Like the other two courses at Sea Trail Resort, the Sea Trail Maples Golf Course bears the name of its designer, in this case, well-known golf architect Dan Maples. Praised by Golfweek Magazine, this course is in the middle of a nature preserve with several of its holes meandering along Calabash Creek.
The first of Sea Trail’s three courses, it opened in 1986 with fairways lined with live oaks and pine and leading to medium-sized greens. Home to osprey and other wildlife, the course is a tad shorter than the other two courses at 6,751 from the back tees. At least a dozen holes feature water hazards the course has plenty of waste bunkers, one running the entire length of the fairway.
The course’s four par-5 holes are all at least 545 yards in length and players can feel free to let go of the tees on them. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the course’s first hole, a par-4 measuring 295 from the white tees that’s reachable with a big drive but not without danger in the form of water along the right and a close in out of bounds running on the left side making for an interesting choice for golfers to start their round. A driving range, putting greens, restaurant and well-stocked pro shop are available.