Crow Creek in Calabash...The best of the Carolina Coasts

Crow Creek is in the right place at the right time. If you are over the age of 25, tired of the madness of Highway 17 North Business, yet not of the age yet to enjoy the extreme tranquility of the towns south of Myrtle (Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, and Georgetown spring to mind), the place to be may be north of North Myrtle, just over the border in Calabash, NC (Google it! I can’t get the link to work.) About an hour from Wilmington, but less than 30 minutes from the Estrande Grande, Calabash is situated to take advantage of all things touristy and all things cultural…nice place to be.

Crow Creek has been snake-bitten when it comes to my personal reviews. Three years ago, Travelin’ Duff was poised to play, shoot and review the layout for BuffaloGolfer.Com when the heat index soared and he abandoned the effort. Today, I was prepared to avenge this oversite when a family member fell ill, and my own journey north was cancelled. I feel a personal debt to the family of Crow Creek to bring this wonderful golf course more to light.

The golf course thanks Rick Robbins for its genesis. Formerly a design associate of Butch Von Hagge and Jack Nicklaus, Robbins struck out on his own in 1991. He has built and renovated courses and created master plans throughout the southeast, in Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia. Crow Creek represents one of his finest efforts to date.

The Crow Creek course runs from 5000 yards on the Reds to 7100 from the Blacks, with 5600, 6100 and 6600 in between. There is a manageable stretch for everyone in between. A collection of lagoons and water courses unite with sandy hazards to protect the emerald fairways and greens. Stretched throughout the property are a series of living accomodations, ranging from condos to custom and attached homes.

The Crow Creek website is a thorough one. A unique feature is the Construction Update forum. Residents are able to communicate ideas via a phpBB bulletin board setup. A complete photo shoot of the course would be an ideal addition to their current web pages. As for me, even if I have to pay full freight one day, I will make it to Crow Creek.