DJTheoret - 3/13/22
The Albemarle Sound has been a prized locale for centuries; time and Mother Nature have made it the beautiful destination that you now see; rugged shoreline and endless seas.

Albemarle Plantation is an authentic coastal community and occupies a special place in the hearts of all who call it home. Although it’s home to one of the area’s most spectacular golf courses, the Sound brings life and energy to a community with unlimited ways to enjoy it. In fact, the attraction to the water may be bigger than the attraction to golf at Albemarle Plantation, as can be seen by the beautiful assortment of boats docked at the marina.

A lot of the success of the community has to do with the harmony that seems to exist within the gates; neighbors genuinely like each other and people just seem to get along. In 2012, this community of friends took it one step further; they decided to buy the place. Everything. Golf club, marina, pool, tennis facilities, walking trails, restaurants — all of it. Residents saw it as an opportunity to control the future of the community, and to keep membership costs low and property values high. So far, it has paid huge dividends!

Albemarle Plantation is not a collection of over-priced waterfront and golf course homes. The few that are for sale are priced right and come with a bevy of recreational amenities. The marina is one of the largest private marinas on the east coast. It even has its own dining venue that caters more to boaters but is thoroughly enjoyed by all. The Dockside Café is a special place, with its large,1,700 square foot deck and both screened-in and open dining areas. The fare is a lot more casual with salads, burgers, sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas as well as beer and the well-stocked Albemarle Plantation Wine Store.

The clubhouse at Albemarle Plantation exudes Southern charm. It overlooks both the Sound and the 18th green with a formal hedge garden and well-manicured lawn creating a picturesque backdrop that is popular for weddings and special events.

Inside you’ll find an intimate full-service bar in the casual Grille Room; walk a little further and you’ll come to the formal dining room which also offers a spectacular view of the Sound. In either dining area, you can enjoy both lunch and dinner or choose to dine al fresco on the verandah and take in a beautiful sunset. They also serve a fantastic Sunday Brunch. Dinner entrees include a variety of steak and seafood selections including Shrimp and Grits, Lobster Risotto, and cornmeal fried oysters.

The Sound Golf Links at Albemarle Plantation is an incredible, nationally acclaimed Dan Maples design that opened for play in the fall of 1990. In planning this masterpiece, Maples made the most out of the woodlands and unique waterways and created a course that has something for everyone, regardless of how good or bad your game is. Several members have described the layout as very peaceful; it’s as if you are playing a new course every time you’re out there.

From the White Tees, The Sound plays 5,794 yards, which seems short, But throw in a course rating of 69.6 and a slope of 124 for the men and you’ll find it’s a challenge.

The Sound Links at Albemarle Plantation is full of memorable golf holes. Number 8 is a fun and challenging Par 4 that is a genuine risk vs reward hole. At 256 yards from the White tees, the hole screams “Go for it!” Brains over brawn is the key here as driving the green requires pinpoint accuracy. The marsh pinches in on both sides and anything but a straight tee shot usually means hitting your next shot from the drop area. The smart play – which is not my strong suit – is to hit a club much less than driver off the tee and leave a manageable shot into the green.

The three finishing holes will likely become etched into your memory. Number 16 is a relatively short par 4 at 253 yards and is the first of the three holes that features a stunning view of the Sound. This short dogleg left requires a well-placed tee shot; if you try to cut the corner, you’re flirting with the trees and OB. A well-played approach shot may well lead to a birdie opportunity.

Albemarle Sound dictates the shape of the par 5, 17th hole. Seventeen plays 468 yards from the White Tees and you’ll need a long drive if you want to put up a good score. Should you decide to go for the green in two, you’ll need tremendous accuracy as the green is guarded on all four sides by bunkers and marshlands.

Number 18 is a powerful finishing hole. Although it’s not the longest, it has proven to be the difference between victory and defeat for many golfers. Albemarle Sound runs down the entire right side of this dogleg right par 4, with a 150-yard sand bunker situated between the fairway and the Sound. Hit anything through the left side of the fairway off the tee and you’ll most likely find it in a bunker. Find the fairway off the tee and you’ll be looking at a short chip shot into an uphill green. Don’t be afraid to leave your drive in the bag.

Don’t be surprised if you hear some cheers and jeers from the clubhouse verandah as you’re finishing up. Even if you’re not at the top of your game, the unrelenting beauty of the natural surroundings will keep you coming back round after round.

If neither golf nor boating tickles your fancy, there are plenty of other social, fitness, artistic and educational activities to keep you busy. There are two tennis/pickleball courts, three bocce ball courts, almost 1,000 square feet of the latest cardio and strength equipment, and a community garden area with garden plots available for residents.

The residents of this member-owned golf community take ownership to a new level. It’s not uncommon to find residents who live on the course out on the hole behind their residence fixing pitch marks and filling divots. Their passion is evident and their efforts shine through as they do their part to keep this an incredibly well-maintained facility.

Whether you’re looking to retire or relocate to the Carolinas, Albemarle Plantation is well worth your consideration, you’ll never run out of things to do.

  thegolfinguy@gmail.com - 12/12/18
Albemarle Plantation – The Perfect Combination of Land and Sea

Living in the southeast, in fairly close proximity to the water and surrounded by world class golf courses, there has always been a debate when it comes to how one should spend their leisure time: on the links or on the water. Albemarle Plantation, a community located on Albemarle Sound in Northeastern North Carolina poses the question: why choose?

Albemarle Plantation is an exceptional golf and waterfront community that features both a Dan Maples Signature Golf Course and a full-service marina. The 1,300-acre development offers homeowners a selection of styles including single family homes, townhomes and condos. Want to design something yourself? Albemarle Plantation also has a number of undeveloped lots available, with fairway, waterfront and wooded lots to choose from. The community is named after Albemarle Sound, giving the community a strong focus on the water. The Dan Maples Signature golf course is named The Sound Golf Links; see how it all comes together?

In addition to the golf course and marina, Albemarle Plantation is home to a collection of four-star amenities, including a charming Clubhouse, a resort-style, 25-meter swimming pool, a new community center, tennis courts, a fitness facility, and much more.

Unlike many other gated golf communities, Albemarle Plantation is owned and managed by its own residents. As a result, it’s a community where your interests come first, your money stretches farther, and the level of your serenity remains at the high end of the spectrum. As a resident, you’ll enjoy a variety of community meetings, social activities and special events that take place in the Community Center facility, a modern multi-purpose center. The Community Center features a 1200-square foot main room for POA meetings, parties, dances, celebrations and large aerobic/exercise classes. There’s a state-of-the-art surround sound audio-visual system in house. The center is also home to a 900-square foot fitness center, which is equipped with the latest cardio and strength training equipment. You’ll also find two card and game rooms, an arts and craft room and a kitchenette.

The marina and golf course are the centerpieces of daily life at Albemarle Plantation. The Albemarle Sound is the second largest coastal estuary in America, second only to Chesapeake Bay. Residents here enjoy a variety of marina activities, from sailing to swimming, water-skiing, paddling by kayak or canoe, fishing and crabbing. Albemarle Plantation offers a full-service, deep-water 166-slip marina, which is one of the largest private boat basins on the Eastern Seaboard.

The Sound Golf Links at Albemarle Plantation is the only golf course in the area to earn four-and-a-half stars from Golf Digest Magazine. This Dan Maples masterpiece flows gracefully through the coastal terrain, making its way past towering pines and moss-draped cypress trees and across gently waving marshes and lush wetlands. All of this builds its way up to a crescendo, with the last three dramatic finishing holes along the Albemarle Sound; it’s the best of land and sea.

The 8th hole is all about risk vs reward. From the White tees, the hole measure 256 yards and screams “Go for it!” Brains is better than brawn here as a go for the green requires pinpoint accuracy. The marsh pinches in on both the right and the left; anything but straight and you can just head for the drop area. The wise player will hit much less than driver and leave a manageable shot into the green.

Number 16 (par 4, 253 yards) is the first of three holes that features a stunning view of the Sound. It’s a short dogleg left par 4 that requires a well-placed tee shot. Try and cut the corner and you are flirting with trees and OB. Make a good second shot and birdie is a definite possibility. The par 5, 17th hole is actually shaped by Albemarle sound. From the White Tees, the hole plays 468 yards and a long drive is essential if you want to put up a good score. Should you decide to go for the green in two, you’ll need tremendous accuracy as the green is guarded on all four sides by bunkers and marshlands. Number 18 is a powerful finishing hole. Although it’s not the longest, it has proven for many to be the difference between victory and defeat. Albemarle Sound runs down the entire right side of this dogleg right par 4, with a 150-yard sand bunker situated between the fairway and the Sound. Hit anything through the left side of the fairway off the tee and you’ll most likely find it in a bunker. Find the fairway off the tee and you’ll be looking at a short chip shot into an uphill green. Don’t be surprised if you here some cheers and jeers from the clubhouse verandah is you finish up. Even if you’re not at the top of your game, the unrelenting beauty of the natural surroundings will keep you coming back round after round.

Being member-owned the people here take pride in the course. Residents that live on the course take it upon themselves to fill in divots, repair ball marks and keep each hole in pristine condition. Their passion is evident and their efforts shine through to keep this an incredibly well-maintained facility.

The newly renovated Clubhouse Restaurant overlooks the Albemarle Sound and features a full-service bar in the Grille Room, a formal dining room and an outside terrace. It’s open Sunday - Tuesday 7:30am until 2:00pm and Wednesday - Saturday 7:30am to 8:00pm. The menus currently feature Morning Station items, appetizers, lunch, dinner and a Sunday brunch. A special TGIF menu is available on Friday.

Another dining venue at Albemarle Plantation is the Dockside Café. It’s situated adjacent to the Marina and is easily accessible by boat or car. The Dockside Café serves wood fired pizzas along with a variety of specialty sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. At the Dockside Café, you can relax inside or dine outdoors on their 1,700 square foot wraparound deck and enjoy a glass of wine from the Albemarle Plantation Retail Wine Store. They’re open Sunday - Tuesday from 2:00pm until 9:00pm.

For more information on becoming a member or resident of Albemarle Plantation, give them a call at (800)523-5958.

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