Playing OBX golf calls for long drives off the course
This year's edition of the Conlon Brothers' spring golf trip returned to Duck, N.C., for a series of rounds at the golf courses serving the Outer Banks. The roughly five-hour drive gave the Cape Region contingent of Kevin Conlon, Nick DelCampo and yours truly a break from the usual travel commitment we faced when going to Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Pinehurst, N.C.; or other venues we have visited for this get-together.
Our first round took place at the Kilmarlic Golf Club, a few miles west of the U.S. 158 causeway to Kitty Hawk, south of Duck (kilmarlic.com; 252-491-4220).
This difficult par 72 course is a good example of the fact that yardage alone is no indication of how difficult it can be. We played the gold tees at 6,001 yards, which carries a 68.8 course rating and a 134 slope. It was more than enough challenge for our gang.
The second round was no easier, especially with the stiff breezes off Roanoke Sound. Five holes at the par 71 Nags Head Golf Links, including the ninth and 18th, lie hard by the sound, and the whitecaps were constant in the 15- to 20-knot winds (nagsheadgolflinks.com; 252-441-8073).
For the par 4s and par 5s, one handy tip I received for Nags Head is to go for the 150-yard markers, and avoid a lot of trouble on the narrow fairways. I should have taken that advice more often.
The winds were far calmer when we played our third round at The Pointe Golf Club in Powells Point (thepointegolfclub.com; 252-491-8388). A torrential evening downpour earlier in the week forced us to use lift, clean and place, but the greens were in great shape, and we enjoyed a beautiful spring day.
We traveled to Grandy, N.C., the next day for a round at the par 72 Carolina Club, a sister course for The Pointe (thecarolinaclub.com; 252-453-3588). Showing the Pointe receipt earned us a handy discount on the Carolina greens fee.
The greens were just as nice as The Pointe's, and the extra day helped dry out the course a bit more. We were also able to fit in a nine-hole scramble after the regular round for a very reasonable replay fee.
Our last round brought our group back to The Currituck Club, a few miles from the Duck home we used as our base (thecurrituckclub.com; 888-453-9400).
Designed by Rees Jones and operated by ClubCorp, the pretty course features holes running along Currituck Sound on the front nine, as well as tee boxes with a view of the Atlantic on the back nine. For players unfamiliar with the layout, prominent 150-yard posts centered in the fairways help with tactical choices on the rolling terrain.
The off-season April rental rates for the eight-bedroom house our gang used made Outer Banks golf a decent bargain, comparable to Myrtle Beach or Pinehurst. However, except for nearby Currituck, the other golf courses are admittedly a bit of a hike from Duck. Playing golf during the busy summer would require a significant commitment to travel time each day along the very busy, two-lane Route 12 corridor for the north end of OBX.
Rookery to hold ball-fitting event
On Wednesday, June 3, the folks at Rookery golf are hosting the Titleist mobile golf ball-fitting team at the South Course, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. One part of the service involves the use of the TrackMan launch monitor to help with ball selection. A second process uses intensive interviews of players about their playing preferences and other details.
Only 23 spots are available, so you need to call ahead for an appointment. Call The Rookery at 302-684-3000 to schedule your session, or go to titleist.com/golf-ball-fitting for more information.
Local club competition results
The Sussex Pines Ladies 18 Hole Golf Association held its Member/Member Team Match over two days, separated by a week - May 19 and 26.
Sue Brady and Terry Daisy won first place, with JoAnn Foster and Carol MacFawn combining for second. Linda Townsend and JoAnn Zorb won third-place honors.
Four contenders for first place forced the use of match of cards to determine the winner of the Kings Creek Ladies 9 Hole group in their Low Net match May 26.
Sue Eisenbrey won the card match, a fitting present for her birthday. Judi Pezone took second, while Susan Spence hit her tee shot to 28-feet-9-inches to win closest to the hole.
