This course is fairly open, wending it's way through mature pine trees, with some wide open holes in a power line easement. The effect reminds one of Horizons Park in Winston-Salem. I come to Emerald Isle every year on vacation and always look forward to playing it, always many times over the course of the vacation.

As this course hasn't been reviewed in a while, I wanted to update the current state of the course. It remains as others have described it, a solid course that does the best with the property it has.

- Nice mix of holes with a variety of lines.
- Gaps are generous, and the rough is forgiving, which lets you go for a lines and rip on shots you may not normally find comfortable, without fear.
- Mix of longer tees and some alternate baskets to add challenge for the better players.
- Navigation is easy, with clear tee signs, obvious paths, and clear indicators of direction to the next basket.

Edit: They have also now updated the pin positions on several holes making them quite a bit more interesting. The short position on 2 is just within reach for moderate arms now. The same for 11, although getting to the disc on top of the knob where the basket is won't be easy. 12 is no longer a wide open shot but requires a turnover. Finally 13 is now longer, with less risk of losing a disc over a fence to the right, and the new basket position makes running a long putt more risky.

- a few holes could lead to some potentially dangerous tee shots into unobstructed parallel fairways.
- the 6 wide open holes do get slightly repetitive , but they do a good job of mixing it up as best as possible.

Edit:

They now have all the long and short pin positions permanently installed with blue bands marking the long positions; however the tee signs are now frequently incorrect, as well as being quite cracked and faded. Not a huge issue in the age of uDisc, but worth noting.

This is a course that brand new and experienced players can both enjoy playing, whether in a group together or not.

-Good variety of holes. Starts off with some short wooded holes. goes into some wide open holes, then into some larger wooded holes.
-Multiple tees on many holes, giving you a greater challenge when you're ready.
-Water fountains. I know it's minor, but most parks even with bathrooms neglect these.

-Slightly seedier part of town. (Let's be honest, most of J-ville is the seedier part of town.) We saw what we are sure was an escort having pictures taken for her website. Seriously short minikirt and high heels walking in the park, as well as different outfits in the car. C'mon now.
-The large power lines overhead on some of the holes emit a rather loud humming. Yikes.
-Confusing layout at first. Be sure to print out a course map.

Now that the course is pretty much done, it's in much better shape. Still using some of the original tee boxes, which aren't in the best shape. Especially when the new ones are so nice. Worth the drive every few months to play on something different.

Clean and varied facilities: restrooms, trash cans, ball fields, playground, fishing.
Well maintained park: no trash, no criminal element noticed, landscape maintained.
Ample shade, scenic water, swamp and pretty tree and grass areas.
Excellent use of existing elevation and foliage.
Mostly smooth and level tee boxes were well marked for blue and white. The holes that had only one tee seem to be designated by having both a blue tee post and a white distance post.
Good risk/reward on many holes: deceptively punishing outside the fairway at times, even in seemingly open woods. Knowing your discs and keeping your line really pay off here.
Good mix of left and right holes.

Some missing distance markers need to be added or replaced.
A few too many open, similar holes, but still not automatic birdies, with the electric wires, breeze and some punishing shule.  If you want to air out some drives, you better still keep them a bit controlled to avoid problems with these.
Next tee signs pointing the way would be much appreciated, although I probably wouldn't need them after this first round. Just nice for visitors like myself.

I was visiting from Atlanta, and this course was somewhat reminiscent of one of my favorites and my home course, Rosewood-Dekalb (Redan Park), with its mostly flat, well broken-in terrain and shade.  The mix of tight wooded fairways, more open woods, and open sunny holes was another shared feature.

Overall it was an easy, fun, quick round from the white tees for this 780 rated woman.  Perfect while visiting the beach!  I was shooting mostly 3s, but one of the few times I got off the fairway, I got a 7!  A couple more times through would probably yield a birdie or two. Remember I was playing from the white tees, scoring a 63.

Pretty sure some advanced guys could play the whole course from the white tees with their Roc, since even the long holes require an accurate drive. All I brought was my midrange, an under stable, and a stable disc, since I was traveling, and I wasn't wanting for more discs.

Some well placed shrubbery, to draw attention from the electric wires on holes 13-15, would create some shade and aesthetic pleasure.

Returning later this week for a round from the blue tees did require a lot more skill.  With a lot of luck I scored a 68, so still a relatively easy, fun course. I will def visit this one again. There were some creative alternate routes when I didn't hit my lines, which gives an added fun factor! The blue tees raise my review to a nearly a 4.0, as a well rounded course with something fun for a variety of players.

Playable White and Blue tees give some variety. Much longer than the old course. More variety of shots, long and short, tight and wide open. Holes are laid out much better. Tees and baskets are spread out so that nobody is in danger. Spread out over the entire property, the holes don't have a claustrophobic feel to them. Several Par 4's from the Blue tees. Lefty and flick friendly. Clearly-defined lines and fairways, you'll still be challenged to hit your line and avoid the penalizing woods.

Flow and navigation have to be the two worst aspects of the course. Several tees are a hundred feet or more from the previous basket. Print out and carry a course map or arrange for a guide. You will not find your way around otherwise. Their is something to the complaint that some holes are repetitious, but I liked the holes that were repeated.

This is a new course and the layout is still a work in progress. I talked extensively to Mike and Kevin during the round and got some insight into the new layout. The tees are natural because they are still tweaking the layout. Once it is final, they will put in large concrete tees. Some of the hole repetition was a result of restrictions that the County put on the layout.
Overall, I liked it. I'd love to give it four discs, but I'll re-visit after the layout ids final. This course is a huge improvement over the previous layout.
Like I said, bring a course map when you come to play, you'll need it.

-tight technical course that really tests your accuracy.
-you don't need a big arm to play this course well.
-lefty friendly
-long tees make for an entire new course for most of it.
- temporary signs are up until they get new ones.

-some holes are very similar.
-still needs a little work done to it.

very good course in general for it just being redesigned within the last few weeks. needs a little TLC but that will come in time.tee pads and signs are a little rough but as i said the course is newly redesigned. be sure to bring bug spray!