A quick scour of the internet revealed that there was no worthy ranking of public golf courses available for Hilton Head Island. This list is designed to rectify the internet injustice currently taking place at one of America’s most popular golf destinations. Just like my lists for Palm Springs and Scottsdale, I am presenting an unbiased representation of the best options for public golf on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
I have received no compensation from any of the golf courses on this list for their inclusion. This is simply the definitive list of courses available to anyone who is visiting Hilton Head. My rankings are based on a 10 point scale and a minimum of 28 total points were required in order to make the list. Every golf course that I took the time to play and evaluate is worth a visit.
Quality: How good is the overall golf course? I take conditioning, shot options and challenge all into consideration in this category.
Character: How unique is the golf course? Many Hilton Head golf courses have a similar vibe. Courses score points here for being original and having unique and interesting golf holes.
Value: Golf in Hilton Head isn’t always cheap. So when visiting, be prepared to open that wallet. A course may be excellent but it also might set you back $400. Is it worth it? A true value is hard to find.
Fun: In this category I will assess the vibe. Is the course welcoming? Is the course enjoyable to play? Do you get to hit fun shots?
Beauty: As a golf course photographer, I have an eye for the visually striking aspects of the game. I put a number on it here in this category.
I have listed all of the specific numbers in a chart at the end of the guide and I have also included links to book tee times for your convenience.
Bear Creek Golf Club - 28 Points
Our list begins with a solid value proposition for some quality Hilton Head Island golf. Bear Creek is Rees Jones’ very first solo design and presents a well conditioned course that winds its way through the forest. There is a lack of variety and interest on a number of the golf holes, but the experience remains enjoyable.
Port Royal Golf Club - Barony & Robbers Row - 28 Points
Port Royal offers 36 holes of golf with the Robbers Row course designed by Pete Dye and the Barony course designed by George Cobb. The club is situated right next to the oceanfront Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. Both clubs are part of the Heritage Golf Collection that manages a number of public golf resorts on the island.
Oyster Reef Golf Club - 29 Points
This Rees Jones design opened in 1982 and it was immediately hailed as one of top 25 new courses in America that year. The surrounding golf in the Carolinas has certainly pushed it further down the list, but Oyster Reef is another solid option for affordable golf from the Heritage Collection of golf courses. My foggy visit made for a magical walk through the trees.
Palmetto Hall - Cup and Hills courses - 30 Points
Another option from the Heritage Collection on Hilton Head Island are the Palmetto Hall courses. Unfortunately, the original designs from Cupp and Arthur Hills have been softened in order to reduce maintenance costs. The result is not quite as striking as the original but both courses are still a great walk and provide good value. Out of the six golf courses in the Heritage Golf Collection, the Arthur Hills design is probably the strongest. In 2024, the LGCOA & SCGCOA named it the "Golf Course of the Year." As always in South Carolina, beware of the alligators.
Dolphin Head Golf Club - 30 Points
This Gary Player design opened in 1974 and serves as a staple for quality affordable golf on Hilton Head Island. Most notably the Dolphin Head served as course #247 on my world record march during RGV Tour 2.0.
Hilton Head National - 32 points
As we head into the 32+ point categories, the quality begins to rise on Hilton Head Island. Even with a Bluffton address, I decided to include Hilton Head National as it is just over the bridge and provides a great option for those visiting Hilton Head. The front nine is designed by Bobby Weed and provides a number of memorable holes with large undulating greens. The short par 4 6th hole is a stand out. The back nine is designed by Gary Player. It maintains the aesthetic of the front nine but provides fewer holes of interest.
Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run - 33 Points
The Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run sits a step above your normal Nicklaus design. As part of the Invited Clubs family, the conditions are pristine with Bermuda greens and immaculate fairways. The green fees are modest for Hilton Head at $162 in 2025. Ironically, the course has been recognized as one of “America's Top 100 Courses Priced Under $100.” Despite the rising cost of golf, the value is still there.
Palmetto Dunes - Arthur Hills - 35 Points
As we enter the 35 point range, we also arrive at the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. Featuring 3 championship courses, the resort is one of the most obvious places to start an enjoyable Hilton Head golf vacation. The Arthur Hills course is on the tail end of our list with an emphasis on accuracy over power. At 6651 yards from the back tees, you won’t need to bomb em deep, but you will need to navigate the series of lagoons that flows through 10 of the golf holes.
Palmetto Dunes - George Fazio - 35 Points
The Fazio course at Palmetto Dunes is a local favorite, especially with the deer. This par 70 design features only 2 par 5’s and more than a handful of formidable par 4’s. The Diamond Zoysia greens were a pleasure to roll the rock on.
Old South Golf Links - 36 Points
Located right next door to Hilton Head National is Old South Golf Links. This beauty scores some big points for the handful of golf holes that play around the local marsh lands. Holes 7, 8, 16 and 17 provide the idyllic low country experience and are worth the green fee alone. The Clyde Johnston design is a perpetual favorite for its price point, fun level and South Carolina scenery. I was surprised how much I enjoyed playing and photographing this golf course.
Palmetto Dunes - Robert Trent Jones - 36 Points
The Robert Trent Jones course is the pride of the trio of courses at Palmetto Dunes. As the only course at the resort that reaches right up to the ocean shore, the vibe of the RTJ course is certainly special. I would highly recommend that your Hilton Head golf trip include a walk around this course.
Heron Point - 37 Points
As we near the apex of our list, there are a trio of golf courses from The Sea Pines Resort that dominate the upper echelons of our list. The Sea Pines courses are the heart of golf on Hilton Head and I would label all three as “must play” destinations. The first of these “must play” courses is Heron Point by Pete Dye. Dye’s style is on full display with plenty of swales, mounding, bulkheads and bunkering that frame your targets perfectly.
Atlantic Dunes - 37 Points
The second course in our trio from Sea Pines Resort is the very enjoyable Atlantic Dunes. Designed by Davis Love III, Atlantic Dunes is a complete reconstruction of the “Ocean Course” which was Hilton Head Island’s very first golf course. The low country vibes are on full display as the course wiggles its way through the forest and out to the Atlantic Ocean.
May River at Palmetto Bluff - 38 Points
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, May River sports a Bluffton address and is a 30 minute drive from Hilton Head Island. The golf course was deemed necessary for inclusion on this list as the quality of the course is too high to ignore. Any comprehensive golf trip to Hilton Head should also include May River. Since its inception in 2005, May River has been a favorite amongst the Top 100 Public lists. The Nicklaus routing meanders through the forest with more than a handful of truly memorable moments and the golf holes along the May River stand out as exceptional.
As part of the Montage at Palmetto Bluff, the entire experience is one of luxury. The resort also features a wildly fun and innovative 9 hole addition from King Collins named Crossroads. A day with both courses on the itinerary is a recipe for golf joy.
Harbour Town Golf Links - 40 points
There was never a doubt as to what golf course was going to take the crown of public golf on Hilton Head Island. Harbour Town Golf Links owns our title by 2 points. Most golf trips to Hilton Head will center around a visit to Harbour Town and rightly so. This Pete Dye masterpiece is one of a handful of forest courses in America where the strategy is so carefully considered. Every year, the powers that be gather to discuss individual branches that may have an impact on player strategy. While most public courses will never receive this sort of attention, the average player is able to enjoy the benefits that a stop on The PGA Tour provides.
Every year after The Masters, the PGA Tour plays that RBC Heritage at Harbour Town and the second greatest jacket in golf is handed out to the winner. One of the great things about the venues of our sport is that regular folks and tour pros can walk the same fairways and hit the same golf shots. There is nothing finer than lining up a birdie on the spectacular 18th green at Harbour Town Golf Links and then looking over to your golf buddies and mouthing these words… “to win the plaid jacket.”
In the end it matters little if the putt drops, as Harbour Town is all but guaranteed to be the highlight of your visit to Hilton Head Island.
