When golfers talk about the Brunswick Islands architecture, it never takes long for Tim Cate’s name to arise. Few people have influenced the area’s growth as a golf destination to the degree Cate, who also happens to be a local resident, has.
Cate has designed five of the area’s most popular public courses – Lion’s Paw, Panther’s Run, Tiger’s Eye, Leopard’s Chase, and Thistle Golf Club – and they are at the heart of the appeal of the Brunswick Islands.
The combination of the area’s natural beauty and Cate’s imagination have led to the design of some of coastal North Carolina’s most memorable courses.
Lion's Paw
At Lion’s Paw, Cate partnered with Willard Byrd to design the first of Ocean Ridge Plantation’s “Big Cat” courses, providing golfers a glimpse of what was to come. The Lion’s Paw experience is highlighted by arguably the strongest collections of par 3s along NC’s Brunswick Islands.
Panther's Run
Panther’s Run, Cate’s first solo design and Ocean Ridge’s second “Big Cat,” winds through a nature preserve along a naturally rolling piece of land. Golfers who can avoid the course’s deep bunkers and survive the unforgettable par-4 fourth hole will be on their way to posting a score they can brag about to their buddies.
Tiger's Eye
It was Tiger’s Eye, the third course at Ocean Ridge, that brought national attention to Ocean Ridge and the Brunswick Islands. Carved through a pine forest, Tiger’s Eye features wide fairways, often framed by sprawling waste bunkers, and Cate expertly carved the layout through natural waste area and native grasses, showcasing the land’s natural beauty.
Leopard's Chase
Leopard’s Chase, the youngest of the “Big Cats,” also makes golfers purr with delight. Featuring dramatic elevation change, the need for bold shot making, and waterfall on its 18th green, Leopard’s Chase was named one of the “Top 10 Best New Public Courses in America” by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine upon opening in 2008.
Thistle Golf Club
While much of Cate’s work was done at Ocean Ridge, don’t overlook Thistle Golf Club, a 27-hole property inspired by the great links courses of Scotland, the game’s ancestral home. Cate’s work here balances old-world charm with modern shot values on a property that is currently renovating the greens on all three nines, in addition to installing stacked sod bunkers.
COME PLAY NC's Most Memorable Courses
Whether you’re taking on the island green at Tiger’s Eye’s par-3 11th or walking the windswept fairways of Thistle, you’re experiencing the artistry of one of North Carolina’s most imaginative - and underappreciated - architects. For more information about golf in NC's Brunswick Islands, and to start planning your trip, please visit www.ncbrunswick.com.