As a frequent traveler to the Outer Banks, I’ve played almost every course within easy reach of my base in Kitty Hawk. Kilmarlic Golf Club, located just over the bridge that connects the mainland to Kitty Hawk and the rest of the Outer Banks, is an excellent option for beachgoers who want to add a memorable round of golf to their vacation.
The club’s name comes from local lore: a ship carrying whiskey from Kilmarlic, Scotland, ran aground in the treacherous waters of the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” off the North Carolina coast. Locals recovered casks of Scotch and celebrated by naming the area Kilmarlic. Whether that tale is strictly factual or embellished, you’ll likely want to toast Tom Steele, the course designer, after you finish your round.
The course weaves through stands of giant oaks and pines and is surrounded by more wetlands than many golfers prefer to search through for a lost ball. The Albemarle Sound borders part of the layout, and more than 300 acres of wetlands and coastal ponds come into play, testing shot selection and course management throughout your round.
Kilmarlic plays to 6,412 yards and is very much a placement course. First-time players will often want to replay holes to correct early mistakes. Many holes present tempting risk/reward options, and while some aggressive plays pay off, more often the risk becomes a costly mistake. I’ve played this course many times, and one constant is the efficient, friendly staff in the pro shop who keep everything running smoothly.
Hole 4
(526 yards, par 5)
Hole 4 is the course’s toughest test and sits at No. 1 on the handicap list. The tee shot requires a straight drive with trees lining the left side, giving the hole a parkland feel at first. The fairway then doglegs left around a thick peninsula of marsh. Many players try to clear the corner and find themselves in muck and marsh. The smart strategy is to hit a long iron or 7-iron to the turn and then a wedge to the slightly raised green. Play it safe and you’ll likely walk away with par instead of an embarrassing score.
Hole 5
(163 yards, par 3)
Water comes into play on nearly every par 3 at Kilmarlic, and this short hole is no exception. A full mid-iron from the tee to the green is the best play; anything short risks finding the water. Even when you find the green, a long putt is often left, and a bunker behind the green can punish those who try to club up too much.
Hole 6
(487 yards, par 4)
This is a demanding par 4, well bunkered on the left and difficult to reach in two. A pond near the left tee box shouldn’t be a factor for most drives, but errant shots right tend to disappear into the timber and dunes. If you can control your fairway woods, a well-struck 3-wood may give you a chance at the green, though most players will still fall short. Making five here can feel like a solid score.
Hole 9
(545 yards, par 5)
Hole 9 is all about placement off the tee. A pond sits where many average drives land, so the ideal tee shot favors left-center or tight to the pond’s edge. Short drives often set up a second shot that sails into the water. From a good position you’ll need a strong fairway wood to reach distance, then an iron into the elevated green, which is guarded by a frequently visited bunker on the right front.
Hole 11
(151 yards, par 3)
Hole 11 features a small island-like green that usually plays shorter than its yardage suggests, but many golfers find themselves wet attempting to reach the oddly shaped target. A bunker protects the right-front edge and catches plenty of errant shots, so aim carefully and don’t be too aggressive with club selection.
Hole 12
(495 yards, par 5)
Wetlands influence this long par 5 and can punish poorly placed drives. The key is to drive left-center for a clean second shot and a manageable approach. Shots pushed too far right often disappear into marsh. Even when you’re safe on the right, the temptation to cut toward the green over wetlands and a pond can lead to trouble. The green sits tucked on the right side of the dogleg and is well bunker-protected.
Hole 16
(552 yards, par 5)
Another demanding par 5, hole 16 requires a tee shot that avoids a right-side bunker and finds the center of the fairway. Balls left can force a punch-out and make par unlikely. The second shot must clear marshy ground; many mis-hits are swallowed there. Successfully navigate the dogleg left while keeping your ball out of trouble and you’ll have a relatively straightforward approach to the green.
Hole 18
(514 yards, par 5)
The finishing hole asks you to keep your drive centered to avoid a marshy outcropping on the left. Big hitters risk finding a pond about 250 yards out that runs along the entire left side of the fairway. Fairway bunkers will challenge your second shot as the hole turns left toward a raised green. A steady, well-placed tee shot sets up the best chance for a strong finish.
Kilmarlic Golf Club
215 West Side Lane
Powells Point, NC 27966
tel 252 491 4220