Hilton Head Palmetto Dunes

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Palmetto Dunes Resort

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Hilton Head Island. Imagine a lush 2,000-acre, oceanfront resort with outstanding golf, beautiful villas, great beaches, tennis, shopping and a marina and you will be in paradise or Palmetto Dunes.  Awarded by Links Magazine as "Best of Golf Award", Tennis Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Tennis Resorts" and a Silver Medal Resort by GOLF Magazine.   There are outstanding vacation homes and villas in Palmetto Dunes. The Hilton Head Marriott Beach & Golf Resort and the Hilton Oceanfront Resort both provide excellent places to stay for fun and sun.  Package for four. Cost includes all taxes, green fees and carts.

Palmetto Dunes, Arthur Hills Course
With three courses at this complex, you will be thrilled with all of the courses, but with this Arthur Hills design, you will be amazed.  Rated 41/2 Stars by Golf Digest, this track is the most challenging of the three.  The architect followed the natural contours of the terrain and dunes in shaping the fairways.  The scenery is outstanding with thick stands of palmettos lining the course.  First built in 1986, it received a refurbish job in 1995 during which all 18 greens were rebuilt.  These undulating babies really roll nice.  Lagoons come into play on 10 holes and the ocean breezes affect many a shot.  The signature hole is #17, a 380-yard par 4 that requires an accurate tee shot that will carry the canyon-like lagoon guarding the left side of the fairway off the tee.  On your approach shot you must avoid it again as it carves its way back through the fairway.  A couple notable relieves is the absence of excessive rough and interfering fairways bunkers.

Palmetto Dunes, George Fazio Course
One of the original courses on the island is still one of the favorites.  Designed by the master architect George Fazio and built in 1969, this par 70 track has only two par 5’s, but wait until you see the par 4’s.  The infamous Fazio offers a series of long par-4s, beset with bunkers and water hazards - demanding a combination of length and precision play. From the 432-yard 1st hole to the 462-yard 18th, this is regarded by many as the island's truest championship challenge.     This traditionally designed layout was built on natural terrain with tree-lined fairways and small greens.  The front nine is more open and the back nine becomes tighter and positioning becomes more important. The putting surfaces are severely undulating and are difficult to hit.  Sixteen of the tees and greens were rebuilt a few years ago.  Two of the longer par 4’s are number one with 432-yards of challenge and the finishing 18^th with 462 yards.

Palmetto Dunes, Robert Trent Jones, Sr.                                                                           This oceanfront treasure was a gift the island from one the greatest architects.  The first course in this resort, it still remains one of the most beautiful on the island. After an extensive revocation in 2002, this course is magnificent.  With its links-style design and the ocean holes, you will be thrilled with the scenery.  Molded around the existing dunes, foliage and the 11 miles of lagoons, this track can be very challenging.  The terrain may be flat, but 11 of the 18 holes play alongside the lagoons.  The signature hole is #10, a long par 5 that plays towards the ocean.  The hole becomes difficult when the breeze kicks up and when you get distracted by the view. Readers of Golfweek Magazine have ranked it among the best in the Southeast.   

Palmetto Hall Plantation, Arthur Hills Course
This very demanding course has undulating greens and thick cut of rough measuring two to four inches id depth, bordering all the fairways.  Rated 4 stars by Golf Digest, architect Arthur Hills designed this track in 1989 and has been one of the favorites on the island.  The entire complex looks like a picture post card from the South.  Stately columns, porches and balconies combine with the tall pines to make you look for Scarlet.  The landing areas are very generous, but offer man risk and reward situations.  Water comes into play on 14 holes and you can count on very strategically placed sand bunkers.  If you survive the first 17 holes, then you will be duly challenged on 18.  Playing at 434-yards, the dogleg left hole is entirely bordered by water on the left side.  Chew off as much as you dare.  If you safely negotiated the drive, then you approach is complicated with the lake on the left and the three deep sand bunkers on the right side of this two-tiered green.

Palmetto Hall Plantation, Bob Cupp Course
The designer was on a computerized, geometric trip when he drew this baby together.  Bob Cupp was into shapes … all the mounds have peaks and the greens and hazards are rectangles or ellipses.  By designing the course on a computer, Cupp achieved the angular look.  Actually, the shapes are barely noticeable from ground level.  It’s a fun course and easier than the Hills course, but you will have your challenges.  From the back tees, there is a 240-yard carry over water on the third hole and 250 yards on the 9^th.  A good gambling hole is #13, a 440-yard, par 4 where you have to carry water down the left side of the fairway.  Cut off as much as you dare.  You could range from a 2-3 iron to 5-6 iron depending on your success.  Remember:  anything right is safe.  Golf Digest also rated this treasure 4 Stars.

Golden Bear GC at Indigo Run
If you like water, you’ll love this track.  As it winds its way though the low country, Jack Nicklaus gives you plenty of opportunities to showcase your shot making abilities.  A premium is placed on well-positioned tee shots, precise approach shots and a deft touch around the greens.  Every since its opening in 1992, this course have been very popular.  You will experience its beauty of mature oak, cypress and pine forests mixed in with the meandering lagoons and freshwater wetlands that frame the fairways and greens.  If you play this layout from the back tees, you are challenged by 7014 yards with a 132 slope.  Rated 4 stars by Golf Digest, Golden Bear Golf Club is a must-play.