DJTheoret - 4/24/23
Heritage Golf Group is probably the fastest-growing golf course ownership company in the United States. A few years ago, the company owned a total of six golf courses – three in the Hilton Head area, two TPC courses in Florida, and The Dominion Club in Richmond, VA with no real thoughts of adding any more. In 2020, Heritage Golf Group was sold to a group of ex-ClubCorp and Arcis Golf executives led by Mark Burnett, Jim Oliver, and Andy Miller who have grown the company significantly. At last count, the company was up to 25 properties.

In March 2022, Burnett and company made a big splash in North Carolina by adding Cape Fear National Golf Course at Brunswick Forest and Brunswick Plantation in Calabash, NC to their portfolio. Cape Fear has been converted from a semi-private golf course to a private facility and is one of the most celebrated clubs in the Wilmington, NC area.

Brunswick Plantation is a semi-private facility that is open to the public; that won’t change. According to Burnett, the focus will be on increasing local membership as well as stay-and-play package sales.

The best way to increase stay-and-play sales is to present a better product and that is precisely what they intend to do. Heritage plans to fund improvements at Brunswick Plantation, which includes re-grassing the greens and other areas of the course and upgrading their food and beverage offerings.

“The priority is going to be to upgrade the condition of the golf courses, not just the greens but also the bunkers,” Burnett said. “I think all are in play potentially over the next year or two to get a complete overhaul, so we can take the consistency of the playing conditions up to another level.”

Brunswick Plantation & Golf Resort sits within a gated golf course community in Coastal Carolina, a little over half an hour from Myrtle Beach. All 27 holes were designed by Willard Byrd and Clyde Johnston and with five sets of tees, can be enjoyed by golfers of any caliber. You can play all three 9s in different rotations for three distinctly different 18-hole layouts. The course showcases the natural beauty of the terrain and features lush fairways, tall Carolina pines, and fast, true-rolling Bermudagrass greens.

The Dogwood Course meanders along the waters of Caw Caw Creek. It’s wide-open off the tee and offers several risk/reward opportunities. One of the more interesting holes on the Dogwood course is Number 2, a short, 345-yard par four. Unless you’ve played here before, you may not be aware of the creek that crosses the fairway a little over 200 yards out from the White tees. I wasn’t. Hit something that will leave you short of the hazard and plan on hitting about a 150-yard shot into a large green with a lot of subtle undulation. There’s a bunker short right to keep you honest. Number 9 is a challenging finishing hole; a 350-yard, par 4 with a blind tee shot over a hill. What you can’t see is the water at the bottom of the hill right of the green. Your best bet is to hit a hybrid or fairway wood and aim for the 150-yard marker. That will keep you short of the hazard and leave a mid-iron uphill into a sloped green protected by sand on either side.

The Azalea Course is carved from thick, Carolina woodlands, giving it a beautiful and peaceful feel. Azalea will challenge your mental game and require you to put some thought into each tee shot. Thinking your way around the Azalea nine can result in a good score. Azalea starts with a 369-yard par 4 dogleg right. The challenge here is to avoid the trees and bunkers on the right side. Although playing up the left side may be a little longer, a good drive will be rewarded with a look at the green, and the four bunkers that surround it. Your best approach is through the air unless you have a great sand game! The par 3, 4th hole with its island green is the layout’s signature hole. The green is surrounded by oyster shells and is quite a challenge. Azalea’s 5th hole is a good-looking inland par 5, with tall, majestic pine trees on the right side of the fairway. Favor the right side off the tee and take the two large fairway bunkers out of play. As you look over your layup shot, you’ll notice that the fairway gets narrow in the landing area. Hitting one club less will leave you in the wide part of the fairway and still only a short iron or wedge into the green. Sand protects this tilted green on the right side.

The Magnolia Course offers a good mix of holes. It’s not overly long and there are several open holes with only a few trees which often brings the wind into play a major. Water comes into play on 5 holes to test your skill and several holes are heavily mounded and bunkered making them tough but playable. The Magnolia layout starts you off with a tree-lined, dogleg right that just looks like a classic Carolina golf hole. It’s a 370-yard par 4 that requires accuracy to hit the fairway between the sand trap on the left and the trees on the right off the tee. The closer you are to the trap, the better angle you’ll have into the green, which is surrounded by sand. Favor the left side with your approach shot as the green slopes right to left. Number 5 is an interesting 375-yard par 4 dogleg right that is more like a 90-degree turn! Longball hitters may be able to take their tee shot over the trees on the right; the rest of us will need to be aware of the water beyond the fairway bunkers. Success off the tee will reward you with a mid-iron into a large, well-protected green. It’s a fun and challenging hole.

Brunswick Plantation has some great stay-and-play packages. Choose from six different packages that include 2 or 3 rounds of golf at Brunswick Plantation and several surrounding courses, 2 – 3 nights’ accommodation in a 2-bedroom condo, and a variety of perks, all starting at around $250 per golfer! Brunswick Plantation is running an incredible offer for spring and summer 2023. Stay at least three nights Sunday – Thursday and receive a 20% discount. Just use one of these codes when you book online or over the phone. If you’re booking a stay between April 1st – May 25th use code SPRING23; for stays between June 1st – August 31st, use code SUMMER23. For more information on Brunswick Plantation Resort and Golf or to book your next golf vacation, visit them online

  thegolfinguy@gmail.com - 4/18/19
Brunswick Plantation – Great Golf Meets Affordability.
Calabash, NC may well be an area better known for its seafood cuisine than it is for outstanding golf, but that could be changing. There are now more than 20 golf courses accessible to the public within a 20 mile radius. These are all top notch facilities with championship golf courses that are well kept and a pleasure to play. A few offer roomy and affordable accommodations as well as golf packages that won’t require a second mortgage!

One such property is Brunswick Plantation, a gated golf course community in Calabash, NC. Since its planning days, Brunswick has grown from 650 acres to over 1750 acres. There are over 1,000 homes including single family custom homes, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom condos, and luxury townhouses, many of which are owned by active retirees. The community is rife with amenities: multiple swimming pools, fitness facilities, tennis, walking trails, and 2 plantation-style clubhouses, one of which is in the process of being converted to a second restaurant. The Hickory Shaft Bistro is scheduled to open this spring.

Brunswick Plantation is also home to 27-holes of Willard Byrd/Clyde Johnson golf with names that conjure up thoughts of Augusta: Azalea, Magnolia and Dogwood. These 27 holes create three different and unique 18-hole layouts, which can create its own weekend golf getaway.

Although each course has its own distinctive characteristics, they all share one thing in common: well-groomed and speedy Bermuda grass greens. They all have their share of slope and undulation and are “sneaky quick!” The tall Carolina pines that line many of the fairways as well as the water hazards and sand bunkers at Brunswick Plantation will challenge the most seasoned golfer. At the same time, beginners and weekend golfers will appreciate how wide open and extremely forgiving it is from the forward tees. The course will require you to be at your mental best as it requires a combination of shot making, strategy and thought.

Of the three nine hole tracks, the Magnolia course is somewhat reminiscent of a Scottish links course. You’ll find that many of the large sand and grass bunkers offer a challenge as does the water which comes into play on three holes. Three other holes are heavily bunkered, emphasizing the fact that hazards are a key element of the opening holes. You’ll also find a lot of mounding, primarily on the periphery of the fairways and around the greens. This can make for some uneven lies from the fairway as well as some interesting chip shots onto the greens. The par 5, 6th hole on the Magnolia Course has a little bit of everything. Off the tee, there are fairway bunkers on both sides to contend with, and they come into play regardless of what tees you are playing from. Water come into play off the tee if you pull your shot left; there’s out of bounds if you push it right. Needless to say, good control off the tee is required and, if executed successfully, will set up a decision of whether to go for the green in two. Push your approach shot right and you could easily find one of three nasty little pot bunkers. The green features a false front and is cut on an angle, making approach shots a little tougher. Although there is no bunkering around the green there is a lot of mounding, which can make for a difficult up and down. Par is a good score here!

Although thick Carolina woodlands offer golfers some beautiful scenery as you make your way around The Azalea course, water is the most dominant hazard you will face on many of the holes. Often, this requires more brains than brawn of you want to put up a low score. The Azalea’s signature hole is Number 4 and features an island green. From the white tees, the hole plays 152 yards. It’s pretty simple: hit the green, make a par. Easier said than done for most! Number 9 on the Azalea Course is an interesting par 5. Large waste bunkers down the left side and water down the right present the perception of a narrow landing area although there is more room out there than you think. Your layup shot is played over water with more sand in the landing area and then a slightly uphill approach shot. At only 450 yards from the White tees, a good drive can set up a decision whether or not to go for the green in two and a possible eagle opportunity. This is yet another good risk/reward hole at Brunswick Plantation.

The Dogwood Course is Brunswick Plantation’s newest nine and features a very wide open design and beautiful lush fairways. Caw Caw Creek and many large hardwood trees are just a couple of the hazards you’ll encounter as you play your way around the course. The Dogwood nine is not to be taken lightly and will keep you on your toes. Number 7 on the Dogwood Course is a par 5 that plays as great as it looks, even in the early springtime, when the dormant brown rough provides a stunning contrast to the green fairways. This dogleg right features water all down the right side and nasty little pot bunkers in the landing area on the left. The layup shot is played to a narrowing fairway, and you’ll need to be careful with your approach shot as water guards the entire right side of the green, with a sand bunker short right. The long, narrow green is crowned in the middle and requires a delicate touch. This is a well-designed golf hole.

Before your round at Brunswick Plantation, or if you just want to get in some practice, there’s a full length driving range where you can hit every club in your bag as well as a chipping green complete with practice bunkers, and a large practice putting green. There’s no reason to not be at your best when you step up to the first tee. Inside the plantation-style clubhouse, you’ll find a fully stocked pro shop with a lot of logoed apparel from top name manufacturers as well as your favorite golf balls, gloves and accessories.

After your round, stop by Champion’s Grille Restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and all of your favorite libations. They can even set you up with a cooler to take back on the course with you as you make the turn. For breakfast, the Brunswick Omelet is a can’t miss and for lunch try their Reuben sandwich, piled high with corned beef and sauerkraut. If you’re not really hungry and just need something to nibble on, their Chicken Quesadillas are big enough to share. Occasionally, they will do dinner and if you ever have the opportunity, I highly advise it.

Brunswick Plantation also offers privately owned one and two bedroom condos that can easily sleep a foursome. These condos have fully equipped kitchens, living rooms with big screen TVs and comfortable beds. The bedrooms also have flat screen TVs. Better yet, they’re about a 3-minute walk to the pro shop, driving range and first tee.

With on-site lodging and restaurants, Brunswick Plantation is the perfect place to host a wedding, family or business event. Their event services include hosting, planning, managing and catering. A quick phone call can get the process started.

With so much golf in the area for customers to choose from, Brunswick Plantation’s goal is to make their customers their biggest advocates. After all, nothing beats word of mouth advertising! They do this by fulfilling the needs of their customers in a valuable and memorable way. The management staff at Brunswick Plantation have instilled in their team several traditional southern values: being friendly, neighborly, and treating people fairly.

Brunswick Plantation has joined together with several other area courses to offer a number of golf packages that include 3 nights lodging and three rounds of golf for as little as $199 (depending on time of year and availability). And, if you book your stay at one of the Brunswick Plantation villas, you’ll receive 9 extra holes of golf. It’s a perfect way to get in a little practice before the rest of your group joins you or get in that final game before leaving the area.

  Sandflea0 - 8/29/15
worth the $35 special that is going on, greens fast but good shape. ensure that they actually write down the tee times in there book, seemed like Friday 5 groups not listed

  dbaker58 - 8/13/15
Lots of locals - Especially women. Longest round of my vacation. 5 + hours !!

  ScottAyers - 5/19/15
Greens were quick and rolled really true, bunkers were in great shape, and overall maintenance was really good. Definitely a fun course that I'd play again.

  tom morris - 5/13/14
Complained that we were 7 minutes behind only to speed up and run into a log jam...!!! Very rude to us...

  DouglasMerle - 1/25/13
Beautiful large greens, nice fairways. Not a hard course but one an average golfer can shoot a good score. Some nice water holes and several nice dog legs to make it interesting.

  SteveMM - 9/5/10
Played Magnolia and Dogwood on Monday, 8/30 and then Azalea and Magnolia on 9/1. I really enjoyed the course and would definitely come back. The description given for the courses (which I recognize from the Brunswick Plantation website) is misleading, however. In my opinion, all three nines are the "links" style. I never saw the "thick woods" they described for the Azalea course. All three nines feature a good bit of water and a generous amount of bunkers, and there are few elevation changes.

  MoeBuddy - 3/4/22

  th2os655 - 5/5/19