Hilton Head is the foot-shaped barrier island that the PGA Tour visits every April for the RBC Heritage. It's also the most family-friendly golf destination on the southeastern coast — 24 courses, three top-100 layouts, a dozen mid-range tracks, plus beaches, bike paths, and dolphin-watching boats that keep non-golfing spouses and kids busy while you play. The 12-mile-long island packs the courses into walking-or-cart-distance clusters, and the Sea Pines / Palmetto Dunes / Port Royal plantations each work as a self-contained base.
What separates a Hilton Head trip from a Pinehurst or a Sea Island is the relaxed pace. You're not playing 36 holes a day or walking a Coore + Crenshaw at dawn. You're playing 18 in the morning, swimming in the afternoon, and eating shrimp + grits at sunset. Even the marquee round (Harbour Town) is a member-friendly 6,800 yards from the tips. The trip works equally well as a 4-day boys' weekend or a 7-day family beach vacation with a golf round on alternate days.
The broader Lowcountry stretches 30 minutes south to Daufuskie Island (one boat ride, 200 residents, a Coore + Crenshaw + Stricker collaboration on May River that's worth the trip) and 90 minutes south to Sea Island, Georgia. Many groups combine all three into a single 7-10 day swing — Hilton Head for the resort feel, May River for the off-island day trip, Sea Island as the high-end finale.
Best courses
Pete Dye + Jack Nicklaus (1969). RBC Heritage venue. Tight tree-lined holes, the famous lighthouse-backed 18th. $375 green fee; only Sea Pines Resort guests can book the marquee tee times.
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May River Golf Club (Palmetto Bluff)
Jack Nicklaus design, 30 minutes south on Daufuskie Island's mainland edge. Walking-friendly, oak-lined, $295 green fee — and the only Lowcountry course routinely rated in the world's top 100.
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Atlantic Dunes (Sea Pines)
Davis Love III's 2016 redesign of the original Mark McCumber course. Wide-open dunes, fewer trees than Harbour Town, beach views on the back nine. $265 green fee.
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Heron Point (Sea Pines)
Pete Dye design from 1990, redone in 2007. The third Sea Pines course — quieter than Harbour Town, more strategic than Atlantic Dunes. Locals' favorite of the resort's three.
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Palmetto Dunes (Robert Trent Jones)
The middle plantation's main course. $185 green fee, walkable layout, 11 lagoons — RTJ classic. Cheaper than the Sea Pines tracks, less crowded.
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Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront (Port Royal)
The other RTJ Lowcountry track, 20 minutes north of Sea Pines. Atlantic on three holes, $195 green fee, easy walking. Underrated value play.
Sub-areas to know
Sea Pines Plantation
The southern third of Hilton Head Island. Home to Harbour Town, Atlantic Dunes, Heron Point, the Inn & Club, Harbour Town Yacht Basin. The premium base.
Palmetto Dunes Plantation
Mid-island. Three RTJ-designed courses, the largest condo inventory, beach-front rentals at half the Sea Pines rate. Best base for a family or budget-minded group.
Port Royal
Northern end of the island, quieter. Two RTJ courses, a few small inns, easy access to the bridge. Less famous, lower prices — and the Atlantic on three holes.
Bluffton & Palmetto Bluff
30 minutes south of the island on the mainland. May River Golf Club, the Montage Palmetto Bluff resort, Bluffton's historic downtown for off-island dinner. The high-end alternative base.
When to go
Best monthsMarch through May, September through November
Lowcountry humidity peaks June-August (90°F+, daily afternoon thunderstorms). The two sweet windows are March-May (RBC Heritage in early April is the peak) and September-November (best weather of the year — clear, low humidity, mid-70s°F).
Sample itinerary
4-day Hilton Head sampler
- Day 01Arrive SAV or HHH, settle in Sea Pines
Savannah is 40 minutes south, Hilton Head Island (HHH) airport is on-island. Check in at the Inn & Club at Harbour Town. Twilight round on Atlantic Dunes.
- Day 02Harbour Town
The marquee. Tee off early before the wind picks up. Lunch at the Quarterdeck behind the 18th green. Afternoon at the beach.
- Day 03May River day trip
30 minutes south to Palmetto Bluff. Play May River, lunch at the inn, drive back through Bluffton for shrimp & grits.
- Day 04Heron Point, then home
Easier finish on Heron Point. Late checkout. 40 minutes to SAV for the afternoon flight.
What it costs
$1,800–$3,400 per person for 4 days
Among the best-value of the eastern golf destinations. Sea Pines lodging $250-550/night, off-resort condos $150-300, Palmetto Dunes condos $180-380. Green fees $185-375 in peak; carts always included. Caddies rare and not required. Restaurants $40-80/person. Most groups land $2,200-2,900 for 4 days, 4 rounds.
Want a real number for your group? The planner produces a per-person estimate based on your dates, party size, and course choices.
Getting there
- SAV · Savannah40 min driveThe default. Direct from every East Coast hub plus Chicago, Dallas, Detroit. Drive east on US-278 across the bridge.
- HHH · Hilton Head Island10 min driveOn-island airport. Limited service — American (CLT, ORD seasonal) and United (EWR seasonal). Premium pricing but no bridge traffic.
- CHS · Charleston2h 10m driveWorth it only if you combine Hilton Head with Kiawah Island. Charleston has the wider international footprint but the drive is twice as long as Savannah.
Rent a car at SAV or use the Hilton Head shuttle if staying at Sea Pines or Palmetto Dunes. The island's 14-mile bike path system is faster than driving in peak season; rent bikes at every hotel front desk.
Practical
- New York (LGA) → SAV2h direct (Delta, JetBlue, American)
- Boston (BOS) → SAV2h 30m direct (JetBlue, Delta)
- Chicago (ORD) → SAV2h 10m direct (American, United)
- SpringThe peak. 70-82°F highs, low humidity, dogwoods in April. RBC Heritage week is the busiest.
- SummerHot and humid. 88-93°F daily, afternoon thunderstorms 3 days a week. Tee off at 7am or wait.
- FallSeptember-November is the locals' favorite. Mid-70s°F highs, lower humidity than spring, hurricane season ends mid-October.
- WinterMild but variable. 55-65°F highs, occasional cold front, lowest green fees of the year December-February.
FAQ
How do I get a Harbour Town tee time?
Book a room at the Sea Pines Resort (the Inn & Club at Harbour Town is closest). Resort guests can book Harbour Town tee times 6 months out; non-guests are limited to 30 days. The course is open to the public but Sea Pines guest priority makes weekend mornings nearly impossible without the resort booking.
Sea Pines vs Palmetto Dunes vs Port Royal — which plantation?
Sea Pines if Harbour Town is your priority and budget allows ($350-550/night). Palmetto Dunes is the mid-market sweet spot — three good courses, beach access, condos at half the Sea Pines rate. Port Royal is the budget play with two good tracks and limited lodging.
Is May River (Palmetto Bluff) worth the drive?
Yes — May River is routinely rated the best course in the Lowcountry and the drive is only 30 minutes south of Hilton Head proper. The Montage Palmetto Bluff hotel is also one of the top resort properties in the southeast if you want to base there instead of the island.
Combine Hilton Head with another destination?
Three natural combinations: Hilton Head → Kiawah (2h 30m north, full circuit of the Ocean Course); Hilton Head → Sea Island (1h 30m south, the high-end finale); or Hilton Head → Pinehurst (5h north on I-95, the broader Carolinas circuit). All three are workable in a 7-day window.
What about non-golfers?
Hilton Head is the best US golf destination for mixed groups. 14 miles of bike paths, 12 miles of public beach, dolphin cruises, kid-friendly restaurants. Stay at Sea Pines if golfers want resort access, or rent a Palmetto Dunes condo for more space and a pool.
Ready to start planning?
Generate this Hilton Head & the Lowcountry trip in minutes- Hilton Head Island · South Carolina, USA