St. James Plantation - Cate, Jones, and Irwin Courses in North Strand offer Different Styles

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

SOUTHPORT, NC -- If your golf facility were home to three upscale courses, designed by the likes of P.B. Dye, Tim Cate and Hale Irwin, would you feel comfortable to rest on your reputable laurels? Well, St. James Plantation - the guardian of the "north strand", is about as satisfied with its lofty position in Myrtle Beach area golf as Tiger Woods is with two Major titles.

The Plantation's flagship course is its newest layout - the Tim Cate designed Players Club. But the fall off to its next marquee track, P.B. Dye's The Gauntlet, is negligible at best. Rounding out the trio is the Hale Irwin signature course, the Members Club, which is most popular among the Plantation's paying members. But in the works is a nine-hole addition to the Members Club, and short term plans also point towards a new nine holes for the Player's Club as well.

St. James Plantation is located in the northern most reaches of the Grand Strand, in North Carolina's Brunswick County. Looking for the carnival like atmosphere you find in Myrtle or North Myrtle Beach? You'll be searching longer and harder than a thirty handicapper for a Top Flite in the woods.

In Brunswick County, you more likely to find wildlife than nightlife, but that does not stop droves of players from making the drive north from Myrtle Beach. "We are so far away from the bustle of Myrtle Beach," says Players Club Assistant Pro Todd Skiba. "But people come up for the first time and say this is a definitely a course to come back to."

Ask the proshop staff, the rangers, and the outside services crew at St. James which course they prefer to play, and the answer is unequivocally the Players Club. As to why, the theories range from the challenging narrow fairways that force accuracy off the tee to the sheer cleverness of Cate's devilishly modern, yet invitingly traditional design.

Yet a random sampling of players coming off the three courses yields no clear favorite, as each course seems to bring something different to the table. "I like the Members Course because it is easier," says Allison Lanphear on a weekend golf binge from Atlanta. "I am just being honest, but an easy course endears itself to me because it let's me play well."

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"That is what makes St. James unique - that we have three courses that endear themselves to different players and skill levels for different reasons," says Skiba. "I don't know if there is really a marquee course here. I would think that the Players Club is the marquee course, or at least it will be in the future as it matures."

As designer Tim Cate crept out from under the wing of revered course designer Willard Byrd, the opening of the Players Club in 1998 helped solidify Cate's reputation as an up-and-coming Grand Strand course architect. The course is speckled with Cate's signature trademarks including waste bunkers that sport small Carolina coastal hardwoods, which add a modern feel to an otherwise traditional course.

In fact, the Player's Club employs a bit of chicanery as the course opens with a wide-open par 4 that is bordered by a lake to the left. But following the first hole, open looks give way to narrower, tree lined fairways that reduce the driver to an optional club for the average player.

If it's wide-open you're after, head to the Gauntlet - one of only two P.B Dye designed courses on the Strand. But think for a moment that you are off the hook on this wind swept layout, and the course will sneak up and bite you with its elevated greens and penal bunkers. One time around the Gauntlet on a breezy Carolina spring day and you'll realize its no mistake that the course has the highest slope rating of any track on the Strand.

When searching for a reprieve from the rigors of the Player's Club and the Gauntlet, most players head to the Members Club to get a taste of Hale Irwin's conquerable layout and slower rolling Bermuda grass greens. But according to Skiba, it won't be long before players have even more St. James layouts from which to choose.

"Sea Trail Plantation is our biggest competition up here right now, since they also have three courses," says Skiba. "But we plan on adding to our facility. Tim Cate is doing a new nine at the Members Course. Eventually they will put another nine at this course (Players Club), and Tim will probably do that as well."

Other Amenities

Jimmy Ballard School of Golf
Constructed Harbor for boat moorings
Ocean Front Beach House Rental
Additional Condominiums in development

Course Information

St. James Plantation
4006 St. James Dr. SE
Southport, NC 28461

Where to Stay

Inquire at the Plantation about stay and play packages, or for Ocean front resort lodging, Brunswick County style, check out the Winds Inn (1-866-409-2177) on Ocean Isle Beach.

Where to Eat

Too much seafood? Head for Broncos Steakhouse and Saloon located on the ocean side of the Ocean Isle (10 Causeway Drive) Beach Bridge. The steaks melt in your mouth and the ribs almost fall off the bone.