Santee National Golf Club
We know golf can be expensive, so whenever we find an exceptional value proposition, we need to talk about it. Such is the case with the golf in Santee, South Carolina.
For years, golfers in the know have been coming to the Santee area, which resides about an hour southeast of the state capital of Columbia and is conveniently located near the intersection of I-95 and I-26. The area offers quality, enjoyable courses and accommodations that are perfect for every caliber of golfer. The courses are beautiful, strategic, and best of all, affordable. Golf packages here come with a ton of extra perks, and there is a lot to see and do off the course that will keep your itinerary quite full.
Another favorite asset of the area for traveling golfers is the giant golf shop at the Lake Marion Golf Course. It’s the largest FootJoy golf shoe retailer in the Carolinas, and the shop is fully stocked with every other golf goodie you could want. So, if you need a new pair of shoes, a new driver, or simply a great deal on golf balls, visiting this golf shop would be worth the trip alone. This is a spot for anyone who truly loves golf!
The perfect stop on I-95
Three of the courses reside right in the heart of Santee, and these three tend to be the mainstays for golfers when they book a package here.
The first of these is Lake Marion Golf Course, located in the heart of Santee on Lake Marion. The course is routed through a series of lakes and pine trees placing a premium on shot making throughout your round. The layout is known for its excellent greens, and the par-72 layout measures just over 6,400 yards so bigger hitters can play an aggressive risk-reward style of golf or play a bit more strategically if they want to keep their ball in play. Either way, it’s a fun ride.
The championship layout at Lake Marion Golf Course may be the star of the show, but they’ve also added a 35,000-square-foot putting course called Palmetto Traverse Putting Experience for golfers to enjoy. It’s only $10 to play, and for those staying at the Lake Marion Golf Townhouses or Villas, that fee is waived, and you can enjoy playing here as its mere steps away from your accommodations.
The 18-hole real grass putting layout changes every Wednesday, so every week you can enjoy a totally different experience. Designed by Donald Ross restoration expert Kris Spence, it’s modeled after the Himalayas Putting Course which famously resides at St. Andrews in Scotland. It includes bunkering, a small central grassy area with landscaping, and features found on top courses throughout the world. Depending on how it’s routed, you can encounter putts that are up to 250 feet long! Needless to say, it’s a favorite activity amongst buddies trips as quite a few dollars tend to exchange hands after a loop around this challenging layout.
And as we previously mentioned, Lake Marion Golf Course is where you’ll also find one of the country’s largest golf shops. The shop features more than 2,500 pairs of shoes at incredible prices, making it a must visit for any golfer. They are also known for their wide assortment of golf balls at multiple budget levels as well as a fully stocked shop so be sure to leave extra packing space in your luggage before you visit.
It’s no wonder that Lake Marion Golf Course is a favorite spot for snowbirds making their way south in the fall on Interstate 95 down to Florida, or those headed back north in the spring. If you can’t make a full vacation out of it, stop by and play the putting course and spend an hour or two loading up on golf gear. For a golfer, it’s like being a kid in a candy store.
More golf choices
Lake Marion’s sister course is Santee Cooper Country Club, which plays a little bit longer at 6,600 yards. Located just a couple of miles from Lake Marion Golf Course, this 1967 George Cobb design features more twists and turns making it a more formidable challenge while still bringing all the fun. Situated on Lake Marion as well, there are some enjoyable risk-reward par-5s as well as a couple of par-3s that can stretch out to around 200 yards from the tips giving you a great amount of variability of shot selection throughout your round.
The third course in the nearby area is Santee National Golf Club that often receives rave reviews from visiting golfers. Having recently renovated its greens with Champion Bermuda, this Porter Gibson design tips out at 6,850 yards so it’s known as the longer test of the bunch here. Five lakes come into play throughout your round, as do an assortment of moss-draped live oaks and pine trees. The front side is more open helping you east your way into the round, while the back nine plays as more of a rolling, tree-lined challenge. The finishing stretch includes a gorgeous view on the par-3 17th hole that is framed by a church which has helped it earn the moniker of Santee’s own “Amen Corner,” and the 18th hole brings you back to the Lowcountry-style clubhouse where you and your crew can enjoy an adult beverage or two and recap the best shots of the day.
While these three layouts are certainly the ones most golfers include in their stay and play packages, there are also a lot of other great options nearby. Just north of Lake Marion are Wyboo Golf Club and The Players Course at Wyboo. Wyboo Golf Club is a Tom Jackson design that can play as long as 6,900 yards, and it has been ranked among the top 10 public courses in the state by the State Newspaper. It’s a beautiful layout, with native grasses, marshlands, and water features. The Players Course at Wyboo, which is of a similar length, brings water into play on several holes and features superb conditions and scenery.
Within an hour of Santee there are an additional 12 quality public golf courses. They all have reasonable green fees and come in at an even better deal when you book stay-and-play packages here.
Santee Cooper Country Club
Beyond golf
The preferred lodging option for golf groups is the Lake Marion Golf Townhouses and Golf Villas. These villas and townhomes come with all-inclusive added value benefits that include replay rounds, range balls, daily breakfast, a dinner out, golf gear, souvenirs and more making it an exceptional value for you and your group. In addition to having ample space in your accommodations, there is also an outdoor swimming pool and a shared Hospitality Clubhouse that is perfect for larger groups with a kitchen, flat screen TV, and even a scoreboard area. Essentially, you can create your own personal golf playground here!
There are excellent dining options in Santee such as the Captain’s Quarters for some of the area’s best steaks and desserts. One of the favorites for locals and visitors alike is Clark’s Inn & Restaurant. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this family-owned institution has been around since 1946. From filet mignons to ribeyes to fried chicken, you can’t go wrong here. Clark’s Inn & Restaurant has long been a favorite for the stay-and-play packages, but it’s one of just many options available in the area.
When you’re not on the course, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy including 450 miles of shoreline along the Santee Cooper Lakes System. These waterways are known for their landlocked striped bass, so if you have some fishermen in your group be sure to set aside some time for them to get out on the water. There are also some extensive hiking trails at the Santee State Park and the Palmetto Trail, the Santee Waterpark which is a big hit with the little ones, the Cypress Gardens Butterfly House & Aquarium, and multiple pickleball courts make up just a few of the many activities available in the area. As you can tell, it’s an area known for enjoying the outdoors and the beauty of its natural surroundings.
The bottom line is Santee offers one of the best value golf experiences across America. When it comes to buddies golf trips, it’s an incredibly convenient and accessible destination where you can get on-course lodging, multiple meals included in the price of your stay and play including daily hot breakfast and seasonal BBQ and pasta dinners, and quality golf courses that are all just a stone’s throw away. Golf can be played here year-round, and you can find some pockets of time in the winter where the value is insanely good. Make this a go-to stop on your way up or down I-95, and you can join the many golfers who have turned this destination into an annual must-visit golf trip.
Book your Santee stay-and-play golf package here.