Golf
Hilton Head is nicknamed "Golf Island" for good reason: the island itself has 24 championship courses (public, semiprivate, and private), and the outlying area has 16 more. Each offers its own packages, some of which are great deals. Almost all charge the highest green fees in the morning and lower fees as the day goes on. Lower rates can also be found in the hot summer months. It's essential to book tee times in advance, especially in the busy spring and fall months; resort guests and club members get first choices. Most courses can be described as casual-classy, so you will have to adhere to certain rules of the greens. The dress code on island golf courses does not permit blue jeans, gym shorts, or jogging shorts. Men's shirts must have collars.
The RBC Heritage PGA Tour Golf Tournament. The most internationally famed golf event on Hilton Head Island is the RBC Heritage presented by Boeing, held mid-April at Harbour Town Golf Links. For more than 50 years, this PGA tournament has drawn flocks of fans and spectators to the island for a weeklong celebration of golf and tradition. The Sea Pines Resort, 2 Lighthouse La., South End, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29928. www.rbcheritage.com.
Golf Schools
The Golf Learning Center at The Sea Pines Resort. The well-regarded golf academy offers hourly private lessons by PGA-trained professionals and one- to three-day clinics to help you perfect your game. The Sea Pines Resort, 100 N. Sea Pines Dr., South End, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29928. 843/785–4540; www.golfacademy.net.
Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy. There's something for golfers of all ages at this academy: instructional videos, daily clinics, and multiday schools. Lessons are offered for ages three and up, and there are special programs for women. Free demonstrations are held with Doug Weaver, former PGA Tour pro and director of instruction for the academy. Take advantage of the free swing evaluation and club-fitting. Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, 7 Trent Jones La., Mid-Island, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29928. 888/909–9566; 866/455-6890; www.palmettodunes.com.
Golf Courses
Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III. One of three courses within Sea Pines Resort, Atlantic Dunes is an excellent and more affordable alternative to playing Harbour Town. Built along the route of Hilton Head's first golf course, the Ocean Course, the Davis Love III redesign features native grasses and plants that maintain the seaside feel—the 17th green even dips out into the dunes with views across the ocean. 100 N Sea Pines Dr., South End, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29928. 843/842–1477; www.seapines.com/golf.
Arthur Hills and Robert Cupp Courses at Palmetto Hall. There are two prestigious courses at the Palmetto Hall Country Club: Arthur Hills and Robert Cupp. Arthur Hills is a player favorite, with its trademark undulating fairways punctuated with lagoons and lined with moss-draped oaks and towering pines. Robert Cupp is a very challenging course, but is great for the higher handicappers as well. Palmetto Hall, 108 Fort Howell Dr., North End, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29926. 843/342–2582; www.palmettohallcc.com. $99. Reservations essential.
Country Club of Hilton Head. Although it's part of a country club, the semiprivate course is open for public play. A well-kept secret, it's rarely too crowded. This 18-hole Rees Jones–designed course is a more casual environment than many of the other golf courses on Hilton Head. Hilton Head Plantation, 70 Skull Creek Dr., North End, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29926. 843/681–2582; www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Country-Club-of-Hilton-Head. $105.
Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run. Located in the upscale Indigo Run community, Golden Bear Golf Club was designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus. The course's natural woodlands setting offers easygoing rounds. It requires more thought than muscle, yet you will have to earn every par you make. Though fairways are generous, you may end up with a lagoon looming smack ahead of the green on the approach shot. Indigo Run, 72 Golden Bear Way, North End, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29926. 843/689–2200; www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Golden-Bear-Golf-Club-at-Indigo-Run. $99.
Harbour Town Golf Links. Considered by many golfers to be one of those must-play-before-you-die courses, Harbour Town Golf Links is extremely well-known because it has hosted the RBC Heritage PGA Golf Tournament every spring for more than 50 years. Designed by Pete Dye, the layout is reminiscent of Scottish courses of old. The 18th hole lies along the marsh and waterway, driving toward the Harbour Town Lighthouse. The Sea Pines Resort also has two other incredible courses—Heron Point by Pete Dye and Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III—that make this a great destination for any golfer. The Sea Pines Resort, 11 Lighthouse La., South End, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29928. 843/842–8484; 800/732–7463; seapines.com/golf. $350. Reservations essential.
Robert Trent Jones at Palmetto Dunes. One of the island's most popular layouts, this course's beauty and character are accentuated by the 10th hole, a par 5 that offers a panoramic view of the ocean (one of only two on the entire island). There are two other golf courses located within the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort (George Fazio course and Arthur Hills course) and packages are available to play all three. Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, 7 Robert Trent Jones La., North End, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 29928. 888/909–9566; www.palmettodunes.com. $105. Reservations essential.
Bluffton Golf Courses
There are several beautiful golf courses in Bluffton, which is just on the mainland before you cross the bridges onto Hilton Head Island. These courses are very popular with locals and can often be more affordable to play than the courses on Hilton Head.
Crescent Pointe. An Arnold Palmer Signature Course, Crescent Pointe is fairly tough, with somewhat narrow fairways and rolling terrain. There are numerous sand traps, ponds, and lagoons that make for demanding yet fun holes. Some of the par 3s are particularly challenging. The scenery is magnificent, with large live oaks, pine-tree stands, and rolling fairways. Additionally, several holes have spectacular marsh views. Crescent Pointe, 1 Crescent Pointe, Bluffton, South Carolina, 29910. 843/706–2600; www.hallmarkgolf.com. From $55.
Eagle's Pointe Golf Club. This Davis Love III–designed course is one of the area's most playable, thanks to its spacious fairways and large greens. There are quite a few bunkers and lagoons throughout the course, which winds through a natural woodlands setting that attracts an abundance of wildlife. Eagle's Pointe, 1 Eagle's Pointe Dr., Bluffton, South Carolina, 29909. 843/757–5900; www.hallmarkgolf.com/eagles-pointe. $59.
The May River Golf Club. This 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature course at the Montage Palmetto Bluff resort has several holes along the banks of the scenic May River and will challenge all skill levels. The greens are Champion Bermuda grass and the fairways are covered by Paspalum, the latest eco-friendly turf. Caddy service is always required. No carts are allowed earlier than 9 am to encourage walking. Palmetto Bluff, 477 Mount Pelia Rd., Bluffton, South Carolina, 29910. 855/377–3198; www.montagehotels.com/palmettobluff/experiences/golf. $315. Reservations essential.
Old South Golf Links. There are many scenic holes overlooking marshes and the intracoastal waterway at this Clyde Johnson–designed course. It's a public course, but that hasn't stopped it from winning awards. It's reasonably priced, just over the bridge from Hilton Head, and reservations are recommended. 50 Buckingham Plantation Dr., Bluffton, South Carolina, 29910. 843/785–5353; www.oldsouthgolf.com. $70.
