THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND GUIDE

• Home
• Weather & Maps
• Steps To A Great Vacation
• Family Fun
• Timeshares
• Weekly Calendar
• Special Events
• Clubs & Organizations
• Boating & Fishing
• Boating & Fishing Map
• Tennis
• Tennis Map
• Golf
• Golf Map
• Dining Out
• Nightlife
• Bicycling
• Bike Map
• The Beach
• Beach Map
• Groceries
• Accomodations
• Island Tour
• Real Estate
• Plantations
• History
• Types Of Fish

GOLFING ON HILTON HEAD

 

Head Island boasts 23 challenging golf courses, including several generally considered to be among the best in the world. Additional courses are located in the nearby Low Country. Many area courses were designed by golf's most celebrated architects, including Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, George and Tom Fazio, Rees and Robert Trent Jones, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Willard Byrd. The wide scenic fairways, rolling greens and beautiful, but challenging, water hazards that they created have earned Hilton Head Island the numerous honors in the golfing world.

Golf enthusiasts, whether beginner, intermediate or advanced, may choose to play on 13 island courses, and numerous others located nearby. Access to the remainder is limited to guests of members. Hilton Head has a host of spectator events for those who like to watch excellent golfers play. For example, the MCI Heritage Classic, one of the foremost events of the PGA Tour, is played here each April. There also are numerous other golfing events each year, with participants ranging from professionals to top-ranked college athletes to talented local amateurs.

Public Courses
Golf courses in the Hilton Head area that are accessible for play by the public are briefly described immediately below. Most courses include a restaurant or snack bar, lounge, pro shop, lockers, putting green and driving range. Green fees and cart rental usually range from $45 to over $200, and may vary with the time of day and the season. Golfers are allowed access to some "private" courses located on private plantations if they are going to play. Ask for details when you reserve your tee time.

Arthur Hills, Palmetto Dunes Resort; 785-1140. � Course designer: Arthur Hills � Length, 6,651 yards; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 71.4. Rolling layout where fairway-side dunes are extended into the fairways. Ball control and accuracy are important.

Arthur Hills at Palmetto Hall, Palmetto Hall Plantation; 689-4100. Course designer: Arthur Hills, � Length, 6,911 yards; 18 holes; par 72; rating is 70.6 This course features undulating greens and fairways typical of Arthur Hills designed layouts.

Barony, Port Royal Plantation; 686-8801. � Course designer: George Cobb, � Length, 6,530 yards; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 71.1. Although the fairways may be forgiving, Barony's greens offer extra challenges.

Country Club of Hilton HeadHilton Head Plantation; 681-GOLF. � Course Designer: Reese Jones � Course Length: 6,936 yards; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 72.9. The course features a variety of terrain, including marsh and water views, pine and oak forests, and freshwater ponds and lagoons.

George Fazio Palmetto Dunes Resort; 785-1130. � Course Designer: George Fazio � Course length, 6,873; 18 holes; par is 70; rating is 74.2. Fazio demands concentration and accuracy. Its championship tees will test accomplished golfers.

Golden Bear at Indigo Run Indigo Run; 689-2200. � Course Designer: Nicklaus Design. � Course Length: 7014; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 72.2 The course meanders through Hilton Head's lush Low Country landscape, with mature oak, cypress and pine forests, and peaceful lagoons.

Harbour Town Golf Links Sea Pines Plantation; 363-4485 � Designer: Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus � Course length, 6,652; 18 holes; par is 71; rating is 74.0. Harbour Town features relatively narrow, tree-lined fairways leading to small, well-protected greens.

Hilton Head National Golf Club On the mainland, just over the bridge; 842-5900. � Course Designers: Gary Player/ Bobby Weed � Course length, 6,779; 27 holes; par is 72; rating is 72.8 Hilton Head National Golf Club sums up Player's and Weed's design philosophy: minimal hazards in the line of play; slightly undulating rather than difficult greens; multiple tees for variety; bunkering that allows both professionals and amateurs equal opportunities to test their skills. Because of its excellent condition and exceptional customer service, this course was acclaimed one of "America's Best Golf Courses" by Golf Week magazine; named one of its "50 Top Rated Courses" by USA Today and Carolina Golf Map designated it as one of the "Top 20 Coastal Carolina Courses."

Ocean Course Sea Pines Plantation: 842-8484 � Course Designer: George Cobb � Course length, 6614; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 71.0. The Ocean Course includes numerous doglegs, strategically located lagoons and well-bunkered narrow greens.

Old CarolinaOn the Mainland, just over 5 minutes from Bridge; 785-6363. � Course Designer: Clyde Johnston � Course length: 6850; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 70.3 Old Carolina features steep mounding, rolling terrain, numerous strategically placed lagoons, winding bridges and low country wetlands.

Old South On the Mainland, just over the Bridge; 785-5353. Designer: Clyde Johnston � Course length, 6800; 18 holes; � par is 72; preliminary rating is 72. Old South Links boasts numerous scenic vistas. Seven of its holes overlook the Salt Marsh and Calibogue Sound. Many holes feature 200-year-old oaks.

Oyster Reef Hilton Head Plantation; 681-7717 � Course designer: Rees Jones � Course length, 6,961; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 73.7. Oyster Reef meanders through the forests and neighborhoods of part of Hilton Head Plantation.

Palmetto Hall-Cupp Course Palmetto Hall Plant.; 689-4138. � Course designer: Robert Cupp. � Course length: 7079; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 72.3. Unusual/innovative design. Tee setting less than 5500 to over 7000 yards.

Planter's Row Port Royal Plantation; 686-8801 � Course designer: Willard Byrd � Course length, 6,520; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 71. Planter's Row features tree-lined fairways calling for very accurate tee shots.

Robber's Row Port Royal Plantation; 686-8801 � Designers: Pete Dye, George Cobb � Course length, 6,778; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 72.2. Robber's Row features attractive scenery and challenging enough to satisfy most golfers, especially from the back tees.

Robert Trent Jones Palmetto Dunes Resort; 785-1138 � Course designer:Robert Trent Jones � Course length, 6,707; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 72.2. The eldest course in Palmetto Dunes features spacious greens, and relatively broad fairways.

Sea MarshSea Pines Plantation; 842-8484 � Course designer: George Cobb � Course length, 6372; 18 holes; par is 72; rating is 70.0. Sea Marsh's broad fairways are heavily forested with moss-draped oaks, pines and palmettos. Although not one of Hilton Head's most difficult courses, Sea Marsh nevertheless provides a good test of golfing skills.

ShipyardShipyard Plantation; 686-8802 � Course designers: George Cobb and Willard Byrd � Course length, 10,182; 27 holes; par is 72; rating is 73.0. Shipyard boasts well bunkered, large undulating greens which are reached after avoiding the many lagoons and ponds that accent its tree-lined fairways. The Brigantine, Clipper and Galleon nines all start from the clubhouse.