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IT WASN'T wasn't too long ago that Ocean Isle in the North Carolina coastal region of Brunswick County had only one telephone, one stop sign and no hotel. You could say it was a touch unspoiled.
Telephones are more common these days and there's lots of first class accommodation but there's still only one stop sign and you won't hit a traffic light until you've crossed the bridge that leads back to the mainland.
The seven mile beach with its white sugar sand and gentle surf is somewhat busier in season these days but there's so much of it that it's still unspoiled and uncrowded.
Ocean Isle is typical of the group of small islands thereabouts. Collectively known as the Brunswick Islands, they snuggle together between the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean, just off the southern-most point of North Carolina, protected from the oceanic weather by the peninsular known as Cape Fear.
The nearest town is Shalotte; the closest city with an airport is Wilmington, a historic and comfortable old place about 35 miles up the road. The hub of the universe it's not: you have to make tracks for the Brunswick Islands and that's part of the charm. It's not only unspoiled it is bounteously beautiful and as peaceful as a church at sunrise.
But there's oodles of good things to be enjoyed there; it's easy to get into mischief after sunset. Fine dining is the norm at a swathe of restaurants, and at the golf clubs they know a thing or two about having a good time, as many visitors will confirm.
Golf clubs? Thought you'd never ask! There's heaps of them.
Back in 1975 there was a long-forgotten nine holer somewhere and a decade later the place wasn't on any golfing map. Now they say that from any of the resorts that dot the islands between Sunset Beach and Wilmington you could play for 50 days in succession without seeing the same course twice.
It's a surfeit of golfing riches the equal of any and guiding you around them is a labour of love that's not without its problems. Much as the prospect appeals, it's impossible to review them all so allow me to pick out a few here there and give an over-view of the remainder.
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