintage Jackson: ameba style bunkers, subtlety mounded fairways, and two tiered greens can be found throughout the course. And the PGA doesn't choose just any old course for its qualifiers. Magnolia's 18-hole combinations of Magnolia/Camellia, Camellia/Azalea, and Magnolia / Azalea play to slopes of 138, 139, and 134 respectively. "The trend in golf course architecture these days is that you make a course as easy or as difficult as you want through the placement of the tee boxes.That is what Jackson has done here. We have five sets of tees, and this thing can play as easy as 119 (slope) if you play from the men's white's" Women will also find Magnolia golf course accommodating. Unlike most courses, all three nines feature two sets of women's tees. Moreover, forced carries are kept to a minimum from the women's red tees, and Jackson allows golfers to run the ball up on greens via land on most of his holes. Variety is also in full force at Magnolia. The Magnolia Nine (holes 1 through 9) play through open inland terrain on the first three holes, but take a turn into the Carolina hardwood trees starting with the 393-yard par-4 fourth hole. One of the most scenic holes on the course, No. 4 sports a sprawling bunker to the left and two more traps right of the green. And the entire hole is framed with enough trees to make the staff at nearby Airlee Gardens jealous. The par-5 fifth and the par-4 seventh uphold the treelined fairway theme, while the par-4 sixth intermittently delves back into the wide-open, house-lined look. The Camellia Nine (holes 10-18) is routed through a smattering of trees and homes, and is home to a number of intriguing doglegs, as well as one of the most challenging holes on the course, the 467-yard par-4 14th. Crean is also fond of the finishing hole, the par-5, 592-yard 18th.
The love hate relationship stems from the hole's huge, dogleg left that can only be cut by the longest of hitters. A lateral hazard to the left keeps average hitters from shaving any significant yardage off the 470-yard hole, and about 90 percent of golfers are left with a low iron or fairway wood into the green. Crean says the love hate theme actually carries over into the entire Azalea Nine. While the new nine is as well groomed as any course in the area (and the greens are superior to those on the original 18) some players prefer the established, traditional feel of the original 18 to the somewhat raw vibe given off by the Azalea."Some players request to play the new nine, but some say they don't want to play it," Crean says. Golfers are as fickle as the day is long, but there is one thing that most players agree on: Magnolia golf is a whole lot more than just a course to play on the way to and from Myrtle Beach. It's much needed addition to the Wilmington area golf scene, and a viable golf destination on its own. Magnolia Greens Course Capsule Magnolia golf Greens stands for everything that is right about daily fee golf courses. It is affordable to a fault, its kept in good condition, the greens nearly reach perfection during the fall and spring, and the service is excellent but not smothering. I particularly enjoyed the new nine, despite some of the grading and land clearing underway on the adjacent property. The controversial 21st hole was a breath of fresh air to me. Magnolia golf course has 26 player friendly holes, so more power to Jackson for creating one two-shotter than can challenge low handicappers to walk away with par. The golf villas are modern, and tastefully decorated. magnolia golf back to homepage
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Magnolia Golf Course doesn't seem to mind its great reputation as the best course to play. This Tom Jackson designed golf course just south of Wilmington.
