Golf Courses ~ Hilton Head Island and Bluffton
There are plenty of additional courses beyond the top-rated ones in the area, so you’ll easily find a course if you want to play every day. The mild climate, dramatic marsh vistas, live oaks, palm trees, and the availability of vast tracts of affordable land all favored the development of high-end residential communities centered around golf. On Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines was one of the first and, at that time, most innovative planned golf communities on the East Coast.
Belfair Bluffton, SC
East Course | Par 71 | Yardage 6936 | Private West Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7111 | Private
Featuring two courses considered to be among noted designer Tom Fazio’s best work, Belfair’s two tracks provide championship golf with entirely differing personalities. The East is reminiscent of a Scottish links course. At the same time, the West, the original home of the Players Amateur, accentuates the best of the Lowcountry and features one of the finest finishing holes in the area.
843-757-0715 | belfair1811.com
Berkeley Hall Bluffton, SC
North Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7148 | Private South Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7254 | Private
Berkeley Hall claims to be the lowest-density private club in the Southeast, with an average of 5.3 home sites per hole. The result is a tranquil setting that allows designer Tom Fazio’s work to shine. The North Course features rare elevation changes in the Lowcountry, while the South’s tree-lined fairways and contoured green complexes provide a different type of challenge.
843-815-8444 | berkeleyhallclub.com
Callawassie Island Okatie, SC
Dogwood Course | Par 36Yardage 3501 | Private Magnolia Course | Par 36 Yardage 3564 | Private
Palmetto Course | Par 36 Yardage 3443 | Private
Callawassie Island has a unique setup with three nine-hole courses, all designed by Tom Fazio. The Dogwood Course features beautiful marsh vistas, the Magnolia Course puts even the longest hitters to the test, and the Palmetto Course requires a strategic approach to avoid ample water hazards.
843-987-2125 | callawassieisland.com
Crescent Pointe Bluffton, SC
Par 71 | Yardage 6773 | Public
The only public course in the area designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, Crescent Pointe features wide fairways and challenging approaches to elevated green complexes. Gorgeous marsh views and live oak, pine, and magnolia stands give the layout a distinctly Lowcountry feel.
843-706-2600 | crescentpointegolf.com
Chechessee CreekClub Okatie, SC
Par 70 | Yardage 6641| Private
Although it opened in 2000, Chechessee Creek Club feels like a throwback to a bygone era of golf. The Ben Crenshaw-designed course is short by today’s standards, rewarding strategic shot-making over pure power, and the secluded setting nestled among mature pines and live oaks evokes a nostalgic feel.
843-987-7000 | chechesseecreekclub.com
Colleton River Bluffton, SC
Dye Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7403 | Private Nicklaus Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7085 | Private
Colleton River’s two championship courses are consistently rated among the best in the state, and the club also features a nine-hole par-3 course. The links-style of the Dye Course might make a golfer think they’re playing the British Open if not for the Lowcountry weather, and the Nicklaus Course features a stunning stretch of holes on the back nine, finishing on a peninsula flanked by the Colleton River.
843-836-4400 | colletonriverclub.com
Dataw Island Club Northern Beaufort County, SC 
Cotton Dike Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6787 | Private Morgan River Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6657 | Private
Dataw Island’s championship courses—Tom Fazio’s Cotton Dike Course and Arthur Hills’ Morgan River Course—have been renovated in the past seven years, elevating the profile of one of the Beaufort area’s finest golf communities even higher. Almost every hole on the Cotton Dike Course is flanked by marsh or Jenkins Creek, while massive stands of live oaks on the Morgan River Course reward accuracy and execution.
843-838-3838 | dataw.com
Fripp Island Northern Beaufort County, SC
Ocean Creek Course | Par 71 | Yardage 6586 Ocean Point Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6556
You can’t go wrong with either course on Fripp Island, which features breathtaking views of the island’s natural beauty. Ocean Point came first in 1964, designed by noted Augusta architect George Cobb, and was renovated and modernized in 1996. Davis Love III and Paul Cowley worked together on Ocean Creek, which opened in 1995 and features sweeping views of salt marshes and plenty of wildlife. Private and available to resort guests.
843-838-1558 | frippislandresort.com
Hampton Hall Bluffton, SC
Par 72 | Yardage 7503 | Private
One of the most playable works of renowned designer Pete Dye, Hampton Hall features an open design accessible to golfers of all experience and skill levels. Five sets of tees stretch from 4,454 yards to 7,503 from the tips, and the par-4 18th is one of the area’s best-finishing holes.
843-815-8720 | hamptonhallsc.com
Haig Point Daufuskie Island, SC
Par 72 | Yardage 7380 | Private
Only accessible by boat, Daufuskie Island is home to Haig Point Club, which uniquely features 29 holes of championship golf. The club’s Rees Jones signature course has 20 holes – golfers have two options at Nos. 8 and 17 — and has landed on plenty of “best of” lists, including an appearance on Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 in the World.” The Osprey Course is a par-36 track perfect for getting in a quick nine.
843-341-8155 | haigpoint.com
Hilton Head Lakes Bluffton, SC
Par 72 | Yardage 7300 | Public
The newest 18-hole champion-ship course in the Lowcountry, The Golf Club at Hilton Head Lakes, is designed to accommodate players of all experience and skill levels. The Tommy Fazio design plays a whopping 7,300 yards from the tips but has four other sets of tees, a par-3 course, and a full-service practice facility.
843-784-5253 hiltonheadlakes.com
Indigo Run Hilton Head, SC 
The Golf Club | Par 72 | Yardage 7110 | Private Golden Bear | Par 72 | Yardage 7014 | Semi-Private
Indigo Run features two Jack Nicklaus designs – the private Golf Club and the semi-private Golden Bear Golf Club. The Golf Club was the first course Nicklaus designed with his son, Jack Nicklaus II. It has a throwback feel reminiscent of Augusta National or a traditional U.S. Open venue and a state-of-the-art practice facility. Golden Bear favors strategy over strength, with ample bunkers and water hazards requiring smart shot-making.
843-689-7300 | indigoruncoa.com
Long Cove Club Hilton Head, SC
Par 71 | Yardage 7094 | Private
Another Pete Dye masterpiece, Long Cove Club is consistently rated among the state’s best courses and was recently named No. 19 among Goflweek’s Top 100 Residential Courses in the U.S. The beautiful setting among live oaks, towering pines, and salt marsh vistas is matched by the caliber of play required to conquer the course, which is why it plays host to the annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate featuring the nation’s best collegiate women’s teams.
843-686-1070 | longcoveclub.com
Moss Creek Hilton Head, Sc
Devil’s Elbow North | Par 72 Yardage 6510 | Private Devil’s Elbow South | Par 72 Yardage 6878 | Private
Two of the Lowcountry’s older courses, the Fazio designs at Moss Creek, don’t play as long as some of the more modern tracks, but they are just as challenging. The longer Devil’s Elbow South Course provides plenty of trouble for golfers to contend with and tight greens that demand accuracy. The North Course is short and tight, with elevated greens that amplify the importance of the short game.
843-837-2229 | mosscreek-hiltonhead.com
Oldfield Okatie, SC 
Par 72 | Yardage 7142 | Private
Greg Norman’s first design in the Lowcountry blends perfectly into Oldfield, a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Wildlife, such as alligators, cranes, and fox squirrels, are standard on the course, which demands golfers use every club in their bag. The back nine is incredibly challenging and offers plenty of risk/reward opportunities like the 12th, a short par-4 that is reachable from the tee for the bold.
843-645-4624 | oldfield1732.com
Palmetto Bluff Bluffton, SC
Par 72 | Yardage 7171 | Public
May River Golf Club’s Jack Nicklaus signature course is one of the area’s most challenging layouts, thanks to elevated greens that test the short game. The setting is unmatched, winding through centuries-old live oak forests and along the banks of the splendid May River, and the course conditioning is always impeccable.
843-706-6580 | palmettobluffresort.com
Palmetto Dunes Hilton Head, SC 
Arthur Hills | Par 72 | Yardage 6918 | Public George Fazio | Par 70 | Yardage 6873 | Public
Robert Trent Jones | Par 72 | Yardage 7005 | Public
Palmetto Dunes features three of the area’s finest courses. All are open to the public but in top-notch condition usually reserved for private clubs. The Robert Trent Jones Course is probably the most famous, primarily because of the view of the Atlantic Ocean from the par-5 10th. The George Fazio Course is among the Lowcountry’s most challenging, featuring only two par-5s. The Arthur Hills Course is the community’s best-kept secret, a rolling layout with dramatic elevation changes.
843-785-1136 | palmettodunes.com
Palmetto Hall Hilton Head, SC
Arthur Hills Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6918 | Semi-Private Robert Cupp Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7079 | Semi-Private
Whether you’re looking for a traditional layout or a modern, quirky course, Palmetto Hall has it. The Arthur Hills Course is classic Lowcountry golf, forcing players to navigate tree-lined fairways and avoid bunkers to reach the greens. The Robert Cupp Course is one of the most unique and innovative designs in the area, providing a fun test for every golfer. It is semi-private.
843-342-2582 | palmettohallcc.com
Sea Pines Resort Hilton Head, Sc
Harbour Town Golf Links | Par 71 | Yardage 7099 | Semi-Private Atlantic Dunes | Par 72 | Yardage 7010 | Semi-Private
Heron Point | Par 72 | Yardage 7035 | Semi-Private Sea Pines Country Club | Par 72 | Yardage 6383 | Private
The father of Hilton Head golf, The Sea Pines Resort, is still the granddaddy of them all. Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the RBC Heritage, is the highest-profile of the four championship courses within the resort. Still, Pete Dye oversaw a recent renovation to make Heron Point more player-friendly, resulting in South Carolina Course of the Year honors in 2015. Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III was voted the National Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners’ Association. While the three resort courses are open to the public, Sea Pines Country Club is private.
843-842-8484 | seapines.com
Wexford Plantation Hilton Head, SC
Par 72 | Yardage: 6913 | Private
Originally opened in 1983, Wexford underwent a significant renovation by legendary golfer and designer Arnold Palmer in 2011. The redesign opened the course and created more strategic options to reach the challenging green complexes. The new layout and immaculate conditions have landed Wexford on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses list each of the past four years.