Hilton Head Golf Island Destination Guide and Itinerary

Palmetto State Pleasures

By Brian Weis

Don't look now, but some parts of the country are already dealing with snow or cooler temperatures that keep everyone but the die-hard golfers away from the course.

Thankfully at Hilton Head, the wintry precipitation and frosty conditions are nowhere to be found. Instead, sunshine and pleasant temperatures greet golfers who come to this South Carolina retreat. Just 12 miles across and five miles wide, Hilton Head Island is a remarkable backdrop of marshes, rivers and Spanish moss. In addition to beautiful golf courses, the island is bustling with spectacular homes and fine dining establishments.

Combine all that, and you've got the ideal spot for golf getaway. Readers of GOLF.com named Hilton Head Golf Island a "Top 10 Most Dreamed About U.S. Golf Destination," and a four-day, three-night itinerary makes it easy to see why it received this praise.

Day 1
Arrive in style and play Harbour Town Golf Links, site of the PGA TOUR's RBC Heritage presented by Boeing. Designed by Pete Dye, Harbour Town is famous for its signature red and white striped lighthouse behind the 18th green and the railroad ties prevalent throughout the layout. A new 26,000 square-foot clubhouse was recently unveiled and boasts a stunning 4,000 square-foot locker room featuring first class amenities worthy of the most pampered PGA TOUR pro.

Day 2
Head to the north end of the island and spend the entire day challenging the outstanding layouts found here. Designed by Rees Jones, Oyster Reef Golf Club traverses through towering trees and lush vegetation, with lagoons scattered throughout. One hole that's sure to capture your attention and heart - the par-3 sixth, which looks out over Port Royal Sound.

While on the north side, also check out Palmetto Hall Plantation, which features two solid layouts. The Arthur Hills Course plays through intimidating pines and moss-draped oaks, while also possessing one of the top finishing holes on Hilton Head Island. The Robert Cupp Course has always been an island favorite for golfers of all skill levels since it opened in 1991.

Out in the remote reaches of the island sits Port Royal Golf Club and its three distinct layouts - Barony Course, Robber's Row and Planter's Row. The golf experience at these courses is as unique as their names, so expect fun and exciting rounds.

Day 3
Situated in the heart of the island is the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. Palmetto Dunes is home to three of Hilton Head Island's more memorable courses. The Robert Trent Jones Course takes players through tree-lined corridors among 11 miles of lagoons. The George Fazio Course pairs off holes in couplets, as it works its way through a battalion of pines. The Arthur Hills Course bobs and weaves around an array of water hazards, and is one of the more challenging layouts on the island.

Day 4
Finish the trip where you started - at the Sea Pines Resort. While another round at Harbour Town would be glorious, try the other outstanding golf options here. Both Heron Point and the Ocean Course stand out for their playability and scenery. Pete Dye designed Heron Point and is one of his better modern designs in the Southeast. The Ocean Course is a Mark McCumber layout that features one of only two oceanside holes on Hilton Head Island, the par-3 15th.

For more information about stay-and-play golf options at Hilton Head, visit www.hiltonheadisland.org/golf.

Revised: 11/18/2015 - Article Viewed 29,145 Times

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.