Top 25 Golf Communities

Page 1

IIGOLF COMMUNITIESII

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


BELFAIR Bluffton, SC

East Course | Par 71 | Yardage 6936 | Private West Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7080 | 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 | 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 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

Dogwood Course | Par 36 Yardage 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

A P R I L 2 0 2 2 // 67


GO

OMMUNITIE LF C S

20

22

DATAW ISLAND

121 DATAW DRIVE, BEAUFORT, SC 29920 // 843.838.3838 DATAW.COM

40 hiltonheadmonthly.com


H

ow is your daily drive? Cut the commute and wake up daily to 36 holes of championship golf at Dataw Island, South Carolina Golf Association’s esteemed pick for “Club of the Year.” This gated lifestyle community is located just north of Hilton Head, six miles from Historic Beaufort – away from it all yet close to everything. You’ll also find tennis (a USTA “Outstanding Facility”), pickleball, croquet, a full-service marina, nature preserve and dog park, a free library, indoor and outdoor pools – and even some rare finds, like kayak launches, bocce courts, art studio, community garden plots, a free library, and even historic ruins and an interpretive center. Add to this clubs and organizations too numerous to mention; this private gated community is clearly catered to the active lifestyle. Just recently, members anonymously purchased Oak Island, a 33-acre maritime forest preserve located just off Dataw Island, and donated it to the community to be enjoyed as a natural recreation area. Complete with an off-leash dog exercise enclosure, nature trails, and a long pierhead dock perfect for celebrating the end of a good day with a sunset over the water. The community’s two 18-hole golf courses (by architects Tom Fazio and Arthur Hills) are both rated in the top 50 in the state and deliver an enjoyable round for beginners and pros alike: with 22 holes featuring water views, the tees you choose to play from can create a challenging or relaxed round. It’s the perfect size – with 950 homes, there are resales available and room to build 100 more. Developed to honor nature and history, the island exudes historic charm, natural beauty, and extraordinary living, and its people emanate friendliness. Home prices range from the $300s to over $2 million and the community offers flexible membership plans, that evolve with your lifestyle. This picturesque private community is truly a hidden gem, and those considering relocating to the Lowcountry owe it to themselves to “short list” Dataw Island.

{ AMENITIES } 36 Holes of Golf, by Tom Fazio (Cotton Dike course) and Arthur Hills (Morgan River course) 8 Har-tru Tennis Courts, named a USTA “Outstanding Tennis Facility” Marina 2 Croquet Lawns 2 Bocce Courts 4 Pickleball Courts 3 Community Docks (two with kayak launch and storage) Indoor Pool Resort-Style Pool (Saline; Heated and Cooled) Fitness Center 24-Hour Manned Security Gate with Concierge-Style Service Yoga Studio Art Studio Full-Service Marina

April 2018 41


IIGOLF COMMUNITIESII

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 7100 | 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 | 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. 843-706-4400 | hallmarkgolf.com

Colleton River

FRIPP ISLAND Northern Beaufort County, SC

Ocean Creek Course | Private Par 71 | Yardage 6586 Ocean Point Course Par 72 | Yardage 6556 | Private

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

70 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

Dataw Island Club


HAIG POINT Daufuskie Island, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7113 | 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

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

HILTON HEAD LAKES Bluffton, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7300 | Public

A newer 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

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. Dataw Island Club

843-681-8800 | hiltonheadplantation.com

A P R I L 2 0 2 2 // 71


{ AMENITIES } Pete Dye Signature Golf Course Health & Fitness Center Indoor Lap Pool & Hot Tub Spa Services Lakeside Pool & Splash Pad Tennis Pickleball Bocce Basketball Court Playground Golf Clubhouse Community Clubhouse Casual & Fine Dining Venues Library Billiards Room 20+ member clubs Audubon International Certified

40 hiltonheadmonthly.com


GO

OMMUNITIE LF C S

20

22

HAMPTON HALL “ This course is very playable for all skill levels. The multiple tee boxes ensure that players at every level have a great time.”

A

BRENT CARLSON, HAMPTON HALL'S HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL

mid the live oaks and the Spanish moss of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, there is a private golf community in the heart of Bluffton, where like-minded souls come together to live, laugh, celebrate, and play. Hampton Hall is a private community and club conveniently located just minutes from Hilton Head Island, Savannah and Beaufort. The club experience is focused on bringing people together – friends, family, members and guests – and it’s designed to evolve and adapt to the members’ wants and needs. Each amenity (championship golf, state-of-the-art health & fitness center, resort-style pool, tennis, pickleball and bocce) blends seamlessly with the others to create the total experience. One that can be shared with the whole family and is the source of cherished memories again and again. At the heart of Hampton Hall, and perhaps its most celebrated feature, is the spectacular Pete Dye Signature Golf Course. Designed by the legendary golf architect himself, it offers a brilliantly open design with beautiful, panoramic vistas sure to inspire your best game. Built with precision and artistry, it features six sets of tees with yardages stretching from a comfortable 4,454 to 7,503 yards from the tips. "This course is very playable for all skill levels,” says Hampton Hall's Head Golf Professional, Brent Carlson. “The multiple tee boxes ensure that players at every level have a great time. It’s nice to have a Pete Dye design that's playable for all. You can see his fingerprint all over the course.” Hampton Hall's golf members have a wide range of favorite holes, with one notable exception. The finishing hole leaves a lasting impression. The lengthy par-4 18th hole shows off Dye's design skills, as golfers first must keep their drive within a narrowing fairway before attacking a long approach shot over a fronting creek and wetland. "Everything feels very spacious for most of the round. And then you get to 18, and it's just a very, very difficult hole," Carlson says. "It's a hard way to finish. Many a good round have come to die at 18." After a good round – hopefully after conquering No. 18 – golfers can brag about their shot of the day while enjoying a drink and burger with friends at Pete's Grill in the Golf Clubhouse. "This is one of the nicer golf clubhouses in the area, and it’s made even better with a bunch of happy people in here, all laughing and enjoying themselves," Carlson says. "I think that's what makes this building very welcoming to the membership. They feel at home here." Hampton Hall’s full-service golf shop is stocked with the latest apparel and equipment, and four professionals on staff are available for lessons and clinics. A comprehensive practice facility, including an expansive driving range, putting green, chipping green with bunker, and second short game and instructional area, is also available for members to improve their game. "Our range is awesome," Carlson says. "I just love how much space they dedicated to the range. It's a great practice area." Hampton Hall offers golf membership options for both residents and non-property owners. For more information on membership, please contact Kristy Stewart at 843-815-9343 or kstewart@hamptonhallsc.com. 170 HAMPTON HALL BLVD., BLUFFTON, SC 29910 // 843.815.8730 HAMPTONHALLCLUBSC.COM

April 2018 41


IIGOLF COMMUNITIESII

MOSS CREEK Hilton Head, SC

Devil’s Elbow North | Par 72 | Yardage 6555 | Private Devil’s Elbow South | Par 72 | Yardage 6885 | 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

Hilton Head Plantation

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

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. 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

74 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

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

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 6651 | Public George Fazio | Par 70 | Yardage 6873 | Public Robert Trent Jones | Par 72 | Yardage 6710 | 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


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. 843-342-2582 | palmettohallcc.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

SEA PINES RESORT Hilton Head, SC

Harbour Town Golf Links | Par 71 | Yardage 7099 | Semi-Private Atlantic Dunes | Par 72 | Yardage 7065 | SemiPrivate 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. Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III was voted the national Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners’ Association in 2017. While the three resort courses are open to the public, Sea Pines Country Club is private. 843-842-8484 | seapines.com

visit us @ HILTON HEADMONTHLY.COM

A P R I L 2 0 2 2 // 75


GO

OMMUNITIE LF C S

20

22

BERKELEY HALL CLUB

366 GOOD HOPE ROAD, BLUFFTON, SC 29909 // 843.815.8423 / GOLF 843.815.8444 BERKELEYHALLCLUB.COM

40 hiltonheadmonthly.com


T

his is where you want to be. When you’re traveling towards the coast, the scenery changes before you. Palmetto and live oak trees stand along the winding road, while Spanish moss waves in the wind as the unofficial flag of Lowcountry, South Carolina. Friendly is the default greeting, also an apt description of the private golf community of Berkeley Hall. Resting on the banks of the Okatie River, Berkeley Hall offers relaxing Lowcountry living with the grandeur and amenities similar to a luxury resort. With Phase I of its $5.1M Master Plan nearing Spring completion, Berkeley Hall’s reimagined Clubhouse features a full-season Veranda for casual gatherings with relaxed furnishings, along with bar seating, and an open-air kitchen culinary experience. Refinements in the Grand Hall and Club interiors add to the welcoming ambiance, as finely crafted details and a transformation of the space elevate the Club’s formal dining venue, with luxurious interiors open to panoramic golf course views. Not only is Berkeley Hall one of the premiere South Carolina golf communities, it is one of the only residential communities with two Fazio-designed core golf courses, not to mention what might be the best golf learning center in the Southeast. Berkeley Hall is a community where you can always get a tee time and get to know your neighbors. Each of the two Fazio courses are patterned after the classic designs of the 1920s, with “core routing” uninterrupted by interior homes or roads, encouraging golfers to walk the course and soak up every minute. Homesites are positioned on the perimeters, with generous setbacks so each layout meanders through an open coastal landscape framed by seaside grasses. Dramatic elevation changes, beautiful water features, and strategic bunkering showcase the designer’s artistry. The North Course features tranquil lakes, rolling fairways and bunkers that strategically frame heavily contoured greens. In contrast, the South Course offers a classic parkland golf experience, with majestic live oaks, pines and azaleas, accentuating course routings against a backdrop of golden marshes along the Okatie River. Golf (and life) in its purest form awaits you at Berkeley Hall. This is where you want to be.

{ AMENITIES } $5.1M Master Plan: Phase I Spring Completion Two Championship “Core Golf” Courses by Tom Fazio 33-Acre State-of-the-Art Golf Practice Facility & Learning Center Golf Academy with Krista Dunton Spa & Fitness Center Exceptional Culinary Experiences Racquet Sports: Tennis & Pickleball Dog Park The River Park Greenway Trails

{ ACCOLADES } Five Star Platinum Club Distinguished Club Elite Designation America's Healthiest Club Best Residential Courses: North & South Course - Golfweek Top 100 Golf Communities: Travel + Leisure Top 100 Premiere Properties: Links Magazine Site of 2021 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship


IIGOLF COMMUNITIESII

WEXFORD 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 | wexfordhiltonhead.com

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

Marshwood Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6904 | Private Magnolia Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6891 | Private Terrapin Point Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6837 | Private Palmetto Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6941 | Private Oakridge Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6603 | Private Deer Creek Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7094 | Private Savannah’s largest club gives members access to six private 18-hole championship courses, including two Arnold Palmer designs (Marshwood and Magnolia) and two Arthur Hills tracks (Palmetto and Oakridge). Tom Fazio’s Deer Creek Course is the site of The Club Car Championship. 912-598-8050 | landingsclub.com

78 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M


The Ford Plantation

A P R I L 2 0 2 2 // 79


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.