Top 25 Golf Communities by Hilton Head Monthly

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GOLF

COMMUNITIES IN THE LOWCOUNTRY & COASTAL GEORGIA B Y H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY

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{ AMENITIES } 18-Hole Golf Course 7 Lighted Tennis Courts 4 Lighted Pickleball Courts Fitness Center Outdoor Pool, Splash Pool and Hot Tub Indoor Heated Saline Pool Bocce Court Blue Heron Pub & Grille offering casual and fine dining Club Course Café, with poolside service and quick-serve options for our fitness patrons, golf and tennis players

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OMMUNITIE LF C S

SEA PINES COUNTRY CLUB With its breathtaking waterside finishing hole, the Sea Pines Country Club golf course has been called “Little Harbour Town.” Perched on a stunning expanse of saltwater marsh, Sea Pines Country Club is a private haven for its members, with luxury amenities including 18 exciting holes of golf distinguished by a stunning finishing hole overlooking the water. Exceptional year-round conditions and a hands-on team of PGA professionals enhance the club’s golf experience, and its full-service Golf Shop carries top brands and logoed apparel. Racquet-minded members enjoy the club’s Courts Complex, which features seven Har-Tru tennis courts, all lighted for after-dark play. Private lessons and clinics are taught by a team of USPTR professionals, who specialize in introducing new players to the sport, or elevating an experienced player’s skills. Four new pickleball courts have also been added and have been one of the fastestgrowing pastimes at the club. The club’s new 7,500-square-foot Fitness Center boasts an exercise room with the very latest in cardio and weight training equipment, a 28-meter indoor heated saline pool, and an array of all-levels fitness classes including yoga, spin, TRX and aquatic options. Well-appointed locker rooms and infrared saunas, a fully stocked fitness and tennis retail space, and licensed on-site physical therapy and massage treatments round out the Sea Pines Country Club fitness experience. Sea Pines Country Club’s expert culinary team ensures exceptional dining in the Blue Heron Pub & Grille, with menus ranging from casual poolside fare to elegant candlelit gourmet dinners. The chef sources seasonal local ingredients, and the property has a chef’s garden for the freshest vegetables, fruits and herbs. The club appeals to all ages, and kids enjoy year-round programs, menus and activities, including Dive-In Movies at the outdoor pool, Summer Camp, beginner tennis and golf clinics, and special dining events throughout the year. Many members “grew up” at the club and are delighted to see their own children creating the same wonderful memories. But it may be the club’s social activities that make it truly special, with plenty of opportunities for members to gather – around the firepit, over a spirited game of bocce or cornhole, or on the lawn enjoying what is sure to be another beautiful Hilton Head sunset. Sea Pines Country Club is a welcoming place, and members interact at social gatherings and clubs, including Book Club, mah jongg and cards. Lively men’s and ladies’ golf outings, tennis round robins and special events including Trivia, Wine Tastings, and speaker series, offer members the chance to meet new friends and enjoy myriad activities together. With its resort-caliber amenities, exceptional service and engaging programs and activities, Sea Pines Country Club is a private club unlike any other on Hilton Head Island. For information on our membership options, call Nic Booth at 843-671-2335. 30 GOVERNORS ROAD, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29928 // 843.671.2345 SEAPINESCOUNTRYCLUB.COM

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GOLF COURSES IN THE LOWCOUNTRY AND COASTAL GEORGIA B Y H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY

Coastal South Carolina and coastal Georgia are home to many of the country’s top 100 private residential golf communities, as rated by Links magazine. From Sea Pines to Savannah Harbor, the area is ripe with lush greens just waiting for hackers. Two of the most iconic and most visited historic towns in the U.S., Savannah and Charleston, draw millions of tourists, and Hilton Head Island does pretty well, too. Many play golf while visiting, and some decide they want to retire to the Lowcountry. The mild climate, dramatic marsh vistas, live oaks, palm trees and the availability of vast tracts of affordable land all favored

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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. Visionary developer Charles Fraser worked with talented planners, architects, landscapers and builders who eventually branched out on their own. They continued to apply the knowledge they acquired during these pioneer years, and the results can be seen today in upscale golf communities throughout the island, in Bluffton and in Northern Beaufort County.

BELFAIR Bluffton, SC

East Course | Par 71 | Yardage 6936 | Private West Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7129 | Private Featuring two courses considered to be among noted designer Tom Fazio’s best work, Belfair’s two tracks provide championship golf with completely differing personalities. The East is reminiscent of a Scottish links course, while 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

Belfair

BERKELEY HALL Bluffton, SC

North Course | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7148 South Course | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7254 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 elevation changes that are rare 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

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

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CHECHESSEE CREEK CLUB 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

CRESCENT POINTE Bluffton, SC

Par: 71 | Yardage: 6773

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. 843-706-4400 | hallmarkgolf.com

Colleton River

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, both of which feature 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

DATAW ISLAND CLUB

Northern Beaufort County, SC Cotton Dike Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6787 | Private Morgan River Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6657 | Private Both of Dataw Island’s championship courses — Tom Fazio’s Cotton Dike Course and Arthur Hills’ Morgan River Course — have been renovated in the past few 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

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Dataw Island Club

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 that is perfect for getting in a quick nine. 843-341-8155 | haigpoint.com

Hilton Head Plantation

HAMPTON HALL Bluffton, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7503 | Private One of the most playable of renowned designer Pete Dye’s works, Hampton Hall features an open design that is 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 | hamptonhallclubsc.com

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Moss Creek

HILTON HEAD LAKES Bluffton, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7300 | Public

The newest 18-hole championship 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, as well as a par-3 course and a fullservice practice facility. 843-784-5253 | hiltonheadlakes.com

INDIGO RUN Hilton Head, SC

The Golf Club | Par 72 | Yardage 7072 | Private Golden Bear | Par 72 | Yardage 6643 | 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, and has a throwback feel reminiscent of Augusta National or a traditional U.S. Open venue, as well as 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 | clubcorp.com

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION Hilton Head, SC

Dolphin Head Golf Club | Par 72 | Yardage 6606 | Semi-Private Bear Creek Golf Club | Par 72 | Yardage 6804 | Semi-Private Oyster Reef Golf Club | Par 72 | Yardage 7014 | Semi-Private Country Club of Hilton Head | Par 72 | Yardage 6919 | Private Three of Hilton Head Plantation’s four courses are the work of noted designer Rees Jones, including the challenging layout at Country Club of Hilton Head, which has hosted a pair of U.S. Open local qualifiers. The exception is Dolphin Head Golf Club, a Gary Player design renovated by local architect Clyde Johnston in 2010. While the Country Club of Hilton Head is a fully private club, the plantation’s other three courses are semi-private, offering memberships as well as tee times to the public. 843-681-8800 | hiltonheadplantation.com

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LONG COVE CLUB Hilton Head, SC

Par: 71 | Yardage: 7094

Another Pete Dye masterpiece, Long Cove Club is consistently rated among the state’s best courses and was recently named No. 18 among Golfweek’s Top 200 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 65510 | 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, as well as 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 7134 | Private Greg Norman’s first design in the Lowcountry blends perfectly into Oldfield, which is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Wildlife such as alligators, cranes, and fox squirrels are common on the course, which demands golfers use every club in their bag. The back nine is especially 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

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Palmetto Dunes

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

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, you can find it at Palmetto Hall. 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 that provides a fun test for every golfer. Semi-private. 843-342-2582 | palmettohallcc.com

Arthur Hills | Par 72 | Yardage 6651 | 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, and all are open to the public but are in top-notch condition usually reserved for private clubs. The Robert Trent Jones Course probably is the most famous, in large part because of the view of the Atlantic Ocean from the par-5 10th. The George Fazio Course is one of 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

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Palmetto Club

SEA PINES RESORT Hilton Head, SC

Harbour Town Golf Links | Par 71 | Yardage 7099 Semi-Private Atlantic Dunes | Par 72 | Yardage 7065 | 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, but Pete Dye oversaw a recent renovation to make Heron Point more player-friendly, resulting in South Carolina Course of the Year honors in 2015, and Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III was voted the national Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners’ Association last year. While the three resort courses are open to the public, Sea Pines Country Club is private. 843-842-8484 | seapines.com

SPRING ISLAND Okatie, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7004 | Private Opened in 1992, Old Tabby Links was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay to play off the rugged natural environment of Spring Island. The course weaves through nature preserves and feels more like a pastoral setting than a private residential club. A 2012 restoration project renewed the course’s strategic value by widening fairways to offer alternative angles of attack. 843-987-2200 | springisland.com

WEXFORD PLANTATION Hilton Head, SC

Par 72 | Yardage: 6913 | Private

Originally opened in 1983, Wexford underwent a major renovation by legendary golfer and designer Arnold Palmer in 2011. The redesign opened up the course and created more strategic options to reach the challenging green complexes. The new layout combined with immaculate conditions have landed Wexford on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses list for many years. 843-686-8810 | wexfordplantation.com

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You don’t have to be playing golf, to enjoy the course.

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Ford Plantation

THE FORD PLANTATION Richmond Hill, Georgia

Par 72 | Yardage 7409 | Private

The luxurious community features a Pete Dye signature course that the legendary designer recreated in 2014. The course is more playable than some of Dye’s diabolical creations, but the greens are still a challenge for the experienced player. The front nine plays like a parkland course, while the back nine is a links style layout where the howling wind can play havoc. 912-756-2742 | fordplantation.com

SAVANNAH QUARTERS Pooler, Georgia

Par 72 | Yardage 7066 | Private

Savannah Quarters features a top-notch golf learning center, and the Greg Norman signature course has hosted big events such as the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship. The course is long enough to test the best players, but with six sets of tees it can accommodate everyone from beginners to pros. 912-450-2700 | savannahquarters.com

THE LANDINGS CLUB Savannah, Georgia

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