Whether you're a scratch golfer or a duffer, you'll find play to suit your game and style on or near the Outer Banks, where the number and variety of golf courses have increased dramatically in the past few years. Part of the pleasure of golf almost everywhere is in the lushness of the environment, but few locations outside of this area offer the astounding ocean-to-sound views you'll find at many courses along these barrier islands. Such distraction might not be good for your game, but it'll do wonders for the soul!

In this section, you'll find golf courses from Corolla to Hatteras Island, plus courses on the Currituck mainland, just north of the Wright Memorial Bridge. We've also included an excellent course in Hertford that's only an hour's drive from the heart of the Outer Banks.

Golfers have it made during the offseason and shoulder seasons. Accommodations are a bargain from the fall through the spring, and many hotels, motels, and cottage rental companies package special golf vacations. Depending on the season, you can usually plan a visit on the spur of the moment if you want to play at off- peak times. The temperatures on the Outer Banks remain fairly moderate throughout the year. A day in January might bring temperatures of 60 degrees or higher, so keep an eye on the weather and your clubs close at hand. To avoid disappointment, call for tee times at your course of choice before your visit; more and more golfers are discovering the Outer Banks in the off-season.

All the regulation courses in the following section are semiprivate, meaning the public can pay to play, and all welcome beginners and newcomers. Yardage and par figures are based on men's/white tees.