If you're looking for the best golf near Emerald Isle, NC, The Beaufort Club in nearby Beaufort is your top pick, with Crystal Coast Country Club, Star Hill, Silver Creek, and Brandywine Bay rounding out a solid group of options within a short drive.
Keep reading for a closer look at what makes each course worth your time, plus pricing, distances, and booking details.
The Beaufort Club — The Top Overall Choice Near Emerald Isle
Tucked inside the North River Club community, The Beaufort Club sits about 19–24 miles from Emerald Isle, a 30–40 minute drive along NC-58 and US-70. It's worth the trip.
Bob Moore designed the course, which opened in 2007 under its original name, North River Club, and it remains the most complete golf test on the Crystal Coast.
The layout backs that up with real numbers. Five sets of tees stretch from around 5,017 yards up to 7,210 from the tips, giving both weekend players and low-handicappers a fair fight.
Bent-grass greens set it apart from nearly everything else in the region, where Bermuda dominates thanks to the coastal climate.
What makes the course itself stand out:
- Water comes into play on seven holes, often bordered by wooden bulkheads that add both visual drama and real risk
- Expansive waste bunkers force strategic decisions off the tee, rather than just punishing bad shots
- The property feels remote and uncrowded, despite being part of a larger residential community
Expect green fees between $90 and $115 for a standard round, though the club doesn't publish an official rate card, so calling ahead is the only way to confirm current pricing.
Budget-conscious golfers can find relief through twilight and 9-hole deals, which sometimes drop to the $55–$60 range through discount booking platforms.
The reputation matches the experience. GolfPass named The Beaufort Club #13 among North Carolina's public courses in its 2025 Golfers' Choice rankings, and it holds a 4.52 out of 5 rating across 231 reviews, with 99% of golfers recommending it.
That combination of course quality and player sentiment puts it ahead of every other option within a reasonable drive of Emerald Isle.
Off the course, the clubhouse delivers a full practice setup with a six-tee driving range and putting greens, along with a pro shop for last-minute gear.
After the round, the Blue Heron restaurant and 19th Hole Bar & Lounge give golfers a place to unwind, and the newly built two-story clubhouse reflects the level of investment the club has put into the overall experience.
Crystal Coast Country Club — The Highest-Rated Course Closest to Town
If you want top-tier golf without the long drive, Crystal Coast Country Club is your best bet. Located on Bogue Banks in Pine Knoll Shores, it's only about 9 miles and 15–20 minutes from Emerald Isle, making it the most convenient high-quality option in the area.
Maurice Brackett designed the course in the early 1970s, and after significant hurricane damage in 2018, it underwent an extensive rebuild that modernized nearly every part of the playing surface.
That rebuild shows up in the details. The course now features Celebration Bermuda tees, 419 Tifway Bermuda fairways, and Sunday Ultra Dwarf Bermuda greens, along with new bunkers, cart paths, and bridges.
It plays as a par 70 across 18 holes, with four sets of tees ranging from about 4,816 yards up to roughly 6,005 yards, so it accommodates a wide range of skill levels without sacrificing challenge.
Where the course tests you most:
- Water factors into 13 of the 18 holes, more than any other course in the group
- The par-5 4th hole stands out as the defining challenge, with water running the entire left side from tee to green
- Set among sand dunes and maritime forest, the course offers sound views that add to the difficulty of staying focused on your shot
Pricing shifts significantly by season. In-season (March through October), expect to pay $150 for 18 holes; off-season (November through February), that drops to $90.
Discount platforms often list tee times in the $68–$112 range, so it pays to shop around before booking directly.
One detail matters more here than at any other course on this list: Crystal Coast operates as semi-private, meaning the public can only book tee times after 12:00 noon daily. Plan your round accordingly, or you'll need a member connection to get on early.
The ratings back up the reputation. Crystal Coast holds a 4.56 out of 5 score from 397 reviews, the highest of any course near Emerald Isle, and it's picked up recognition across multiple statewide categories, including a top-5 ranking among North Carolina courses under 6,500 yards.
Beyond the course itself, the club offers a well-stocked golf shop, an upgraded practice facility, a restaurant, and a full slate of recreational amenities like a pool, tennis, and pickleball. It's also become a popular wedding venue, which tells you something about how well the grounds are maintained.
Star Hill Golf Club — The Most Convenient Option With the Most Variety
Star Hill Golf Club sits just over the bridge in Cape Carteret, roughly a 12-minute drive from Emerald Isle, making it the closest quality course to town.
Russell T. Burney designed it back in 1967, and with the Lakes nine following in 1966 and the Sands nine added in 1990, it stands as one of the oldest golf facilities on the Crystal Coast.
What sets Star Hill apart is its format. Instead of one fixed 18-hole routing, the club offers three distinct nine-hole courses that golfers can combine however they like:
- The Pines — par 36, about 3,167 yards, tree-lined and tighter off the tee
- The Lakes — par 35–36, roughly 3,254–3,381 yards, built around water hazards
- The Sands — par 36, around 3,107 yards, defined by strategic bunkering
Combined, any 18-hole pairing exceeds 6,500 yards from the back tees, and each nine offers blue, white, gold, and red options, so groups with mixed abilities can each play from a comfortable distance.
This setup gives repeat visitors a different experience every round, since mixing and matching the nines changes the character of the course entirely.
Pricing here is refreshingly simple: $63 for 18 holes and $44 for 9, cart included, with no seasonal fluctuation to track.
That flat structure makes Star Hill easy to plan around, especially for golfers comparing costs across multiple courses in one trip.
Reviews land in solid-but-unspectacular territory, with a GolfPass rating near 3.7 out of 5 and 3.5 stars from Golf Digest's course evaluators.
The consistent theme across feedback is that the course is well-maintained and the staff is friendly, even though the clubhouse and some facilities reflect their 1960s and 70s origins rather than a recent renovation.
It's a course that prioritizes a traditional playing experience over modern polish, and for many golfers, that's part of the appeal.
One practical note: online booking is limited. The golf shop handles most reservations by phone, so plan to call ahead rather than expecting a seamless digital booking experience.
Silver Creek Golf Club — The Best Value Round in the Area
Silver Creek Golf Club sits in Swansboro, about 12–15 minutes from Emerald Isle and just two miles from Star Hill, making it easy to pair with another round on the same trip. Gene Hamm designed the course, which opened in the mid-1990s.
Worth noting: this isn't the same Silver Creek you'll find in Morganton, NC, a Tom Jackson–designed mountain course with no connection to this coastal layout.
The course itself plays as a full 18-hole, par-72 test, with five sets of tees ranging from about 4,962 yards up to 7,005 from the tips.
TifEagle Bermuda greens and 419 Bermuda fairways give it a modern playing surface that holds up well in the coastal heat.
Why it works for value-focused golfers:
- Green fees run between $30 and $60 for 18 holes with cart included, the lowest price point of any course in the area
- The open layout gives players of varying skill levels a fair chance, rather than punishing higher handicaps
- Water hazards and mature trees add enough challenge to keep the round interesting without becoming overwhelming
Reviews reflect a mixed but generally positive picture. Feedback highlights good value, friendly staff, and improved greens conditions, though the most common complaint across sources involves cart-path damage from tree roots, along with occasional drainage issues after heavy rain.
Review sample sizes here are smaller than at Crystal Coast or The Beaufort Club, so treat the ratings as directionally useful rather than definitive.
Beyond the round itself, Silver Creek offers a driving range, practice bunker, and putting and chipping greens, plus a pro shop, snack bar, and club and cart rentals for golfers traveling light.
An outdoor pool rounds out the amenities. Walking is permitted for golfers who prefer it, though soft spikes are required. For anyone prioritizing cost per round without sacrificing course quality, Silver Creek is the clearest choice on this list.
Brandywine Bay Golf Club — What to Check Before You Book
Brandywine Bay Golf Club sits within its namesake residential community in Morehead City, about 20–30 minutes from Emerald Isle.
It's the only semi-private club in Carteret County, with public play welcomed seven days a week. The course traces its roots to Bruce Devlin and Ellis Maples, though sources disagree on the exact opening date, with some citing 1977 and others 1981.
Design-wise, Brandywine Bay has real substance. It plays as a par-71, 18-hole course stretching up to roughly 6,300–6,609 yards from the back tees, routed through tall pines and around 44 acres of water that come into play throughout the round.
Tight, placement-oriented tee shots reward accuracy over distance, and well-manicured slopes surround the greens. The course has earned recognition in the past, including a spot on Golf Digest's “Best Places to Play” list in North Carolina.
Here's the catch right now:
- The course is in the middle of a full greens renovation, with several temporary greens in place, especially on the back nine
- Reviews reflect this transition period directly: GolfPass rates it 2.23 out of 5 from 24 reviews, the lowest score of any course near Emerald Isle
- Recent player feedback cites temporary greens, tee-box wear, and rough cart paths as the main issues, though the layout's underlying potential and friendly staff still draw praise
- Conditions are reportedly improving week to week as the renovation progresses through the growth season
Pricing reflects the current state of the course. Estimates put green fees around $52, but discount platforms frequently list rounds in the $40 range, and the club has kept pricing lower during construction to match the temporary conditions.
Before you book, do this:
- Call the club directly at (252) 247-2541 rather than relying solely on third-party booking sites
- Ask specifically which greens are temporary and which holes are affected
- Confirm whether the current rate reflects a renovation discount
- Check recent review dates to see if conditions have improved since the last update you read
Brandywine Bay isn't a course to write off permanently. Once the permanent greens reopen and ratings recover, it's likely to move back into serious consideration alongside the other four courses on this list. For now, treat it as a course worth watching rather than booking blind.
How to Pick the Right Course and Book Your Tee Time
With five solid options within a half-hour of Emerald Isle, the right choice comes down to what you're prioritizing on this particular trip.
Match the course to your priority:
- Championship challenge: The Beaufort Club, with its 7,210-yard layout and bent-grass greens, is the most demanding test in the group
- Highest-rated experience: Crystal Coast Country Club leads at 4.56/5, though it requires waiting until noon for public tee times
- Convenience: Star Hill, just 12 minutes away, is the closest quality option to Emerald Isle itself
- Budget: Silver Creek offers the lowest green fees, between $30 and $60 with cart included
- Proximity paired with variety: Star Hill's 27 holes across three nines let you customize the round without driving far
Pricing shifts more than most golfers expect. Crystal Coast alone swings from $150 in-season down to $90 off-season, and nearly every course on this list offers cheaper twilight or 9-hole rates compared to a full weekend morning round.
If cost matters, booking a weekday or late-afternoon tee time is the simplest way to save without sacrificing course quality.
Booking approach worth following:
- Check GolfNow or GolfLink first for discounted tee times, especially at Crystal Coast and Brandywine Bay, where deals often run $40–$112 below standard rates
- Call the pro shop directly for courses like The Beaufort Club and Star Hill, since both rely heavily on phone reservations rather than full online booking systems
- Ask about current course conditions if it's been more than a few weeks since the last review you read, particularly at Brandywine Bay during its renovation
- Confirm cart inclusion and any seasonal rate changes before finalizing, since pricing structures vary by course
Distance from Emerald Isle also plays a real role in planning your day. Star Hill sits closest at around 12 minutes, followed by Crystal Coast Country Club at roughly 15–20 minutes, Silver Creek at 12–15 minutes, Brandywine Bay at 20–30 minutes, and The Beaufort Club farthest out at 30–40 minutes.
If you're playing multiple rounds in one trip, pairing Star Hill and Silver Creek makes sense, since they sit just two miles apart.
One caution worth repeating: review counts vary widely across these courses. Crystal Coast's 397 reviews and The Beaufort Club's 231 give a reliable picture, while Silver Creek and Brandywine Bay's smaller review samples mean conditions can shift faster than the posted ratings suggest.
For a group with mixed skill levels or budgets, Star Hill and Silver Creek offer the most flexibility, letting stronger players stretch out from the back tees while others play forward without feeling out of place.
Conclusion
Emerald Isle golfers have five solid options within a short drive, each suited to a different priority, whether that's The Beaufort Club's championship test, Crystal Coast's top rating, or Silver Creek's budget-friendly round.
Pricing, conditions, and availability shift by season, so calling ahead or checking discount platforms before you book will save both time and money.
Whichever course you choose, a bit of planning around drive time and tee-off windows will make for a smoother, more enjoyable round on the Crystal Coast.
