Eagle Point Golf Club

Things are simple at the Tom Fazio-designed Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina. Forget about tee times, swimming pool, or tennis. The par-72 core routing is unencumbered by housing or development. The private club is readily walkable and has a fine caddie program. It also has a lowlands sensibility that combines the nearby Intracoastal Waterway with more inland Carolina Sandhills landforms and vegetation of scrub oak and pines.

At 7,170 yards from the tips (74.5 rating/137 slope), Eagle Point provides a strong test of golf, one that's enhanced by the prevailing wind from the Atlantic Ocean, just a mile away to the east. Five sets of tee provide plenty of alternatives, though golfers will also enjoy the club's fascinating nine-hole par-3 course on the grounds-a perfect place to while away an afternoon with a drink or two in hand. For serious players, there's not only a 15-acre practice ground but also a high-tech learning center where director of golf Billy Anderson's crack staff can walk you through the wonders of a fascinating graphic swing-analysis program, Accelerized Golf.

The entire 245-acre site is focused on a traditional golf ambiance. That commitment is evident in the design and functionality of the two eight-person guest cottages. The modest pro shop has the feel of an established golf facility, with a touch of the haberdashery to it. And the clubhouse's high-ceilinged men's locker provides the kind of atmosphere one associates with the finest old facilities.

 When it comes to creating a distinct, low-profile identity, Eagle Point gets it right. The town that's underappreciated for having just about the best, year-round golf weather in the country also has one of the most underrated private retreats for the game.

For more information on Eagle Point, call the club at (910) 686-4653.

Airport:

WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL (ILM)
15-mile drive to Eagle Point
Longest runway: 8,016 ft
FBO: Aero Service, (800) 526-0285

Getting There (186K)