Golf isn’t just a pastime on Hilton Head; it’s one of the most popular activities on the island. So it’s no surprise that everyone’s looking for the best places to play. But with so many great golf courses and resorts all around, it can be hard to figure out where the best holes lie. But no worries, Doug Weaver, a Hilton Head Island golfer of 37 years, has put together a list of some of the top holes on Hilton Head that are definitely worth a round.
Par 3s
# 17 at the George Fazio Course in Palmetto Dunes Resort is a fun challenge. It is picturesque and frightening. This must-see hole can be played from 100 yards to 240 yards over water onto a sloping green. The northern winds can cool you off and help the ball carry over the water on to a two-tier green. I will let you find the escape route.
# 15 at Sea Pines Resort’s Ocean Course is breathtaking and requires a straight approach shot. It is well bunkered on both sides and has some gentle breaks so you can enjoy the view.
# 6 at Oyster Reef Golf Club is downhill and requires a decision to go left or right of the front bunker. An advanced player can go high and bring it down soft with a little backspin. The right side of the green feeds into a lake full of fish. The view of the Port Royal Sound is spectacular and the gentle breezes can be refreshing and cause you to add a club or two.
#3 at Shipyard Golf Club’s Clipper Course presents the challenge of carrying a beautiful lake that the ospreys feed on. As you play, you are likely to see two egrets circling and diving for the fish, then carrying the catch to their nest near the green. The green is large but appears small due to lofted humps that hide the green. Making the putt will require understanding how to read grain. This vast open view allows the sun and water to cause unusual grass growing patterns.
Par 4s
#18 at Sea Pines Resort’s Heron Point is a true test of character and focus. The water frames the left side of the fairway and green. The immense clubhouse is the backdrop to a tiny green, well-protected on the left by water and the right by a mound. Take deep breathes before every shot.
Par 5s
#10 at Robert Trent Jones Course in Palmetto Dunes Resort is magnificent and a must-play because it is gracious in width and framed with fairway bunkers that come into play with a windy day. The 550 yard hole can be played from the Black tees at 120 yards. Take your cameras to your last three shots.