Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island: Your Ideal Golf Vacation and More
By Shawn Kosloff
Jun 25, 2007, 16:14

Imagine yourself playing a round of golf with names like Nicklaus, Palmer, and Player. While you may never actually get to play a round with Jack, Arnie, and Gary, you can walk in their footsteps while you play a round or two on one of their championship golf courses on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

You may have also heard of a few other golf course architects that have designed a course or two in the area. Names like Pete Dye, George Fazio, Fuzzy Zoeller, George Cobb, Tom Fazio, Arthur Hills, and Robert Trent Jones. It doesn’t matter if you’re a duffer or a scratch golfer, there are a wide variety of courses with unique layouts and challenges for golfers of all skill levels.

By far, the most recognized course on the Island is the Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines, home of the PGA Tour’s Heritage Classic tournament. While you may not recognize the course by name, photos of the 18th hole overlooking the Harbour Town Lighthouse and Marina are among the most popular travel photos in the U.S. Getting a tee time at Harbour Town can be difficult – and expensive. Depending upon the time of day and season, an 18-hole round will set you back between $135 and $200.

If you can’t get out to the Harbour Town Links, there are still plenty of championship golf options. Among other local favorites are the Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run, Oyster Reef at Hilton Head Plantation, and the Arthur Hills course at Palmetto Dunes.

Of course, you can find great golf off the Island. Hop on a ferry to Daufuskie Island and play another Jack Nicklaus design at the Melrose Club. Or you can take a quick drive over to the mainland and play one of Arnold Palmer’s best layouts at Crescent Pointe in nearby Bluffton, SC.

Golf Widows, Widowers, and Rainy Days

If your a golf widow or widower, there's still plenty to do in the area while your spouse is enjoying the day on the links.If you like to shop, there are two outlet malls across the bridge in Bluffton, and great boutique shops in Shelter Cove, Harbour Town, and throughout the Island. If you prefer the outdoors, some of the favorite activities include relaxing on the beach, riding a bike, boat and canoe rentals, nature walks, or taking a fishing or dolphin watch cruise. For a real treat, take the day and pamper yourself at one of the luxurious day spas on Hilton Head and Daufuskie Island.