MYRTLE BEACH SHOWCASES

Magnolia Greens
Golf Plantation

TravelGolf.com Staff

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation doesn't seem to mind its reputation as a "tweener" course. The Tom Jackson designed golf facility just south of Wilmington is a popular stop for golfers on their way to and from Myrtle Beach.

But with 27-holes, a solid selection of golf villas, and a location just 10 minutes from downtown historic Wilmington, Magnolia Greens easily stands on its own as one of the area's premier golfing destinations. The true-rolling bentgrass greens are widely recognized as some of the best in the Carolinas, and the courses challenging design earned it U.S. Open qualifier just a year after it opened.

"The big thing we have been able to capitalize on is our location," says general manager Patrick Crean "There are a lot of people flying into Wilmington or Raleigh and they come down through us on U.S. 17 and right by our front door."

Magnolia Greens has filled a much-needed void in the Wilmington golf scene, one that lets golfers play a quality golf course at an affordable rate. Wilmington is blessed with some older public courses, some highe end private courses, but not much in between. Magnolia Greens comes in right in the middle and offers a championship caliber course that is open to the public, but is maintained to resort standards.

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.

"I saw a map of the Grand Strand the other day, and our course was up at the top," he says. "I brought it to our owners and said 'look, we've finally made it into Myrtle Beach.'"

Inclusion in the Grand Strand's 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.

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"We have golf packages where you can come in and rent a villa and play here, and we can set up a package where you can play some of the other courses as well," Crean says. "That is what appeals to the golfers that come here. It's a slower pace and scaled down from some of the resorts of Myrtle Beach."

Course Information

Magnolia Greens Plantation
9049 Ocean Highway, U.S. 17
Leland, N.C. 28451
For more information, call 1-800-6777534, or visit www.magnolia-greens.com