Thistle is located in a residential development in Calabash just north of the State line near Sunset Beach.

There are three links-style nines: Cameron, MacKay, and Stewart. The layouts have large, open fairways with huge rolling greens, both guarded by numerous sand bunkers with water in play on almost every hole. It's a scenic setting without homes or development, surrounded by hills covered in heather and wildflowers. There's five sets of tees overall, the Stewart/MacKay rotation plays to 74.3/137, course/slope ratings from the tips, MacKay/Cameron 74.9/136, Cameron/Stewart 73.4/137, designed by Tim Cates and opening in 2000.