PORTERS NECK COUNTRY CLUB

BACK IN 1993, my wife Laura and I were living in Syracuse, New York — a city known for its cloudy skies and “record-setting” snowfall totals.

As golfers, we dreamed about warm weather and days on the golf course. We subscribed to several golf magazines and used to send in the little punch cards asking for more information on courses in the South.

Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, North Carolina, was one of those courses. The golf course and residential community were new, so incentives were being offered to come check out the area and play the course. We decided … why not?

Sure enough, we fell in love with the area and the golf course. We were still close to 15 years from retiring, but you can’t start dreaming too early. We decided to make Wilmington and Porters Neck our retirement home.

We purchased a home at Porters Neck and joined the club in 1994, visiting every year on vacations and enjoying the golf course more and more. We knew we had made a great choice. We moved to Porters Neck permanently in 2008.

Laura and I are both active golfers and play more than 100 rounds each per year. For us, the wonderful weather, outstanding golf course and member interactions make Porters Neck Country Club truly special.

We love the layout of the golf course. We love how each hole is its own — no side-by-side fairways; each hole showcasing a new and beautiful view.

Another particularly attractive feature is the “walkability” of the course. Even though each hole is its own, there are no mile-long hikes between greens and tees, as there are at some coastal courses. The natural settings are enhanced by Tom Fazio’s masterful design. The large green complexes and multiple tee options make our golf course a unique

experience each time out.

We love watching the golf course and country club facility develop. When we joined in 1994, there was no clubhouse. The pro shop and offices were in a double-wide trailer at the end of a gravel parking lot. Through the years, it has been wonderful to see the facility take shape, from the beautiful clubhouse to the extensive fitness options, tennis and pools. Not only to see them in their first renditions, but also the improvements and updates that have occurred during the past few years, such as new Bermuda greens, a renovated clubhouse, and additional tennis and pickleball courts.

One particularly fond memory was the club’s 25-year anniversary party. It was an incredible soirée, attended by a large number of the membership. The food was wonderful, weather was perfect and the band was fantastic.

In May 2019, Porters Neck Country Club selected McConnell Golf Alliance, the private club operations division of McConnell Golf, to manage the club. McConnell Golf officially acquired Porters Neck for purchase in August 2020. Porters Neck is nestled along the Intracoastal Waterway just minutes from local beaches and historic downtown Wilmington. The club’s centerpiece is its highly regarded, Tom Fazio-designed golf course that made its debut in 1991 and has played host to multiple Carolinas Golf Association and Carolinas PGA championships.

John & Laura Pisarek

It was a wonderful time to mingle, dance and connect with members old and new.

We are especially looking forward to the 30-year anniversary party this year.

People make the place. If you have the best facility around but no one with whom to golf or socialize, it won’t be a special experience. We feel confident that Porters Neck and McConnell Golf will continue to keep the club facilities current, offer a large range of options to participate and socialize with other members, and continue to offer activities that appeal to potential members of all ages.

Cheers to 30 wonderful years at Porters Neck Country Club!