Hilton Head's 8 Greatest Public Golf Courses

Despite being only 69 square miles, Hilton Head, South Carolina is jam-packed with some of the best public golf courses in the U.S. From budget tracks to a yearly PGA Tour stop, you can find any type of course you’re looking in this Lowcountry area. Let's shine a Harbour Town light on the best courses you can play throughout Hilton Head so you’re prepared for your next visit.

Sea Pines Resort leads our list because of its notoriety and its incredible collection of courses. The resort has been a mainstay in Hilton Head for over 50 years and boasts 5,000 acres of oceanfront property. You can rent a home or villa, or if luxury a hotel is more your thing, the Inn at Harbour Town fits the bill. You’ll have access to every type of restaurant imaginable and plenty of activities away from the golf course.

As far as golf goes, the three courses at Sea Pines are just phenomenal. Harbour Town Golf Links is one of the more recognizable golf courses on the east coast. Each year, Harbour Town hosts the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage. The famous red and white striped lighthouse in the distance and a slew of ocean camera shots makes Harbour Town scenic on television, but more so in person. The course was designed by Pete Dye with help from consultant Jack Nicklaus. Consistently ranked among the best golf courses in the U.S., it is also a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. It’s a true test, playing 7,191 yards with a 75.6 rating and 148 slope.

Pete Dye also designed Heron Point and oversaw the course’s modifications in 2014. It is a wonderful yin to Harbour Town’s yang. Heron Point is a bit more player-friendly with multiple sets of tees to accommodate all players. Make no mistake, the low single-digit handicap can find plenty of trouble at Heron Point, as it can stretch to over 7,000 yards as well.

Sea Pines Resort also had the Ocean Course on property but handed the design keys over to David Love III for an overhaul. Atlantic Dunes was born, and the course is a wonderful mixture of oceanfront elements as well as native pines and oaks lining fairways to keep you honest. Atlantic Dunes plays a challenging 7,065 yards from the tips with a 74.3 rating and 143 slope.

The three championship courses put Sea Pines in a league of its own when it comes to stay and play in Hilton Head. There are numerous golf packages to choose from along with specials throughout the year. Plan on paying at least $180 for your round, however, peak season on Harbour Town can cost as much as $350 or more.

Oyster Reef Golf Club is part of the Heritage Golf Collection, which operates several great courses in Hilton Head. This Rees Jones design opened in 1982 and immediately made its way onto every top-course listing in the U.S. Today, Oyster Reef remains one of the most popular tee times in the area. The course is located towards the northernmost point on the island and is a favorite among locals. In fact, if you find yourself playing the course as a single, gettting paired with someone with some course knowledge can be a huge advantage.

Oyster Reef offers some great views of Hilton Head while you traverse its winding lagoons and other natural beauty. The course maxes at 7,006 yards with a 133 slope and 74.1 rating. Look into Heritage Golf packages to get the best deal, but if you’re just looking to play Oyster Reef for a single day, expect to pay around $175 on weekends.

In the city of Bluffton, South Carolina you’ll find Hilton Head National Golf Club. The course is barely a mile from the bridges that lead you in and out of the island and the surrounding area is quite popular with tourists. If shopping is your thing, the course backs up to an outlet mall which is a great way for the non-golfers in your group to spend a few hours if they don’t want to join you on the course.

The course was built in 1989 and still holds up as one of the most playable and enjoyable courses in the Hilton Head area. Course architect Bobby Weed, along with some help from Gary Player, made Hilton Head National the course it is today.

The front nine is noticeably easier than the back, where the fairways tighten up quite a bit. The course naturally presents challenges with its tall pines and lagoons, so don’t be fooled by the back tees playing 6,730 yards. That’s plenty long for the subtle risk-reward choices you’re forced to make. Rates hover Peak in the $125 area durin peak season, but non-peak fees fall below $100, which is a great deal to play one of Hilton Head’s best.

Another property to consider while in Hilton Head is the Port Royal Golf and Racquet Club. This club is also part of the Heritage Golf Collection and has two can’t-miss courses in one place. It’s located on the western side of Hilton Head, near some great beaches such as Folly Field and Islanders.

The Barony Course was one of the first golf courses in Hilton Head when it was built back in the 1960s. George W. Cobb designed the Barony Course with the goal of giving players open landing areas off the tee while putting a premium on mid and short iron precision. Big hitters can still shoot an awful score on the Barony Course. The course measures just over 6,600 yards and it’s a nice test while also enjoying a slice of Hilton Head golf history.

The Robber’s Row Course opened a few years after the Barony, also designed by Cobb. Pete Dye stepped in and led a redesign in 1994 which puts a premium on finding fairways and the well-protected greens. This course was built on top of Civil War grounds and even had commemorative historical markers throughout different holes.

Whether you play Barony or Robber’s Row, greens fees run around $125 per player. Both courses are great twilight options, with deals for close to $80 or less.

Situated on 2,000 acres of natural beauty you’ll find one of Hilton Head’s most popular places to book your stay, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. For multiple reasons, this resort could be the only place you come to in Hilton Head and you would leave relaxed and rejuvenated. The property includes homes and villas to rent, a resort beach with a marina, a spa, and multiple restaurants. Oh, and there are also three championship golf courses to choose from.

The Robert Trent Jones Course rewards accuracy and shot placement, highlighted by the lagoon that winds its way throughout the routing. With multiple sets of tees, this layout challenges all levels of players. The 10th hole has an incredible ocean view which many say is one of the most scenic of any course in Hilton Head.

The Arthur Hills Course brings in a bit more rolling terrain than the Jones Course. Previous knowledge of this course is very useful to avoid sidehill lies and understand the proper placement on approach shots. The ocean breezes can wreak havoc on the Hills Course more so than on the other two on the property, as the direction constantly changes.

Then there's the George Fazio Course. The Fazio course is Hilton Head’s only par-70 layout. It only has two par 5s, instead yielding to some incredibly long and difficult par 4s. The course plays tough but fair, make sure to capitalize on your opportunities.

Check out the Palmetto Dunes rates site for current rates, because they vary with different packages and at different times of the year.