Ocean Ridge Plantation

Pros

• The staff are very nice and the experience is enjoyable.
• The golf courses are great and the facilities are impressive.
• The beach location is beautiful.
• The homes are absolutely breathtaking.
• Ocean Ridge Plantation is a lovely place with friendly people and beautiful nature views.
• The community offers four world-renowned golf courses, adding to its appeal.
• There are six beautiful pickleball courts, each individually fenced.

Cons

• They were disappointed with shaggy and slow greens.
• The closing was delayed by a lien, and the sellers refused to satisfy it, while Coastal Communities was in a legal dispute with the lien holder.
• Coastal Communities and the in-house realtor disregarded inquiries and refused all communications.
• They filed a civil lawsuit after deciding not to pursue the purchase and seeking a refund of due diligence expenses.
• The courses were described as being in terrible shape, with greens, fairways, and tees barely green and cart paths mostly dirt or oyster shells.
• There was zero hydration available, and staff including starters, rangers, and cart guys were unbelievably rude.
• Security reportedly allowed over-serving of alcohol, leading to outrageous behavior and slow play, and alligators were observed as a hazard.
• The board was criticized for incompetence and gross negligence, refusing to disclose financial records, and for looming large assessments.
• The amenities center was described as a major letdown and costly.

Review

Ocean Ridge Plantation in North Carolina presents itself as a picturesque, master-planned community built around four golf courses and a wide array of amenities. Visitors and residents alike often praise its beauty, the variety of recreation available, and the feel of a friendly, neighborly place to call home. Several comments highlight the breathtaking surroundings, the multiple golf options, and the sense that there is something for almost every lifestyle - whether you're drawn to golf, tennis, pickleball, or the simple charm of a coastal community. In many reviews, you'll find lines that emphasize the abundance of amenities, the potential for an active social scene, and the attraction of living near the beach with an array of housing choices and scenic views.

At the same time, a substantial thread running through the impressions is notable dissonance between aesthetic appeal and practical realities. A number of reviewers describe the golf courses as being in poor condition: greens shaggy or slow, fairways dry or non-existent, and a general sense that maintenance has lagged. Some readers recount fairways that are basically bare or hard to the point of hurting play, while others note that when the courses are dry, the play can still be enjoyable if you're accurate and patient. There are outbursts about cart paths, hydration availability, and the rhythm of play, with several accounts describing pace of play as a major issue - six hours for a round being not unheard of in some visits. One reviewer even described the course conditions as "terrible" with specific complaints about greens, fairways, and tees being brown or under-maintained, and questioned the value of the cost relative to the experience.

The experiences with staff and governance mirror the mixed nature of the place. Some reviews repeatedly laud the staff as polite, professional, and helpful, underscoring that when service is good it enhances the overall experience. Others recount encounters with what they viewed as rude or unhelpful personnel, from course starters and rangers to on-site agents who seemed unwilling to share information or assist with questions. This split extends to the real estate and development side of Ocean Ridge as well. A detailed account of a February?May 2025 real estate transaction describes a troubling sequence: a contract for a lot surfaced with a lien cloud that delayed closing, the sellers' refusal to satisfy the lien, and a legal dispute between the developer (Coastal Communities) and the lien holder. The closing attorney reportedly provided little information, communications from Coastal Communities and the in-house realtor were ignored, and the buyer ultimately walked away, seeking a refund of due diligence expenses and pursuing a civil action. The frustration expressed in that account has led some readers to counsel prospective buyers to work with a realtor and consider private-lot purchases to avoid similar problems and to demand clearer disclosures and satisfactory resolution of liens before closing.

Beyond the immediate transactional anxieties, other comments focus on the broader governance and financial transparency issues that some residents feel have affected the community. There are strong opinions about the board and developer leadership, with complaints ranging from alleged neglect of maintenance and a deteriorating sense of premier status to concerns about large future assessments and the withholding of financial records that are mandated by law to be accessible to homeowners. A recurring theme is the sense that, while the physical landscape and some amenities can be impressive, the stewardship of funds and long-range planning are areas of real concern for some long-time residents and recent movers alike. The tension between maintaining an upscale, well-funded community and addressing ongoing maintenance costs and transparency has been a talking point for many reviewers.

Amid the contrasts, there are several notes about lifestyle and community spirit that many readers find appealing. The four golf courses - often highlighted as "world-renowned" - and the variety of recreational opportunities stand out as major draws. Longtime residents speak of friendly neighbors, a strong sense of place, and a lifestyle anchored in outdoor activities and social clubs. There are also lighter, more aspirational comments about beauty and amenity richness, with references to scenic evenings, the appeal of beach proximity, and the overall "nice place to visit" and "worth a visit" sentiments. A few comments celebrate the sense of belonging, the opportunities to socialize, and the notion that Ocean Ridge can be a peaceful, picturesque retreat with real potential when conditions align with expectations.

In summary, Ocean Ridge Plantation emerges as a place of striking appeal and complex realities. On the positive side, it offers attractive natural beauty, multiple golf options, amenity-heavy living, and a community feel that many find irresistible. On the cautionary side, it faces significant feedback about course maintenance and pace of play, governance and financial transparency concerns, and at least one high-profile real estate experience that underscores the importance of diligence and clear communication in property transactions. For prospective buyers, residents, and visitors, the takeaway across these reviews is a balanced invitation: appreciate the location, scenery, and social opportunities, but conduct thorough due diligence on course conditions, HOA finances, and transactional disclosures to ensure that the full Ocean Ridge experience aligns with expectations.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.6 miles)
• Hardee's (3.2 miles)
• Beaches Burgers (3.8 miles)
• Dawg House (4 miles)
• The Boat Landing (4.5 miles)
• Ocean Isle Fish Company (4.8 miles)
• Gravy Southern Eatery (4.8 miles)

Parks

• Ocean Ridge Bocce courts (1.8 miles)
• Ocean Isle Beach Park (2.2 miles)
• Sunset Beach Town Park (4.3 miles)
• Shallotte Township District Park (4.8 miles)
• Town Center Park (5.1 miles)
• Mulberry Street Park (6.5 miles)
• Ferry Landing Park (6.5 miles)

Physicians

• South Brunswick Medical (2 miles)
• Thompson Adam-Novant Health Seaside Family Medicine (3.5 miles)
• Seaside Medical Center (3.5 miles)
• Varnam Family Wellness Center (5.3 miles)
• Seaside Internal Medicine (5.3 miles)
• Phelps Family Practice (5.4 miles)
• Calabash & Waterway Family Medicine (5.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6 miles)
• Seashore Drugs (6.2 miles)
• Thomas Drugs (6.4 miles)
• Coastal Drug Store (6.4 miles)
• Thomas Drugs (6.5 miles)

Transportation

• Odell Williamson Municipal Airport (60J) (4.1 miles)

Cafes

• Drift (5.1 miles)
• Bagel Dock Cafe (5.9 miles)
• Starbucks (7.1 miles)
• Tee Time Cafe (7.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (12.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Novant Health Imaging South Brunswick (5.5 miles)
• McLeod Seacoast Hospital (11.2 miles)