Eagle Point Golf Club – Played May 2019
- Rankings: Golf Digest #67
- Location: 8131 Bald Eagle Lane, Wilmington, North Carolina
- Year: 2000
- Architect: Tom Fazio
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 7,471 yards, Par 72, 76.2 Rating/143 Slope
- Green: 6,849 yards, Par 72, 72.7 Rating/137 Slope
- Blue: 6,407 yards, Par 72, 71.0 Rating/133 Slope
- Yellow: 5,735 yards, Par 72, 68.3 Rating/125 Slope (Men’s), 73.7 Rating/135 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 5,253 yards, Par 72, 65.9 Rating/117 Slope
I was pretty excited to get my tee time lined up at Eagle Point Golf Club because I had been circling this place for quite some time.
I didn’t really know much about this Wilmington course except that they had hosted the Wells Fargo Championship in 2017 when Quail Hollow was preparing for the PGA Championship.
From the TV coverage I got to see some of the holes but I didn’t realize the course was on the Intracoastal Waterway. As I was driving along, I could see on my GPS that the ocean was close but I ran out of land and had to turn around. The unassuming gate below, that I passed, is the entrance I missed.
The club sits very close to the fancy Figure Eight Island and its multi-million dollar homes. The clubhouse is equally well-appointed. You see the view below as you drive into the property. Also on site are cottages for out of town members and guests.
Hole 1 – 360 yards – Par 4
The first is a gentle start that should leave you with a short iron into a small green. Do your best to avoid the front bunker.
Hole 2 – 139 yards – Par 3
While short, the wind can heavily vary the shot required here. Short is obviously dead but ample room sits to the right.
Below you can see some of the green runoffs.
Hole 3 – 361 yards – Par 4
This straight hole shows its teeth on the approach shot due to the raised, sloped green that will repel indifferent shots.
Hole 4 – 558 yards – Par 5
This hole can be a wind tunnel and we played it dead into the fan. Good drives can catch a down slope for extra distance.
As the approach comes into view, so does another front bunker to avoid.
Hole 5 – 147 yards – Par 3
The tight turf can bite you if you’re short with the tee shot here. There is a slight backstop on the right portion of the green that makes challenging the left side unnecessary.
Hole 6 – 498 yards – Par 5
You should be thinking birdie here but be sure to avoid the creek that meanders throughout the entire hole. Two good shots should get you home.
The green is open in the front with water wrapping around right and behind. I liked the choice of putting the trouble somewhere besides the front.
Hole 7 – 313 yards – Par 4
This hole might be too much if sand scares you. The proper play is down the left side which provides an open angle to the green.
Hole 8 – 382 yards – Par 4
The corridor here is wide open to blast driver. Avoid bunkers on the right and a par should be easily attainable. The green has some contour to it but nothing outrageous.
Hole 9 – 380 yards – Par 4
The ninth is a great finish to the front side. This carry looks longer than it is and the landing area is larger than it seems. Good drives will go up the right side.
Missing left is not recommended. The narrow green has some of the most severe undulation on the front side.
It’s a really good green complex.
Hole 10 – 137 yards – Par 3
We played this hole longer than the listed yardage. Either way, the green is a small target. Short and straight is not a bad miss with all the sand.
As you get to the green you catch a glimpse of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Hole 11 – 393 yards – Par 4
This slight dogleg left begs for you to cut the corner. Unless you’re really long, don’t take the bait. The right side of the fairway provides a great angle to the raised green.
I caught Ryan peeking as I took this photo. He’s one of Eagle Point’s assistant professionals and was my playing partner for the day. He’s great to play golf with and gave me plenty of information throughout the round.
Below is a look at the green site from the twelfth tee.
Hole 12 – 500 yards – Par 5
This is my favorite hole on the course and you’ll see why when we get to the green. The drive is open and you can catch a down slope.
Eagle Point has vibes of a certain course in Georgia with a big tournament. That is especially true when you get to the approach shot here. The pond and short grass green surrounds really pop. There is a backboard behind the green as well that I was able to utilize.
Hole 13 – 354 yards – Par 4
The main goal here is to keep your tee ball between the sand. Once you do that, take dead aim with a short iron.
Hole 14 – 414 yards – Par 4
A raised green and a false front provide the challenge on the approach. The best drive is played up the right side.
Hole 15 – 174 yards – Par 3
Nothing but a stout hole here. We played it straight into the wind. Anything short will roll back down the considerable front hill. Properly played shots can funnel towards the pin.
This wide shot of the green gives you a good feel for the scale of the bunkers and putting surface.
Hole 16 – 390 yards – Par 4
This was the only hole I birdied on the day, so of course I loved it.
All the trouble is off to the sides of the hole with a two-tiered green between the bunkers.
Hole 17 – 389 yards – Par 4
The view from the tee here is the most Fazio-esque with pristine bunkers on each side playing up to a raised green. It’s pretty but still difficult. That’s the ultimate Fazio treatment.
The green has a ton of undulation.
Hole 18 – 518 yards – Par 5
An open tee shot progresses to a demanding approach with water right and bunker left. I can imagine the Tour pros had some anxiety hitting to this green with a check on the line.
The smallish green has plenty of contours to make for interesting putting.
My day at Eagle Point Golf Club was so fun. I had great company for my round and I learned a lot about the club and membership. Tom Fazio sometimes gets a bad wrap for his courses. I’m not sure why. I understand that he doesn’t follow Golden Age principles but he does build playable courses that are nice to look at. Shout out the Faz for Eagle Point. A fun course that is in great shape!