Hello Golfers

I am Steve Tyson, a native of New Bern, NC, an avid Golfer, and a Real Estate Broker by trade. I started playing golf when I was 7 years old, and when I am not selling homes it is what I like to do best. I have played many of the golf courses in and around New Bern and would like to share some of my thoughts about the different courses as well as the communities that surround the courses.

My handicap has ranged from 2 to 7 over the past 10 years depending on how often I get to play. E mail me at stevetyson55@gmail.com or call me at 252-514-9157 and let me know what you think about any of the golf courses you play while visiting the New Bern NC area.

Because of the moderate climate in New Bern, golf is considered a year-round sport. Although we have some sweater-weather days in the winter there are not many days when it is too cold to play.

Next we will ride over to Riverbend Golf Course and Country Club

Voted best golf course 5 years straight by The New Bern COC

Riverbend Golf Course was once upon a time a large tobacco and corn farm . In the mid 1960`s the farm was sold to a real estate developer and it quickly became New Bern's first major suburban neighborhood. Located on the Trent River, about 10 minutes from mid-town New Bern, Riverbend Golf Course was designed and built in the early 1970`s by golf course developer Gene Hamm. Gene has designed quite a few courses in Myrtle Beach and Pinehurst.

The course and clubhouse underwent a complete makeover a few years ago. Included in the makeover was a new clubhouse complete with a restaurant. I have to say that after the improvements this course may be the best value of any golf course membership in the area. Every time I have played it for the past 8 years it has been in excellent shape.

They also have the only lighted practice facility in the area. My good friend Frank Fragale is the owner manager. If you play Riverbend tell him I sent you out there.

Number 18 (shown on the left) is the signature hole at Riverbend. A 240 yard drive from the back tees will leave you about a 6 iron into a somewhat deep but narrow green. Don't slice your tee shot as there is water all the way down on the right side. Par is a great score on this hole.

The toughest hole to me is number 12, (shown below). This is a long dogleg left with a pond covering the left side of the fairway that comes into play if you drive it over 235 from the back tees. You have got to hit a great drive or par is next to impossible. Birdies are a rarity.

The most exciting hole is number 14. It is a short par 4 with a sharp dogleg to the left. The long-hitters often try to drive the green, usually with not so good results. I have yet to see someone drive the green. Most attempts end up in the pond, shown above, that defends the front of the green. The smart play( which I rarely do, I'm usually in the pond) is to hit about a 200 yard drive and have about a 100 yards in.

The 3rd hole is also a challenge. I don't think I have ever seen a birdie on this hole. A good drive is a must, OB left and Right, but even with a good drive you are left with a approach shot to an upgill green that is difficult to judge. A par or even bogey won't hurt you here.

Riverbend is definitely worth playing a round while you are in New Bern.

Riverbend membership is very reasonable. Listed below are membership rates that are current as of 9-15-07

GOLF/FAMILY
INITIATION FEE = $1500
MONTHLY DUES = $135
INCLUDES: GOLF, POOL, TENNIS, CLUB HOUSE

GOLF/SINGLE
INITIATION FEE = $1200
MONTHLY DUES = $110
INCLUDES: GOLF, POOL, TENNIS, CLUB HOUSE

GOLF/*CORP
INITIATION FEE = $750
MONTHLY DUES = $110
INCLUDES: GOLF, POOL, TENNIS, CLUB HOUSE

SOCIAL
INITIATION FEE = $400
MONTHLY DUES = $25 NOV-APRIL $85 MAY-OCT
INCLUDES: POOL, TENNIS, CLUB HOUSE

Don't forget to stop by Attitudes Bar and Grill on Shoreline Drive after you play and see my old high school football team mate and owner Claude Banks. Tell him to give you my discount. Then again, maybe not a good idea to mention you know me. If boating is your hobby, boat slips are available at the new marina . Golfing, boating, or fishing, Riverbend has it all. Homes in this lovely little town range from $120,000 up to $550,000 for a home on the river. My wife and I have sold many homes over the years in Riverbend. Its a great town to visit, and a great place to live. Call me and I will give you a tour Click Town of Riverbend to find out more about this quaint little town.

94 Shoreline Dr
River Bend, NC
252- 638-2819

Open to the Public Championship 18 Hole Golf Course.

18 holes with cart=$48

Driving Range

Two Lighted Tennis Courts

Area?s Largest Outdoor Pool

Golf Lessons, Clinics & Schools for all ages

Clubhouse Facilities

Tennis Courts & Clubhouse Facilities

Membership Dinners & Special Kids Event

Private Swimming Lessons Available

 Swim Team 

Lets see, by boat from Riverbend to New Bern Golf Course takes about 15 minutes. Lets boat over and check it out.

That's me chipping to the 18th green at NBGCC. The clubhouse has a spectacular view of the Trent River.

New Bern Golf and Country Club was built in 1920 and is oldest and most exclusive golf course and country club in Eastern NC. One of the origional founders was Caleb Bradham, the inventor of Pepsi Cola. New Bern is a private club so you will need to be with a member to play. NBGCC is located in the Town of Trent Woods, about a 5 minute drive from midtown New Bern. The front 9 holes at New Bern Golf and Country Club were designed with the help of famed golf architect Donald Ross. From the full service restaurant as well as the bar, you have an incredible view of the Trent River.

The picture below shows me lining up a putt on the 18th hole at New Bern Golf and Country Club. The 18th plays only 155 yards from the middle tees but you must go over about 50 yards of the river. The green has a severe slope and if you get above the hole you can expect to 3 putt. This is perhaps the most scenic hole in N.C.

That's the East Carolina Yacht Club in the background.

This 18 hole golf course is short at 6045 yards, but don't let that fool you. The small, fast, turtle back greens make it a true test of all your golf skills. I have seen this little course make some low handicappers look silly. The 13th hole is the number one handicap hole. There is a large pond that comes into play on your drive. Go over this green on your second shot and you have an impossible par. Big back to front slope makes anything hit past the pin difficult to get aggressive with.

Number 17, shown on the left) is a picturesque hole, only 325 yards, but is ranked the number 3 handicap hole. On paper it is simple. A 220 yard drive, 100 yard wedge to the green, no problem. For some reason it doesn't seem to work that way. Catch your second a little heavy and splash into the lagoon. Hit one club to many and you are in the Trent River. On top of this at times the green will stimp out close to 12, with a steep slope from from back to front. If the pin is on the front of the green and you hit it above the hole, good luck.

For some reason number 3 is the hardest hole on the course for me. It looks harmless enough. A straight away 150 yard par 3, the green is very narrow, with deep sand traps on each side. I once saw a scratch handicapper hit it in the trap and end up making a 14.

Facilities at NBGCC include an Olympic size pool, fitness room, championship tennis courts, and a superb&;bar and dining room overlooking the Trent River. This Course is always in great shape. The legendary golfer Sam Snead (shown below) had a good friend that lived in New Bern, and Sam used to visit and play golf here.

The quaint Little town of Trent Woods is one of the most desirable areas in New Bern. Homes here start around $150,000.00 and go up to $550,000.00. Expect to pay over $1,000,000.00 for a riverfront home.

Lets jump across the beautiful Trent River to get to our next golf course.

In my younger days I spent the summers skiing on this lovely river. World renown water skier Dick Pope Jr. use to burn up the river here when he was a young Marine stationed at Cherry Point. His family, you may recall, built  Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven Florida. In 1947 he became the first person to bare foot ski. I tried bare footing once. The brain damage I suffered helped make me decide I did not want to pursue a professional career in water skiing. Dick later had his own line of water ski's, and when I was growing up if you did not own a Dick Pope Jr. ski you were not considered a serious skier.

Taberna Golf Course and Country Club

Continue Driving East on Highway until you hear the Sound of Freedom

The Sound of Freedom Golf course is located on Cherry Point Marine Air Station which is 15 miles East of New Bern.

Although located on the Marine Base the course is open to the public.

I have played this course on numerous occasions and really enjoy the layout. Because it is located on the banks of the Neuse River it is one of the few courses in the New Bern area that have some fairly significant elevation changes. It is usually in good shape and from the back tees it is challenging and fun to play.

The picture above ;shows former Cherry Point Base Commander, Major General retired, Tom Braaten teeing off on the short par 3 number 3. You can see the large valley in front of the tee box.

The picture above shows the current Base Commander, Colonel Paul Zimmerman teeing off on number 17, a monster of a par 4 from the back tees.

The picture above shows my good friend Mike Wilson, also a retired Marine, hitting his 2nd shot on the par 5 number 2. Number 2 is a really neat layout, a slight dogwood to the right. A 250 yard drive down the center will leave you in position to reach the green in 2. But try to cut much of the dogwood off and you will hit the severe slope which will take you down to the rough on the right which is not good. Left is no trouble but makes the hole play much longer.

This course has a very distinct layout and because it is on a military base there are no homes on the course. You will need to concentrate as this is a Marine Air Base and planes are subject to taking off on a regular basis. A round of golf with a cart will cost $30 on the weekdays and $32 on the weekend. Call 252 466 3044 to book your tee times.

Only 6299 yards from the back tees Carolina Pines is a friendly course to play and a friendly place to live. Located about 20 minutes from New Bern, 5 minutes from Havelock, and 22 minutes from the beach, Carolina Pines has a wide assortment of homes ranging in price from $125,000-$500,000.