THE LOWCOUNTRY

Championship Golf

From Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, site of the 2021 PGA Championship, to Hilton Head Island’s Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the annual RBC Heritage Classic, the South Carolina Lowcountry is a golfer’s paradise. There are more than 50 area private and resort courses in glorious natural settings overlooking beaches, rivers, sounds, and tidal wetlands.

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Lifelong Learning

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at The University of South Carolina Beaufort offers an impressive variety of educational opportunities for Lowcountry residents age 50 and over.

A Natural Lifestyle Destination

Whilethe coastal areas around Georgetown and Charleston may be included, the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry is Beaufort County in the state’s southeastern corner. There you’ll find the perfect mix of unspoiled natural habitats, outdoor recreational activities, and towns that have preserved their traditional characters while adding contemporary conveniences and services.

Historic Beaufort features a waterfront downtown that’s filled with shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions like museums and seasonal festivals that highlight the relaxing Lowcountry lifestyle. Nearby Fripp, Callawassie, and Dataw are barrier islands with luxury retirement communities.

The Bluffton area also has its share of upscale residential communities, plus retail shopping along the highway and a delightful riverside town center. From there, it’s just a short drive across the bridge to Hilton Head Island, a world-class vacation destination with stylish oceanfront resorts, abundant outdoor recreation, and the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.

Old Town Bluffton

Set along the May River and surrounded by upscale residential communities, Old Town Bluffton is a perfect day-trip destination. In this walkable one-square-mile district, you’ll find art galleries and craft shops, fresh-seafood restaurants and casual cafes, historic homes and churches, specialty shops, riverside parks, and a bountiful farmers market.

USCB.edu BlufftonSC.com

Climate: While Lowcountry climate can be warm and humid in the mid-summer months, the trade-off is comfortable short sleeve weather throughout the spring and fall, with mild temperatures in winter for year-round outdoor activities.

Recreation: In addition to premier golf courses and tennis/pickleball centers, the Lowcountry’s tidal estuaries and waterways are ideal for kayaking, canoeing, sailing, boating, and fishing in every season.

Healthcare: New specialty practices for seniors in the Lowcountry compliment established treatment centers at the Beaufort Memorial and Hilton Head hospitals, while the US Naval Hospital Beaufort is a major regional provider for local military veterans.

Must-see: Daufuskie Island, the setting for Pat Conroy’s memoir The Water is Wide, can only be reached by ferry or water taxi, but it’s well worth the trip for the pristine beaches, unrivaled eco-tours, and one-of-a-kind craft centers that preserve the best of Gullah culture.