Southeast
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Where Lowcountry charm meets championship golf — a barrier island with world-class courses, pristine beaches, and enough shrimp and grits to fuel a week of rounds.
Overview
Hilton Head Island is one of the most complete golf destinations on the East Coast. The 12-mile barrier island off the South Carolina coast packs an extraordinary density of quality golf into a setting that also delivers beaches, Lowcountry cuisine, and a relaxed resort atmosphere. The crown jewel is Harbour Town Golf Links at The Sea Pines Resort, one of the most recognizable courses in golf thanks to its iconic red-and-white-striped lighthouse behind the 18th green. Harbour Town has hosted the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage every spring since 1969, and its tight, tree-lined Pete Dye layout demands precision over power.
But Hilton Head is far more than Harbour Town. The Sea Pines Resort alone offers three courses — Harbour Town, Heron Point by Pete Dye, and the Davis Love III-redesigned Atlantic Dunes. Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort contributes three more — the Robert Trent Jones, Arthur Hills, and George Fazio courses — all with resort access. And Hilton Head National, just off-island, provides a quality public option at a fraction of the resort prices.
What makes Hilton Head uniquely appealing for group trips is the combination of golf and everything else. Non-golfers have beaches, kayaking, biking, shopping, and world-class dining to fill their days. The island's plantation-style resort communities are self-contained, with courses, lodging, dining, and activities all within bike-riding distance. For a group that wants serious golf during the day and Lowcountry oysters and cocktails at night, Hilton Head is hard to beat.
Courses · 6
Harbour Town Golf Links
Resort · Championship
$250-$520
Best for: Bucket-list experience, shot-makers, PGA Tour fans. The course rewards precision and creativity over raw distance.
Insider tip: The course plays shorter than most championship tracks (under 7,100 yards from the tips) but the small greens, tight fairways through live oaks and Spanish moss, and strategic bunkering make it fiendishly difficult. Do not be fooled by the yardage — club selection and shot shaping matter more than distance here.
Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III
Resort · Moderate-Challenging
$185-$320
Best for: Groups wanting a modern, well-conditioned course with more playability than Harbour Town. Mid-handicappers will enjoy this one.
Insider tip: Davis Love III redesigned this course in 2014, transforming the old Ocean Course into a far superior layout. It is the most underrated course on the island — less famous than Harbour Town but many locals consider it the most enjoyable round at Sea Pines. The natural dune landscape gives it a character unlike anything else on Hilton Head.
Heron Point by Pete Dye
Resort · Moderate-Challenging
$130-$280
Best for: Pete Dye fans who want a more approachable Dye experience than Harbour Town. Excellent value within the Sea Pines ecosystem.
Insider tip: This is the best value S-tier round on the island. Heron Point offers genuine Pete Dye design character — the visual intimidation, the creative green complexes, the strategic risk-reward choices — at roughly half the price of Harbour Town. Many regulars play Heron Point more frequently than Harbour Town and enjoy it just as much.
Robert Trent Jones Course (Palmetto Dunes)
Resort · Moderate-Challenging
$130-$250
Best for: Groups who want an oceanfront golf experience without the Sea Pines premium. The 10th hole alone is worth the round.
Insider tip: The Robert Trent Jones course has the best single hole on Hilton Head Island — the par-4 10th plays directly along the ocean, and on a clear morning it is one of the most memorable holes in Southeast golf. Jones Sr. designed the course in 1968, and the Rulewich renovation kept the original character while modernizing the routing.
Arthur Hills Course (Palmetto Dunes)
Resort · Moderate
$110-$220
Best for: Mixed-skill groups. The most forgiving of the Palmetto Dunes trio, with wide fairways and generous greens that keep higher handicappers in the game.
Insider tip: The Arthur Hills course has hosted college golf events that featured Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and David Duval during their amateur careers. It may not have the pedigree of Harbour Town, but the layout is well-maintained and fun. Best used as the relaxed round in a multi-day itinerary when the group needs a breather from championship-level courses.
Hilton Head National Golf Club
Public · Moderate
$60-$130
Best for: Budget-conscious round or warm-up day. Solid golf at a fraction of the resort prices. Good for the first-day shake-off-the-rust round.
Insider tip: Hilton Head National is the locals' course — the place where Hilton Head residents play when they want a quality round without resort pricing. The island green on the 4th hole is a genuine thrill, and the overall conditioning is consistently good. Use this as your Day 1 round to calibrate before hitting the bigger courses.
Lodging
Premium
The Inn & Club at Harbour Town
$350-$600The flagship Sea Pines property, walking distance to Harbour Town Golf Links and the lighthouse. Stay-and-play packages with Harbour Town, Heron Point, and Atlantic Dunes are the best value for premium golf. Pool, spa, fitness center. The location cannot be beaten for a golf-focused trip.
Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort
$300-$550Full-service oceanfront resort in Palmetto Dunes with direct beach access, pool complex, spa, and on-site dining. Golf packages available with all three Palmetto Dunes courses. The best choice for groups wanting golf and beach in equal measure.
Mid-Range
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island
$200-$400Oceanfront in Shipyard Plantation with beach access, pools, and a good restaurant. Near Shipyard Golf Club. Family-friendly with a children's program. Solid mid-range choice that balances quality and value for groups.
Palmetto Dunes Vacation Rentals
$175-$400Villas and homes within Palmetto Dunes, ranging from 2-bedroom condos to 6-bedroom houses. Full kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and on-site golf access. The best option for groups of 8+ who want to cook some meals and spread out. Price is per unit, not per person — substantial savings for larger groups.
Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa
$225-$425Located in Palmetto Dunes with oceanfront access, full spa, multiple pools, and reliable Marriott consistency. Good for groups with Marriott loyalty points. Easy access to all three Palmetto Dunes courses.
Budget
Holiday Inn Express Hilton Head Island
$130-$220Clean, reliable, and close to the island's mid-section. Complimentary breakfast saves money for the golf budget. No beach access or resort amenities, but you are here to play golf, not lounge at the pool.
Hampton Inn Hilton Head Island
$140-$250Solid chain option near the south end of the island. Complimentary breakfast, outdoor pool. A 10-15 minute drive to most courses. Good for groups prioritizing course budgets over lodging budgets.
Dining
Skull Creek Boathouse
$$-$$$Lowcountry Seafood / Raw Bar
The quintessential Hilton Head dining experience. Waterfront setting on Skull Creek with sunset views that are worth the trip alone. The Lowcountry boil, blackened catfish, and shrimp and grits are all excellent. Large groups can be accommodated with advance notice. Get there early for a deck table — the sunset over the Intracoastal Waterway is spectacular.
Poseidon
$$$-$$$$Upscale Seafood / Raw Bar
Consistently rated the top seafood restaurant on the island. The Grand Shellfish Tower is a showstopper for groups. Sleek, modern interior with a rooftop bar. This is the splurge dinner for your group — reserve well in advance for weekend evenings during peak season.
Bowdie's Chophouse
$$$$Steakhouse / Seafood
Premium steakhouse with USDA Prime cuts and exceptional crab cakes. Dark wood interior, classic chophouse atmosphere. Semi-private dining available for larger groups. This is where you go when the group wants red meat after three days of seafood.
Hudson's Seafood House on the Docks
$$Seafood / Southern
Iconic Hilton Head institution on the waterfront at Skull Creek. Fresh catches come directly from the family's own fishing boats. Less polished than Poseidon but more authentic. The oyster sampler and fried shrimp are legendary. Walk-in friendly, casual atmosphere, great for large groups who do not want to fuss with reservations.
One Hot Mama's American Grille
$$BBQ / American
Award-winning barbecue and wings in a rowdy, fun atmosphere near Harbour Town. This is the loud, casual night for the group — cold beer, ribs, and no pretense. Can accommodate large groups and has an extensive craft beer selection. Perfect for the night after a tough round when the group needs comfort food.
Captain Woody's
$-$$Casual Seafood / Bar
No-frills local favorite for seafood baskets, Lowcountry boil, and cold beer. Multiple locations on the island. This is the budget dinner that does not sacrifice quality — perfect for the night when you want to eat well without a production. Outdoor seating available.
Pro Tips
- 1
Book the Sea Pines stay-and-play package that bundles lodging at The Inn & Club with rounds on Harbour Town, Heron Point, and Atlantic Dunes — it saves 20-40% compared to booking each round at retail rates.
- 2
Play Harbour Town in the afternoon when the light through the live oaks is golden and the pace of play often improves. Morning tee times are coveted but the afternoon experience is arguably more beautiful and less crowded.
- 3
Rent bikes for the week. Hilton Head's bike path network is extensive and connects the resort communities. You will save money, get exercise, and experience the island's live oak canopy and marsh views in a way that cars miss entirely.
- 4
Schedule Hilton Head National for your first or last day as a warm-up or cool-down round. The quality is high, the price is right, and it takes the pressure off your more expensive resort rounds.
- 5
If visiting during RBC Heritage week in April, book everything 6+ months in advance. The island fills up completely. Alternatively, come the week before or after for similar weather at lower prices.
Sample Itineraries
weekend getaway
3 daysDay 1: Arrive midday, afternoon round at Heron Point (the best value Sea Pines course), sunset drinks at Skull Creek Boathouse followed by dinner. Day 2: Morning round at Harbour Town Golf Links with the lighthouse finish, lunch at the Harbour Town clubhouse, afternoon at the beach or Harbour Town marina shops, group dinner at Poseidon. Day 3: Morning round at Atlantic Dunes, lunch and depart — or add afternoon at Hilton Head National for the 36-hole warriors.
full trip
5 daysDay 1: Arrive, afternoon warm-up round at Hilton Head National (off-island, value pricing), casual dinner at One Hot Mama's. Day 2: Morning round at Atlantic Dunes, afternoon beach time and bike ride through Sea Pines, dinner at Hudson's Seafood on the Docks. Day 3: Morning round at Harbour Town Golf Links (the main event), relaxed afternoon at the spa or Harbour Town Lighthouse, big group dinner at Bowdie's Chophouse. Day 4: Morning round at Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes (play the oceanfront 10th hole), optional afternoon at Heron Point for the diehards, sunset dinner at Skull Creek Boathouse. Day 5: Morning round at Arthur Hills (Palmetto Dunes) for a relaxed finish, lunch and depart.
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