If you are familiar with golf, then you are at least familiar with the fact that Hilton Head is quite the destination for golfers. We recently took a trip there and could not control our excitement leading into the weekend. Now obviously if money is not a factor, then you will have a very different trip than the average golfer – as rounds at the Harbour Town Golf Links where they play the RBC Heritage are roughly $400. But we are not pros nor retired tech moguls, so we do what we always do…research what we can to find the best courses that combine affordability with an appealing course.
Now obviously we were not able to play all the courses, we were only there 3 days but we were pleased with our decisions. And side note if you do make a trip, then stay on the south side of the Island – we ended up on the north side but spent most of our time elsewhere as there wasn’t a lot of things to do around our hotel.
First of all, if you can play Harbour Town and don’t mind spending the money, I would say do it. We spent time on the premises, and everything looked fantastic. The fairways were in great shape, the views were amazing, and it clearly would deliver a great memory. Two courses I would say to book if you are average golfers like us, would be Shipyard and Oyster Reef, both great and affordable.
Shipyard offers 3 different 9 hole courses. We played 2 of them and were extremely surprised with how great it was. Aside the fact that we were melting in mid 90 degree weather and high humidity, we enjoyed every second of this course. Fairways and greens were in great shape, very few people out there since it was so hot, so can’t really comment on the typical pace, but a very aesthetically pleasing course all around.
Oyster Reef was probably our favorite. A beautiful course that had even better views at times. They clearly take care of the course as we seemingly had no issues with course maintenance. Whether you birdie a hole or double, you’ll most likely want to snap a couple pictures of the views, especially when you get glimpses of the ocean behind the pin your aiming for. The restaurant on site is also top notch, and highly recommended to grab a bite before, during, or after your round.
Overall we’d say Hilton Head is a solid place for a golf trip, but don’t plan on much else. The entertainment there was okay, just a few bars and restaurants, mostly on the south end that offered a good atmosphere. There was also lots of families vacationing on the island – which is fine of course but if you are just going with your friends and want to mix in some nightlife, then be warned. There are definitely better options for the golf – entertainment style trip, and we will be finding them! So stay tuned!
2 OFF THE TEE 