When most people think of Hilton Head, their minds go straight to sugar-white beaches, salty breezes, and sunsets that could be paintings. These things are breathtaking, but the island shines just as bright on the fairways of the golf course as on the shoreline! Golf has been part of Hilton Head since 1962. Here are 20 golf courses to visit for a tee time in paradise.
Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Dunes
Address: 2 Leamington Lane, SC 29928
Phone: (888) 909-9566
The Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Dunes is widely considered one of the island’s most distinctive layouts, consistently ranking among the best in South Carolina. Forget just blasting drives; you’ll need accuracy, patience, and creativity! Ten different holes are threaded with sparkling lagoons, and sloping fairways deliver plenty of off-balance lies.
Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III
Address: 100 North Sea Pines Drive, SC 29928
Phone: (843) 842-1477
Few places can say they’ve reinvented history as beautifully as Atlantic Dunes. Built on the bones of Hilton Head’s very first golf course, the Ocean Course, it was reimagined by major champion Davis Love III into a stunning masterpiece. Explore 7,065 yards of coastal charm framed by coquina shells, seaside grass, and jaw-dropping ocean views.
Barony Course at Port Royal Golf Club
Address: 10 Clubhouse Drive, SC 29928 (Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club)
Phone: (843) 681-1750
Designed by George W. Cobb in the early 1960s, the Barony Course proves that the classics are still unbeatable. It looks wide and forgiving from the tee, but don’t be fooled. As you approach the Bermuda greens, the challenge sharpens. Thick, rough, and deep bunkers guard generous putting surfaces; you’ll need sharp irons and a confident short game to score well.
Bear Creek Golf Club
Address: 237 Whooping Crane Way, SC 29926
Phone: (843) 681-9510
The Bear Creek Golf Club course feels like it was made to be walked, giving you time to soak in its Audubon-certified natural setting. Wildlife flourishes in the 6,800-yard championship layout, and the greens are legendary — Super Dwarf TifEagle Bermuda, custom-tailored for the Lowcountry climate.
Clipper, Galleon, and Brigantine at Shipyard Golf Club
Address: 45 Shipyard Drive, SC 29928 (Shipyard Golf Club)
Phone: (843) 681-1750
Why settle for one when you can have three golf courses? The Shipyard Golf Club has a trio of nine-hole tracks you can combine into unique 18-hole rounds.
The Clipper Course is long and arduous. The Galleon Course, lined with towering oaks and pines, gives you guarded greens. And the Brigantine Course? Lagoons, doglegs, and even the occasional alligator basking in the sun.
Country Club of Hilton Head
Address: 70 Skull Creek Drive, SC 29926
Phone: (843) 681-2582
Designed by Rees Jones, the Country Club of Hilton Head course was good enough to host U.S. Open qualifying, so you know it’s got teeth.
Stretching 6,919 yards with a par 72, slope of 147, and a rating of 75.6, it’s a demanding layout with 14 doglegs and water on nearly every hole. Take note of the spectacular view from the signature 12th hole, perched at the island’s highest point!
Devil’s Elbow South & North at Moss Creek Hilton Head
Address: 1523 Fording Island Road, SC 29926
Phone: (843) 837-2229
At Moss Creek Hilton Head, you have two Fazio-designed beauties known as Devil’s Elbow South and Devil’s Elbow North. The fairways are pristine, the practice facilities are world-class, and the atmosphere is pure charm. Both golf courses challenge and reward. That’s why they stand out!
Dolphin Head Golf Club
Address: 56 High Bluff Road, SC 29926
Phone: (843) 681-5550
The Dolphin Head Golf Club course by Gary Player in 1974 features a front nine that winds through tall trees with marshes and bunkers in play. The back nine? It opens up with wide fairways and old-growth trees. Renovated in 2010 with Celebration Bermuda fairways and Mini-Verde Bermuda greens, this spot is as modern as it is timeless.
First Tee – The Lowcountry
Address: 151 Gumtree Road, SC 29926
Phone: (843) 686-2680
Where does golf become truly accessible? At First Tee – The Lowcountry, a 6-hole par-3 course for everyone, especially the kids. With holes ranging from 53 to 114 yards, it’s friendly, approachable, and downright fun. Add a 325-yard driving range, and you have the ultimate practice and play setup!
George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes
Address: 7 Carnoustie Road, SC 29928
Phone: (888) 909-9566
The George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes has a reputation as the toughest public course on Hilton Head. And with only two par 5s, it leans hard into long, requiring par 4s that test every club in your bag.
It’s the island’s only par-70 public course, stretching you from the very first hole — a 432-yard par 4 — all the way to the 462-yard closer. Golf Digest has named it one of America’s 100 Best, and the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association honored it as Course of the Year.
Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run
Address: 72 Golden Bear Way, SC 29926
Phone: (843) 689-2200
The Golden Bear Golf Club course at Indigo Run brings Jack Nicklaus’ signature touch to Hilton Head. This par-72, 7,014-yard golf course is all about balance. Wide fairways tempt you to let loose, while strategically placed bunkers and lagoons remind you that precision still rules. It’s a Nicklaus design through and through!
Harbour Town Golf Links
Address: 11 Lighthouse Lane, SC 29928
Phone: (843) 842-1904
If there’s one course that puts Hilton Head on the global golf map, it’s Harbour Town Golf Links. This Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus collaboration is famed across the entire PGA TOUR. Every spring, the world’s best come here for the RBC Heritage!
7,000 yards with a rating of 75.6, slope of 148, and par 71? It’s a master class in precision, finesse, and imagination. And of course, you can’t miss the renowned lighthouse behind the 18th green.
Heron Point by Pete Dye
Address: 100 North Sea Pines Drive, SC 29928
Phone: (843) 842-1477
Heron Point is among Pete Dye’s finest creations. Find risk-reward holes where every choice matters, fairways that weave toward and away from hazards, and Dye’s trademark mounds and swales keeping you honest.
At 7,035 yards with a par 72, rating of 74.0, and slope of 140, Heron Point is both playable and thought-provoking.
Long Cove Club
Address: 399 Long Cove Drive, SC 29928
Phone: (843) 686-1070
If Hilton Head has a crown jewel of private golf, it’s the Long Cove Club. Another Pete Dye masterpiece, the 18-hole course delivers 7,000 yards of pure artistry. Century-old live oaks draped in Spanish moss, towering pines, and sweeping salt marshes? No wonder members rave about it!
Oyster Reef Golf Club
Address: 155 High Bluff Road, SC 29926
Phone: (843) 681-1764
Some golf courses feel like they were meant to be there, and the one by Rees Jones at Oyster Reef Golf Club is that. From the 7,018-yard championship tees to the 5,288-yard forward tees, it welcomes all skill levels.
The real star? Hole #6, a par 3 that plays 192 yards over water to a green framed by the stunning Port Royal Sound. With awards like “Golf Club of the Year” and consistent Top 20 rankings, Oyster Reef is a must-experience.
Robber’s Row at Port Royal Golf Club
Address: 10 Clubhouse Drive, SC 29928 (Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club)
Phone: (843) 681-1750
Robber’s Row was originally designed in 1967 and later redesigned by Pete Dye. It sits on former Civil War grounds, so you get history lessons and a satisfying game. The fairways are generous, but the approach shots are demanding, with well-protected greens that require accuracy.
Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes
Address: 7 Trent Jones Lane, SC 29928
Phone: (888) 909-9566
When you combine Atlantic Ocean views with the genius of Robert Trent Jones, you get an iconic course at Palmetto Dunes. Seaside beauty and ever-changing conditions? Shifting winds turn a friendly hole into a beast in minutes! The star attraction is the par-5 10th, with its elevated green overlooking the ocean.
Spanish Wells Club
Address: 1 Brams Point Road, SC 29926
Phone: (843) 681-2819
Sometimes, less is more, and that’s the allure of the Spanish Wells Club. This 9-hole, par-36 course was designed by George Cobb and updated by Clyde Johnston in 2005. Shorter doesn’t mean easier, though, as its layout uses ponds and live oaks. The promise? Golf here is never rushed.
The Golf Club at Indigo Run
Address: 101 Berwick Drive, SC 29926
Phone: (843) 689-3500
The Golf Club course at Indigo Run was the first collaboration between Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack Nicklaus II. This 18-hole, par-72 course spans 6,707 yards with a rating of 72.4 and slope of 135. Surrounded by pine forests, shimmering lagoons, and whispers of the nearby Atlantic, it’s as visually stunning as it is enjoyable.
Wexford Golf
Address: 111 Wexford Club Drive, SC 29928
Phone: (843) 686-8810
The course at Wexford Golf is a private Arnold Palmer design that captures the philosophy of “fun for all players.” It’s tough enough to keep low handicappers on their toes, but welcoming enough for newbies. Witness the real Hilton Head appeal from your first tee to the final putt.
Greens, Fairways, and Views? Swing Into Hilton Head!
Yes, Hilton Head is the premier golf destination in the U.S. And when the glorious games end, Beachside Hilton Head has you covered with luxurious vacation rentals. Come kick back, sip something cold, and relive the day’s highlights!
Book your stay today, pack your clubs, and let the island’s golf courses make your golfing dreams come true.
