WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – One area golf course is closed permanently after abruptly shutting down a few weeks ago. It’s the Carolina Shores Golf and Country Club in Brunswick County and it has been open for decades.

As a result, neighbors are concerned and their frustrations go far beyond a game of golf.

They are worried that houses, apartments and just about anything, could pop up in their backyards. Neighbors say the current zoning allows it, but they’re not here for it.

Melissa Mohr moved to Brunswick County from Michigan in January 2024 for the same reasons most people do — better weather. But they particularly loved their home in Carolina Shores because of the quietness, tight-knit community and the vast amount of nature and wildlife she could see right from her backyard.

“It’s just very serene to live with all these trees and all this nature and the golf course is a big part of that,” said Mohr.

But that golf course is now permanently closed after 50 years of operation, and the current owner, Philippe Bureau, says he has no plans to re-open it.

When Mohr heard the news, she had one thought.

“Fear. Fear of new houses going up right behind me,” said Mohr.

Neighbors are also unsure what’s behind the closure.

“The golf course made no contact with anyone. It was posted on social media. The pictures that the owners put up on the doors and then a few days later, the owners put up no trespassing signs all over the golf course,” said Mohr.

WECT reached out to the Bureau to ask why the course closed but did not hear back.

Mohr says she is worried homes and apartments could pop up in their backyards as they say the current zoning allows for it.

“I would rather see this beautiful vista and watch the ibis go by like we did this morning than have a six-foot fence across my backyard closing me off from this beautiful area,” said Mohr.

She says she is also concerned the property will be abandoned and left unmaintained. But then again, the alternative could be worse.

“I don’t want to see trees taken down. I don’t want to see clear-cutting. That might make me move faster than anything,” said Mohr.

Mohr says best case scenario, another golf course will buy the property and improve the conditions of the greens and overall club.

But she says if it becomes abandoned, she’d like to see the township adopt a blight ordinance, which means it would oversee abandoned, neglected property.

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