Heron Point at Sea Pines Resort
World-class golf, ideal weather conditions, and Southern hospitality in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, where live oaks are draped in Spanish moss and the Atlantic Ocean provides a scenic backdrop. There’s a good reason Hilton Head has firmly established itself as one of the nation’s premier golf destinations.
Bountiful golf peppers the 12-mile-long, shoe-shaped island and its surrounds, with more than 40 courses within a 30-mile drive in Hilton Head and neighboring Bluffton. It’s one of the densest concentrations of public golf per capita, ranking third among U.S. metro areas, according to the National Golf Foundation.
Quality and quantity
Hilton Head Island itself has nearly 25 courses, many of which were designed by some of the most respected architects in the game.
Harbour Town Golf Links, home to the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage tournament since 1969, is undeniably the area’s crown jewel. Designed by Pete Dye with consultation from a then-inexperienced Jack Nicklaus (at least from a golf architecture standpoint), Harbour Town’s iconic red-and-white striped lighthouse overlooking the 18th hole and Calibogue Sound has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in the golf world. The course’s narrow fairways, small greens, and strategic bunkering have challenged the world’s best players for over five decades but it is temporarily closed until November 2025 for an extensive restoration, shifting focus to the wealth of other great golf in the area.
Beyond Harbour Town, the golf packages as the luxurious Sea Pines Resort include two other championship courses: Heron Point (another Dye masterpiece) and Atlantic Dunes (recently redesigned by Davis Love III). The 5,000-acre resort offers welcoming villas and homes for rent as well as 60 spacious guest rooms at The Inn & Club at Harbour Town. There’s also five miles of pristine beaches, 15 miles of walking paths, horseback riding, and upscale shopping and dining options.
Other popular options for golf getaways:
Harbour Town Golf Links
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
This 2,000-acre property features three distinct courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio, and Arthur Hills, with the RTJ course laying claim to one of only two oceanfront holes on the island. Palmetto Dunes boasts three miles of beach, a sheltered marina, an award-winning tennis center, and diverse accommodation options from oceanfront hotels to private homes. Its central location and complimentary resort shuttle make it ideal for families seeking to balance golf with other activities.
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Palmetto Hall Plantation
This gated residential community has two courses, designed by Arthur Hills and Robert Cupp, that provide distinct playing experiences. The Hills course features dramatic elevation changes rare for the island, while Cupp’s innovative design is defined by sharp angles and geometric shapes in fairways and bunkers. The community offers vacation rentals in elegant homes surrounded by 750 acres of pristine Lowcountry landscape, with an antebellum-style clubhouse providing Southern charm as well as excellent dining.
Palmetto Hall Plantation
Port Royal Golf Club
Golf meets history on the grounds of this former plantation, where Civil War fortifications are visible throughout the Robber’s Row course that was redesigned by Dye. The property also features the scenic Barony Course designed by George Cobb that was one of the first courses on Hilton Head Island. The plantation-style clubhouse serves outstanding Lowcountry cuisine, while nearby accommodations range from the Westin Resort to private villas, with guests enjoying privileges at the adjacent Port Royal Beach House.
Port Royal Golf Club
And there’s more . . .
Additional golf options in Hilton Head include Shipyard Golf Club’s 27 holes nestled within a natural setting of Carolina pine trees, magnolias and moss-draped oaks, and courses such as Dolphin Head (Gary Player), Golden Bear at Indigo Run (Nicklaus), and Oyster Reef and Bear Creek (both designed by Rees Jones).
Just across the bridge in Bluffton are properties such as Hilton Head National, Old South Golf Links, and Palmetto Bluff. The May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff, designed by Nicklaus and opened in 2005, has several holes that line the banks of the serene May River and its 18-hole championship layout is popular among guests staying at the Forbes Five-Star Montage Palmetto Bluff resort. Palmetto Bluff in 2024 opened a reversible 9-hole course called Crossroads built by Tad King and Rob Collins, and is bringing in Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to design a third course.
Unlike some golf destinations that are more restrictive, the majority of Hilton Head courses affiliated with resorts and communities are open to the public. While most resorts offer preferred tee times to guests, non-resort visitors can typically book rounds at almost every course, further cultivating Hilton Head’s reputation as a national destination for recreational golf.
Oyster Reef
Strategic East Coast location
While there are nearly 2 million golfers within a 250-mile radius of Hilton Head, the area’s is also remarkably accessible for millions of East Coast residents. The island itself is just 45 minutes from Savannah, Georgia, two hours from Charleston, South Carolina, approximately four hours from Atlanta and Charlotte, and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport makes for a relatively easy flight from major cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore or Washington D.C. that are within just a few hours of travel time.
Year-round golf climate
Hilton Head’s subtropical climate yields generally ideal golfing conditions, with the sun shining for almost two-thirds of the year and mild winters and warm summers moderated by ocean breezes. The average temperature ranges from 60 degrees Fahrenheit in winter to the 80s in summer, with extended spring and fall seasons offering the best playing conditions. But even during Hilton Head’s coldest months – January and February – daytime temps in the 60s allow for comfortable play at a time when many courses in northern parts of the country are blanketed in snow.
Must-visit destination
The natural beauty of the Lowcountry landscape is on full display at the golf courses in Hilton Head, where wildlife abounds and many of which have achieved Audubon certification for their environmental practices. The island itself has demonstrated a commitment to preserving its natural beauty and that’s showcased through scenic golf courses that wind through maritime forests or along marshes. With its perfect climate, strategic location, and commitment to providing a complete getaway experience, Hilton Head offers an almost unrivaled concentration of golf excellence, positioning it as a bucket-list destination for any serious golfer.