8 Best Golf Destinations in South Carolina

With year-round play, championship courses, and classic southern hospitality, there are more than a few reasons why the Palmetto State is the golfing capital of the US. Not sure where to start your golf adventure in the Deep South? Use our guide to the best golf destinations in South Carolina to craft your dreamiest golf vacation yet.

1. Kiwah Island Resort, Kiwah Island

With lagoons, Atlantic Ocean views, and dense forest, Kiwah Island Resort is one of the most spectacular places to play golf in South Carolina. During your visit, you’ll have access to five different courses: The Ocean Course, Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point, and Cougar Point. But the Ocean course is the shining gem in the collection.

Designed by Peter Dye for the 1991 Ryder Cup, the Ocean Course at Kiwah Island Resort is home to the most seaside holes in the Northern Hemisphere. Don’t be fooled by its beauty- this is a course that throws you endless challenges. Hilly terrain, tight fairways, and plenty of hazards make for an interesting round, but it’s the winds here that’ll really throw you off your game. In fact, the wind will play such a strong part in your game, that Dye designed two courses in one to adapt to which direction it’s blowing on the day.

2. Yeamans Hall Club, Hanahan

A beautiful example of classic golf course design, Yeaman’s Hall offers beautiful playing conditions and pleasurable contours. Elegant greens are surrounded by immense live oaks and marshlands teeming with wildlife.

Yeamans Hall Club offers endless fun, with multiple lines and plenty of risk/ reward scenarios. Architect Seth Raynor loves a feature, and you’ll find challenging hazards left right, and center. The signature 11th hole is nicknamed ‘Maiden’, and is littered with deceiving fairways, bunkers, and blind approaches.

3. Congaree Golf Club, Ridgeland

Set on a former 18th-century rice plantation, Congaree Golf Club offers glorious scenery and a chance to immerse yourself in nature. Live oaks and Lowcountry wetlands blend seamlessly with pristine greens and large fairways. Despite sand being its base, play here is firm and fast, creating an exciting round whatever your level.

Congaree Golf Club has philanthropy at its heart. Its two founders are the only members in the club’s history, and they prefer to collect ‘ambassadors’ to the Congaree Foundation. This way, they can provide educational and vocational opportunities to local young people.

4. Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head

Set among an idyllic Lowcountry landscape, Sea Pines Resort offers three different golfing experiences. Enjoy the ocean breeze at Atlantic Dunes, the scenic forests at Heron Point, or the spectacular pine-lined fairways of Harbour Town Golf Links.

The crown of Sea Pines Resort is the Harbour Town Golf Links course. With contributions from Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye, you know this course is going to be one for the history books. With lots of unexpected twists, this is a game that’ll require every ounce of your precision and creativity. The signature 18th hole is a picturesque par-4 with a long approach and beautiful views of the Harbour Town Lighthouse.

5. Palmetto Golf Club, Aiken

Founded in 1892, Palmetto Golf Club is dripping with history. It’s the oldest continually operated 18-hole course in the state (and maybe the second oldest in the country) and has received input over the years from some of the top names in golf course architecture. Its strategic layout and spotless greens make this a truly classic game of golf.

Palmetto is just 20 miles Northeast of Augusta National, leading many golf fanatics to compare the two. But it lacks the buzz of its famous rival, preferring a laid-back and understated approach. Its huge elevation changes and rich oak-lined fairways make it a strong contender.

6. Long Cove Club, Hilton Head Island

Nestled in Hilton Head’s glorious Lowcountry scenery, Long Cove Club offers an exciting 18-hole experience through oaks, pines, and saltwater marshes. Lots of water hazards and holes lining the Colleton River offer a tranquil setting where you can switch off and concentrate on your swing. But don’t tune out too much, as tricky marsh areas and tree corridors will keep you on your toes.

This Pete Dye championship course has so many great holes, that members struggle to assign a signature one. A particularly tricky hole is the par-5 6th, which brings waste bunkers and a blind shelf green into play. To play a cutting-edge game here, you’re going to need to bring your best clubs to the party. Why not read more about Delta Airlines’ friendly golf club fees?

7. The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, Myrtle Beach

If you’ve ever picked up a golf club, chances are you’ve heard of Myrtle Beach. This emporium of golfing delights houses some of the state’s most iconic courses. The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is one of the best places to play golf in Myrtle Beach, the US, and even the world.

Many say The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is Robert Trent Jones’ finest masterpiece. Surrounded by palm trees and sweeping ocean views, its wide greens and rolling fairways make every shot a pleasure. Its signature 13th hole is the most challenging, and brings the beautiful Lake Singleton into play.

8. Sage Valley Golf Club, Graniteville

Dream of playing at Augusta National one day? Sage Valley Golf Club might be the next best thing. Architect Tom Fazio has received huge praise for this course, thanks to its wide fairways, strategic greens, and flawless conditioning.

The scenery at Sage Valley Golf Club has a quintessential Southern feel, with undulating terrain, pine forests, and blooming azaleas. In fact, its signature 2nd hole is nicknamed Azalea. This tricky par-3 forces you to content with wind and elevation drops, and has pretty waterside views.

Author Bio – Jason Young

Jason is the co-founder of Fidis Travel and also its main editor. His role includes reviewing and fact-checking articles from Fidis Travel’s contributors and – of course – writing some pieces himself. When he’s not traveling or writing, he spends his time playing golf or practicing musical instruments

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