There's no denying that golf on Hilton Head
is world class or, as they say on the course, "par excellent!." The mild year-round climate and natural lowcountry contours of the land have made it a perfect golf course developers' dream that has turned the island into a veritable state of golf.
Driving down either of the island's two main access roads, either the toll island bypass or Rt. 278, you will pass dozens of distinct golf communities from one end of the island to the other.
Many courses require private membership, but
Harbor Town , which was preparing for the WorldCom Classic during our visit, is a rare, exquisite, public course where amateurs can test their skill after watching how the pros have played it. A Pete Dye designed course, it is not particularly long at 6973 yards, but the slope rating of 146 tells you something about the importance of shot placement. The eighteenth fairway, which follows along the seashore and leads directly toward the Harbor Town Lighthouse, presents a notoriously deceiving challenge and is one of pro golf's most recognizable landmarks.
If you haven't played in a while or are only fortunate enough to play on cherished weekends and during vacations, you might like to start out your stay on Hilton Head by playing the Robert Trent Jones course at Palmetto Dunes. Forward tee players (such as myself) like the relatively non-intimidating first tee and a mere 5,425 yards from start to finish. For back tee players, a substantial 6710 yards and slope rating of 133 challenges enough to make the round worth it. It's ideal for vacation outing where one player has a low handicap and the other is a nature lover dragging around a golf club. Other courses at Palmetto Dunes available to guests at the Marriott are:
Arthur Hills/Palmetto Dunes (18 holes; 6122 yards; 72 par; 1 miles away)
Arthur Hills/Palmetto Hall (18 holes; 6257 yards; 72 par; 5 miles away)
George Fazio (18 holes; 6239 yards; 70 par; 0.5 miles away)
Robert Cupp (18 holes; 6042 yards; 72 par; 5 miles away)
Other golf courses available for open public play at other resorts in the area include:
Planter's Row (6,284/133)
Oyster Reef (6,463/124)
Sea Marsh and Ocean Courses at Sea Pines
Barony and Robber's Row at Port Royal Golf Club (6,328/129)
You could get lucky, as my husband did while playing at Seabrook outside of Charleston . The other members of his threesome were members at Indigo Run who invited him to play there after hearing he was on his way to Hilton Head. Or, you could fall in love with Hilton Head, as those members did, and simply buy your own membership at one of the many stellar courses located there.