Note:  GolfCommunityReviews has no marketing arrangements with any golf course communities or clubs.  We report what strikes our fancy and what we think will be of interest to our readers.
 
    The large golf resort community of Sea Trail in Sunset Beach, NC, just north of the South Carollina state line and North Myrtle Beach, has opened two additional neighborhoods -- SeaHorse Estates and Eastwood Bluff.  SeaHorse comprises 1/2 to 1 acre estate-sized lots located on the first three holes of the community's Rees Jones golf course.  The Jones course last year played host to a U.S. Open qualifying round.  Eastwood Bluff's three-story town homes are situated along the community's Willard Byrd golf course.  Byrd's courses typically include generously sized fairways and greens.  The town homes feature more than 2,300 square feet and a private elevator and garage.

    The courses at Sea Trail are accessible to the public but also accept memberships.  Those who maintain second-homes in the community can opt for a set number of rounds annually for a set price.  Fifteen rounds are just $510, and 150 rounds are $4,200, or less than $30 per round if you use them all.  We are still scratching our heads over Sea Trail's unlimited golf membership dues of $3,900, which represents a better deal than the 150 rounds rate.  We will ask about that when we take advantage of Sea Trail's reasonable $99 Real Estate Discovery Package, which includes accommodations and breakfast.  Their web site is a little stingy with prices on the new communities so give them a call if you are interested.  Contact Sea Trail at 800-338-9672 or visit the web site at www.seatrail.com .       

    If $99 a night seems reasonable, you might want to visit Brunswick Plantation in Calabash, NC, just down the road from Sea Trail.  An overnight stay is just $40 per night per couple (their literature does not indicate how long you can stay, but at that rate it could be cheaper than renting long term).  Brunswick's 1,750 acres include waterfront home sites, lakeside condos, furnished golf villas, and town homes with garages.  Its 27 holes of golf were designed by Willard Byrd (18) and Clyde Johnston (9).  Home sites are available from the $90s, homes from the $300s and town homes from $340,000.  The fully furnished condos start at $250,000.  The web site is www.BrunswickPlantation.com .  Telephone is 800-835-4533.

    How often do you get an offer like that?  We are planning our upcoming research trips to visit golf course communities in some of the more popular areas in the southern U.S.  Here are a few of the areas we are contemplating:

    The Texas Hill Country, the area roughly between Austin and San Antonio, TX.

    The Southport, NC, area (north of Myrtle Beach, SC, and south of Wilmington).

    The Gulf Coast areas of Biloxi, MS, and Mobile, AL.

    Charlotte, NC.

    If you have specific communities in mind in any of these areas that you want us to check out, make sure we know.  We will do our best to visit and will report back on what we find.  To indicate your preference, or to suggest other areas we should visit in the future, simply register to the right (under the login area), then click on "Comments" at the bottom of this post and indicate your choice(s).
    Many thanks for visiting GolfCommunityReviews.