South Carolina Lowcountry golf course marsh view

Bluffton SC golf guide

Golf in Bluffton & the Lowcountry

The Bluffton area is one of the Southeast's premier golf destinations — marsh-framed layouts, private plantation courses, and public options that hold their own against the best in the region.

Why Golfers Love the Lowcountry

The Lowcountry's combination of natural beauty and golf course design talent has produced a concentration of exceptional courses within a short drive of Bluffton. The landscape does a lot of the work — salt marsh, maritime forest, and tidal creeks frame holes in ways that no amount of design can manufacture.

Bluffton itself is home to several private club communities, while Hilton Head Island — 20 minutes away — offers some of the most famous public and resort courses in the country. A golf trip based in Bluffton can easily fill a week without repeating a course.

Private clubs, resorts & public courses

Bluffton & Hilton Head Golf Courses

Private Club Communities

Bluffton's gated communities include some of the finest private courses in the Lowcountry. Access requires staying in a community rental with golf privileges explicitly included, or being a member's guest. Confirm access in writing before booking.

Palmetto Bluff — May River Golf Club
Jack Nicklaus design through maritime forest and marsh. Access for rental guests depends on the owner's membership; confirm golf privileges are included in your specific rental agreement before booking.
Berkeley Hall
Two Tom Fazio-designed courses in a gated community. Access through community rental stays — but not all Berkeley Hall rentals include golf. Confirm with the property owner.
Colleton River Club
Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye courses on the Colleton River. Member and guest access only. Rental guests may access the course if the owner's membership includes guest privileges — verify before booking.
Belfair
Two Tom Fazio courses in a private community. Access through community rentals — confirm golf is included in the rental agreement, as not all Belfair rentals include course access.

Hilton Head Island Resort Courses

Hilton Head Island's resort courses are among the most famous in the country. Several are open to the public or available through resort packages — but they require advance booking and charge standard green fees regardless of where you're staying.

Harbour Town Golf Links
Home of the RBC Heritage PGA Tour event. Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus design. Open to the public — book directly through Sea Pines Resort. Green fees are among the highest in the region; reserve well in advance in peak season.
Heron Point by Pete Dye
Sea Pines Resort's second course. Open to the public through Sea Pines. More accessible than Harbour Town with equally beautiful marsh views and lower green fees.
Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III
A Sea Pines Resort course redesigned in 2016. Open to the public. Ocean views and a more open layout — a good option for mid-handicap golfers.
Palmetto Dunes courses
Three courses (Arthur Hills, Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio) with resort access. Open to the public through Palmetto Dunes resort. Book directly; no rental requirement.

Public & Semi-Private Courses in Bluffton

The most straightforward option for golfers who want quality rounds without community rental requirements. These courses are open to all visitors — book a tee time directly, no membership or community stay needed.

Eagle's Pointe Golf Club
Davis Love III design in Bluffton. Semi-private with public tee times available. Book directly through the club. One of the best-value rounds in the area.
Crescent Pointe Golf Club
Arnold Palmer Signature design in Bluffton. Fully public — book directly. Marsh and lagoon views throughout; a solid option for all skill levels.
Island West Golf Club
Fuzzy Zoeller design in Bluffton. Fully public — book directly. Links-style layout with a more open feel than the marsh-framed private courses.

Golf Trip Planning Tips

Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) offer the best combination of weather and course conditions
Summer golf is possible but hot — book early morning tee times and plan to be done by noon
If private club access matters, confirm in writing that your specific rental includes golf privileges — not just that the property is inside a golf community
Hilton Head resort courses book up fast in peak season — reserve tee times 2–4 weeks ahead
Many courses offer twilight rates after 2–3pm; a good option for value-conscious golfers
Public courses at Eagle's Pointe, Crescent Pointe, and Island West offer quality rounds without any community rental requirement

Planning a Golf Trip from Bluffton

A Bluffton base puts you within 20–30 minutes of most courses in the area. If private club access is your priority, look for rentals in Berkeley Hall, Belfair, or Colleton River — and confirm golf privileges are explicitly included in the rental agreement before booking. For public course golf, any Bluffton rental works as a base.

Browse golf community rentals Plan your golf trip

Stay near the courses

Bluffton rental guides for golfers

May River rentals sit closest to Palmetto Bluff and Berkeley Hall. Old Town properties are a short drive to Hilton Head's public and resort courses.

May River & Palmetto Bluff

Closest to Palmetto Bluff & Berkeley Hall

Old Town Bluffton

Short drive to Hilton Head courses

Compare all rental areas

Side-by-side guide to every area