Golf

Golf on and around Hilton Head Island

There are many reasons why Hilton Head Island is a popular tourist destination.The unmatched beauty, the 12 miles of pristine beaches, the endless recreational opportunities and the mild winters all play a part.There is also the golf.

Hilton Head Island and the surrounding area offer a whopping 52 courses, 32 of which are open to public play.According to a recent report produced by the South Carolina Department of Tourism, golf generates more income than any other single entertainment or recreation activity in Beaufort County. More than 700,000 rounds of golf are played here each year, generating more than $123 million annually.In short, golf is kind of a big deal around here.

Some of our golf tournaments are a big deal, too.The week after the Masters, Harbour Town Golf Links inside of Sea Pines Resort hosts the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage. Past champions include Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Berkeley Hall, an elite private community in neighboring Bluffton, is the host course for the Players Amateur. Past champions there include Rickie Fowler, Camilo Villegas, Bill Haas and Ben Curtis. Want more big names?

How about Pete Dye, Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio and George W. Cobb? Those are just a few of the legendary golf course architects that have built tracks around here. What makes Hilton Head Island so special?

“The sand,” Dye said. “All of your great courses in Scotland, Ireland, and everywhere have that in common. An area that has a sand base is always going to be better than where you have a clay base or a soil base. To tell you the truth, the only sand I’ve ever worked on has been right there in South Carolina.”

Respected publications such as Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine consistently rank area courses among the nation’s best. There is also a course for nearly every pocketbook. You can play 18 on a solid course for less than $30 if you know where to look.
Look no further!