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Scottish Links · Public

Thistle Golf Club

4.65 from 283 golfers who played it

DesignerTim Cate
Opened1999
SetupPar 72 · 6,712 yds
LocationSunset Beach, NC

Tee times

Play Thistle Golf Club.

Live rates from the course's own tee sheet. Pick a date and see what is actually open.

Live tee times

Play Thistle Golf Club.

Golfers 4

Checking the tee sheet…

Live rates per golfer, cart included. Booking opens in our tee sheet with your day and group size already set.

The course

What Thistle Golf Club plays like.

Designed by Tim Cate and opened in 1999, this course features a mix of Scottish inspired links and Carolina low country elements. Players navigate through marshland and natural wetlands, with challenging green complexes and strategic bunkering. The par 5 16th hole is a standout, requiring a precise approach over water to a well protected green. Known for its immaculate Bermuda grass fairways, the course suits strategic thinkers and shot makers.

The course

Thistle Golf Club in photographs.

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Reviews

4.65 out of 5 from 283 golfers.

Left by people who booked this tee time through us and played it.

slow play on course not managed well by staff

Arun , Cary

Great course but were overbooked the play was very slow and we rushed to get out to play replay .

Chris, South haven

Great carts, well organized starts, interesting track. Frequent visits by on course bev cart; did not try inside food/bev. Overall excellent experience here (not quite to the River's Edge standard, but close). We will return here.

James, Alexandria

Impressive facilities and very good staff.

Paul, Fredericksburg

The course was in AMAZING shape and really enjoyed it. The staff in the club house were truly professional and great.

william, alexandria

Great course

John, Wake Forest

Best course, golf carts,, restaurant food,, and staff at all courses we played this week.

Timothy, Wyoming

Great shape, nicest course played

Kyle, NEW PROVIDNCE

great all round conditions

Michael, Tuckahoe

No complaints. Day was fantastic.

Shawn, Greenville

Conditions were one of the best the week we where there. Greens rolled fast and fair. Fairways were in excellent condition. Course layouts I really enjoy

Michael, Lehighton

This is definitely a top notch notch golf course

Wayne, Germantown

Great course, good food at the finish, cold beer.

Brien, Greensboro

Starters were as flexible as granite. had no idea or willingness on how to stage carts for a large group

Colin, Franklin

Starters are a little pushy. Food is Great!!

Sam, Browns Summit

Very nice course & everything was 1st class!

martin, gaithersburg

beautiful course and some cool history in the clubhouse.

Billy, Glen St.Mary

This course is a little over priced next to the other two we played.

Winston, Gallipolis

Did not get to play this course due to rain.

Tommy, Martin

Great course in great shape given the lack of rain. We are putting this one in the annual rotation.

Christopher, South Lebanon

Great course, in great condition

Scott, Milton

this will continue to stay on our list!

Jonathan, Louisville

Excellent design and condition. High end. Could improve coordination for starts and reduce bottleneck at bag drop area. But worth the price.

Jonathan, Waynesboro

Nice layout and overall nice course. However, the tee boxes and many parts of the fairways were in vey bad shape. You have to get better

Joe, Atlantic Beach

Very nice course that was a little dryer than it usually has been in the past. Still a great option.

Bob, Voorhees

Seemed a bit dried out. Not as nice as it has been in previous years.

David, Belford

Was challenging and in decent shape. Took about an hour to get our lunch due to staff shortages in the bar/restaurant. They were working hard, but couldn't keep up.

Steve, Hollan

Awesome course. Great course design. We'll be back

Steve, Richland

The course was in great shape. Friendly to all levels of players. Can't wait to go back.

jerry, hudsonville

Great course/club. Makes our "must play on next trip" list

DEAN, VICKSBURG

Fair and consistent; greens a little slow

David, Richmond

Great place, excellent service, nice course.

Jeff, St Augustine

loved the Aligators

gordon, rockville centre

One of the nicest courses we played

Brian, Stratford

All three nines were great.

Warner, Natick

A great day of golf from start to finish

Ken, River Edge

Fun course - great people

Mattheew, Needham

Course in fairly good shape. They put too many people on the course in the morning. Fast 1st 9 then you run into a wall at the turn. Super slow then made it hard to make our afternoon tee time.

James, Pelham

Typically one of my favorites. Seems to need some rain or water. Like the included range. Some of the staff were more aggressive than necessary. Would still return

Joel, Spartanburg

Always play this course, always in good shape

Frank, Arvada

The best staff in the area. Super friendly and super incredible. Free lunch tickets and snack bar was not properly staffed to make sure golfers can make the turn (morning to afternoon) in a timely manner.

Kevin, Morrisville

In great shape.

Brant, Simpsonville

Great course. Always good conditions

Frank, Arvada

Always in great shape. Staff was very accommodating. One of my favorites at Myrtle.

John, Pittsburgh

favorite coarse..

Earl, Northwood

Worth the price of admission

Ed, Gibsonia

They had some rain and put us on the nine that was cart path only whey the other 2 nines weren’t, we had 16 guys in our group with 5-6 seniors took over 5 hours to play and we had a replay scramble that was delayed and a mess

John, Wexford

Hands down the BEST of the 4x courses.....I liked everything about this club. Closed out a great weekends golf with 12 players dining on the outdoor seating overlooking the courses....beautiful place & challenging course....will ABSOLUTLY be back to play all 3x 9's next time around.

Cameron , Greenville

Course was excellent. Only negative was the charged us $60 a piece for 9 more holes. Last time, they gave us the replay free.

Adam, Surry

Amazing course. Views and design were great. Conditions phenomenal.

Dave, Pittsburgh

Great course

James, Shelbyville

really enjoyed, staff very nice

DANIEL, WORTHINGTON

Excellent course. 1st time playing there.

Mike, Westerville

Worth the extra $$

Paul, Shelby

Outstanding picturesque course

Peter, East Hampton

I’m ok shape, very wet and greens were unkept. Everyone was great except a ranger who came out on the start of our 36 hole nine. He was very rude and did not want us to play even we had payed for a replay. Basically told us to leave.

Hamiton , Huntingdon

Got yelled at for playing our scheduled replay.

Matthew, Huntingdon

Great Course. Nice layout played all 27 holes:)

Charles, Clarksburg

Got rained out

Brian, Yorktown

Great track but unfortunately the greens were not what they used to be. Very bumpy.

Jeremy, Wilmington

Always nice playing the Thistle.

Dwight, Stanleytown

Greens impossible

Bob, Moneta

Absolutely love the golf course, but on our day the on-course employees were over the top. They were hypervigilant on speeding up play, but we were only holding up ourselves. Plus, at CPO and extremely wet conditions, pace of play is hard to maintain. Staff could've handled it better and less aggressively.

Tim, Collinsville

From start to finish absolutely awesome!!! The club house is breathtaking!!!

Steven, Reidsville

BEST OF THE BUNCH BEAUTIFUL SCEANERY

David, BIRDSBORO

Best course ever played, year over year you cannot compete with grounds, management or design.

Greg, New Richmond

Perfect 1st day course.

Stephen, New Hope

Best on trip.

Lynn, Reading

Great course very friendly staff. The conditions were great always enjoy playing this course.

Gennaro, Stafford

Loved the course

Alan, Norristown

Did not play extra holes

Alan, Norristown

I would have rated this course a 5 but the loading area and process were disorganized. We didn’t get a cart until after our T time and had no time to practice.

Joseph, Merrimack

was in great shape . I would play again

Alan, Northfield

Course was dryer on this day and cart rules were 90 degrees so made play much more enjoyable.

Timothy, Jackson

Love this course and play it every time I'm in the area. Unfortunately the course was very soggy this time and it was cart path only. The courses do not drain well.

Timothy, Jackson

Well laid out golf course. Water is there but decent golf shots will keep you dry.

Jerry, hudsonville

Wow great course , carts like a Cadillac !

jeffrey, galena

Best overall course we played. Greens were fantastic

billy, Chester

3 different 9s make this course one of the nicest places I have ever play will play again

nicholas, camp hill

Thistle always is so beautiful and a great course to play as this is two years in a row playing there. Best clubhouse I’ve been in!

Brian, Winchester

One of the best courses I’ve played and one of the fairest course even with the difficulty

Chaseton, Lynchburg

Absolutely amazing. Everything about this course was amazing. Like most of the courses, they experienced quite a bit of water. Greens and fairways were all but perfect. Was a great experience and great day. Make sure you play all (3) courses. All have their own identity.

Dave, Mechanicsburg

Very poor drainage

Steve, Altoona

Best course we played during this trip. Outstanding conditions, food in clubhouse, starter/bag handlers, staff. This one is at the top of our list for our next trip.

Timothy, Wyoming

Course was in great condition

Michael, Havelock

Everything at the course was excellent Wish I could play this course every day

DENNIS, SPRINGDALE

Wonderful course, challenging, great clubhouse.

Thomas, White Lake

Excellent A++++++

Jason, Hendersonville

Nice but weather issues

preston, rougemont

first time to play; launched to the top of our list. would go back time and time again. everything was pristine and manicured

Tamara, Apex

All ways a favorite.

Wayne, Reidsville

Always excellent condition.

Neil, Columbia

Courteous staff, great facility and as always the course was in fabulous condition. One of the best in the area for variety of holes, conditioning and playability for all skill levels.

Neil, Blythewood

Very enjoyable layout and course was in excellent shape.

Eric, Chapin

Really enjoyed the course. Very good condition.

Glenn, Chapin

One of the best on east coast

Mark, Greensboro

Nice course. Good condition. Nice folks.

Paul, Greensboro

We had to get a rain check so I don't know about this course.

Cynthia, NIAGARA FALLS

At the course

What is on site.

The facilities Thistle Golf Club keeps for the golfers playing it, so you know what to bring and what you can leave at home.

Before you tee off

  • Driving range Warm up with a full bag before the first tee.
  • Putting green Roll a few to find the speed the greens are running.
  • Chipping green Space for pitches and chips around the green.

On the round

  • Golf shop Balls, gloves, logo gear and whatever you left at home.
  • Club rentals Rental sets if you are flying in without your own.
  • Golf carts Carts are on site and part of most rounds here.

Food and drink

  • Snack bar Quick food and cold drinks at the turn.
  • Restaurant A proper meal and a drink before or after the round.

Stay and play

Put Thistle Golf Club in a package.

Golf, tee times and lodging priced together as one number, held with a deposit. Tell us the dates and the group size and we will build it around this course.