OBX Coastal Golf Drives

You don’t stumble upon the Currituck Club. You go in search of it. But then again, that’s par for the course for whatever form of excitement you seek in this part of the state.

The journey to this Atlantic Ocean golf haven isn’t an easy one. You must navigate across the Wright Memorial Bridge, up the coast, through the picturesque town of Duck, up the north portion of winding State Route 12 through some scrub dunes all the way to Corolla. Almost from the time you pull into the parking lot at the Currituck Club, you will know it was worth the trip.

The Rees Jones-designed layout features diverse coastal terrain, including sand dunes, wetlands, maritime forests and sound-side shoreline. It also provides glimpses of the ocean as well as the Currituck Sound – for the latter in particular on signature holes No. 7 and No. 15. Play the layout on three consecutive days and the Currituck Club will give you three different experiences.

If, however, you happen to make a wrong turn after crossing the Wright Memorial Bridge, don’t fret. There’s more outstanding golf to discover to the south as Nags Head Golf Links will soon loom off to your right up ahead. You’ll know you are on the right trajectory when in Southern Shores the OBX mile marker system will have begun. Milepost 1 actually kicks things off just south of the bridge and the numbers increase every mile you traverse through Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and finally into Nags Head. The vertical green signs with white number help locate beaches, shops and attractions along NC Highway 12.

Along the drive, you’ll also notice that a multitude of sand-swept side roads leading directly to the ocean. Names that intersect the main coastal highway include Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro. There is even a Pinehurst Street.

Though these distinctly Tar Heel names serve as mere tributes to the cities and towns of mainland North Carolina, thoughts of them are about to become nothing more than distant memories. You’ll soon leave the fast lane behind and begin to absorb the laid-back lifestyle only a classic coastal setting can provide.

As you motor along, you’ll notice that the dunes rise to their highest level around Kill Devil Hills. It is from this vantage point – where flight was born – that you will find yourself within easy driving distance of an array of big-name designer golf courses, tranquil beaches, luxurious accommodations, and exhilarating recreational activities. This naturally rich strip of land divides the Atlantic Ocean from the inland sounds.

But you say you already know about the coastal wonders of the Outer Banks? You have been there with family and friends during the summertime, enjoying great food, shopping, sight seeing and the wild horses of Corolla? Well, now’s the time to start planning a return visiting with a few less beach chairs and a few more golf bags strapped to the roof of your vehicle.

If you choose to do so, remember, whichever way you go – either north or south after crossing the Wright Memorial Bridge – there’s always top-notch golf to be found. And a big part of the fun and adventure of golf – like most everything else seems to be in OBX – is going in search of it.