Ocean Shores Country Club

Ocean Shores Country Club: Just north of where the river Brunswick flows into the Pacific Ocean at Brunswick Heads, Von Hagge's well-crafted layout at Ocean Shores will provide an enjoyable golfing challenge.

Quietly set amongst natural flora and tidal lakes, the layout starts with a scenic par-5, which gets you down to much flatter terrain, in which most of the ensuing holes are located. The relatively open front-nine weaves its way around several small lakes and ponds, with water hazards very much in play on several holes.

After journeying back up to, and then down again from the scenically elevated clubhouse, the more natural and interesting back-nine takes you on a wonderful excursion through the course's most attractive stretches. The 10th tee commands a wonderful view over surrounding wooded hills, before dropping you down again to the layout's lower section.

On the second nine-hole loop, the feel is distinctly more tree-lined, with predominantly melaleuca (paperbark) trees lining the generally good-width fairways . Tropical palms and "flame of the forest" trees also provide a haven for the abundant birdlife.

Around the perimeter, but not too close to be in range, local housing looks onto the course. The more you play at Ocean Shores the more you'll appreciate the challenges thrown down by its water-laden front-nine and more tree-lined and natural back-nine.