Harbour Pointe Golf Club

In 2019, golf course closures in the U.S. reached a record high. Then came the 2020 pandemic and golf experienced a massive resurgence in popularity. Why? According to “PrimePutt,” golf’s outdoor environment made it the perfect activity to observe social distancing while still engaging with others.

Fortunately, the resurgence in popularity hasn’t waned post-pandemic and a new generation of players has been cultivated to provide much- needed continuity for local courses. In 2023, golf course closures in the U.S. were at a 20-year low.

Learn about the four local courses Tideland EMC is proud to serve.

1Washington Yacht and Country Club
Seventy-five years ago, a group of Washingtonians purchased over 200 acres of forested land on the banks of Broad Creek, a natural harbor off the Pamlico River in eastern North Carolina. Their vison? A club where friends and family could come together, dine together, enjoy a game of golf and keep their boats in a protected harbor on the Pamlico River.

Today, the Washington Yacht and Country Club remains a private club boasting an Olympic-sized pool, courts for tennis and pickle ball, three dining venues, a pristine 18-hole course, and a unique marina featuring 64 covered slips and 113 uncovered slips.

Tideland proudly sponsors the club’s annual Summerfest Golf Classic which returns May 31-June 2. To learn more, visit wyccnc.com.

2Your staycation golf dreams await
No need to drive long distances for a top-flight resort experience. Consider a stay and play package at The Resort at Fairfield Harbour in New Bern.

Harbour Pointe Golf Club is an 18-hole par 72, 6,577 yard championship golf course. The course winds golfers through a unique natural setting of picturesque coastal marsh while providing a fun yet challenging layout keeping both experienced and novice golfers returning.

The first four holes are a good warm-up for No. 5, a par 4 with a marsh down the right side. The back-nine provides a respite until No. 14. Playing 446 yards with a lake all down the right, it requires a perfectly placed tee shot for a chance to reach the green in two. The green on the 17th hole has apanoramic view of Broad Creek and the Neuse River.

Harbour Pointe also offers a full-service, grass practice range, along with a putting green and short-game practice area. It’s one of the best around.

The course is also home to The Pointe Restaurant which has been newly renovated and features a full service bar and restaurant open to the public.

To learn more, visit harbourpointegolfclub.com.

3Minnesott finds longevity in both community and youth engagement
Like so many courses nationwide, Minnesott Golf and Country Club was struggling to survive in 2016. A group of dedicated club members and the community at large rolled up their sleeves and went to work to keep the club open. Their efforts were successful when the new owners of neighboring Wayfarers Cove Marina and Boatyard came calling. Today, Minnesott Yacht, Golf and Country Club is one of three sister courses (River Bend and Brandywine Bay) owned and operated by the same entity.

While new ownership has certainly breathed new life into Minnesott’s facilities and marketing, it has perhaps more importantly ensured the continuity of important initiatives like the club’s nationally affiliated First Tee Program.

First Tee is a non-profit that introduces children to not only the sport of golf but the etiquette, character and integrity that the game instills. Pamlico County High School’s golf team also calls the course home. The course has been so involved with promoting youth educational efforts that in 2018, after Hurricane Florence delivered a hard blow to the course, student volunteers from Pamlico Community College showed up to assist with cleanup.

When long-time club member David Rea passed away in 2021, his family established an annual junior golf camp to promote his love of the game to future generations. Children ages 6-12 attend the five-day event at no cost.

The club’s facilities include an 18-hole course with five sets of tees, practice facility with driving range, putting green and sand trap, an outdoor pool and boat ramp. The pro shop is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Live Oak Grill is open Wednesday through Sunday and keeps seasonal hours on Tuesdays. Meeting facilities overlooking the Neuse River are also available for rent.

The club is conveniently located within a mile of the Minnesott ferry and is the perfect way to spend a day when visiting one of Pamlico County’s many youth camps.

For more information, visit minnesottgolf.org.

4Cypress Landing
The newest Tideland-served golf course is located in Chocowinity. Cypress Landing has been making a mark since it debuted in 1996. The Bill Love-designed 18-hole, par-72 course maintains a 4-Star Rating from Golf Digest. It also has a 4.7 rating on GolfPass, which has also ranked it as the eighth-best public golf course in North Carolina for 2024.

Memberships are as low as $109 per month and there’s a significant discount for young professionals.

Course amenities include a driving range and practice green along with the Cypress Landing Grill and pro shop located at the clubhouse. Individual and group lessons are available.

The course winds through a 720-home site community with available building lots. Homeowners enjoy exclusive use of the community’s pool and fitness facilities. However the marina, boasting 222 protected slips from 28’ to 42’, accepts non-residents.

To learn more visit, cypresslandinggolf.com.