Best golf courses in South Carolina

Location: Kiawah Island | Par: 72 | Designer: Pete Dye | Opened: 1991

Ranked the no.1 course in South Carolina and no.6 course in South USA by Top 100 Golf Courses

The Ocean Course is South Carolina’s most iconic championship layout and one of the most demanding seaside courses in the United States. Designed by Pete Dye to maximize Atlantic exposure, nearly every hole features ocean views and shifting coastal winds that define strategy from tee to green.

Long carries over marshland, visually intimidating bunkering, and expansive, undulating greens create a relentless test. Having hosted the Ryder Cup and multiple PGA Championships, the Ocean Course combines raw beauty with tournament-caliber difficulty.

"Easily one of the best courses in the country. Absolute delight to play and incredible service from beginning to end. Cannot speak highly enough, this course alone has me planning the next Kiawah trip." - Trusted Golfbreaks customer

Signature Hole – Par 3, 17th Playing along the Atlantic with little protection from the wind, the 17th demands exact distance control. Crosswinds can dramatically influence ball flight, and the exposed green leaves no room for indecision.

Key Features:

• Major championship pedigree
• Maximum Atlantic Ocean exposure
• One of America’s toughest coastal tests

Location: Hilton Head Island | Par: 71 | Designer: Pete Dye | Opened: 1969

Ranked the no.7 course in South Carolina by Top 100 Golf Courses

Harbour Town is a strategic masterpiece that prioritizes accuracy and course management over length. Tree-lined fairways, sharp doglegs, and small, well-protected greens demand precision on every shot. Unlike wide-open coastal courses, Harbour Town feels intimate and tactical, rewarding thoughtful positioning rather than power. As the annual host of the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage, it remains one of the most respected designs in the country.

There are two more courses at the Sea Pines Resort, Heron Point, and Atlantic Dunes. The latter was the first course to open on the island, and Heron Point was recently redesigned and reconstructed by legendary golf course architect Pete Dye in 2014.

"The hardest course I’ve ever played. What great challenge. Definitely will comeback." - Trusted Golfbreaks customer

Signature Hole – Par 4, 18th Framed by the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse and Calibogue Sound, the 18th requires a precise drive and controlled approach to a narrow green. Wind off the water often shapes the outcome.

Key Features:

• PGA TOUR host venue
• Strategic, accuracy-driven layout
• Iconic lighthouse finishing hole

Location: Hilton Head Island | Par: 72 | Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr. | Opened: 1969

The Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes is a quintessential Hilton Head resort layout that seamlessly blends strategic design with classic Lowcountry scenery. Routed through a landscape of lagoons, mature palmettos, and coastal vegetation, the course reflects RTJ Sr.’s hallmark philosophy: generous landing areas off the tee paired with demanding, well-defended green complexes.

While the fairways provide visual width and encourage confident driving, the true challenge lies in approach play. Water hazards influence nearly half the holes, often guarding greens or shaping preferred angles of entry. Elevated putting surfaces and subtle green contours place a premium on distance control and intelligent positioning. The routing builds rhythmically, alternating between lagoon-lined holes and more sheltered inland corridors, creating consistent visual and strategic variety throughout the round.

"Excellent layout and condition - a decent but fair test off the blue tees." - Trusted Golfbreaks customer

Signature Hole – Par 5, 10th The 10th is one of Hilton Head’s most recognizable risk–reward holes. Players must decide whether to attempt a bold carry over a lagoon on their second shot or lay up safely to a preferred yardage. The green sits tantalizingly beyond the water, rewarding courage and precise execution while punishing indecision.

Key Features

• Lagoon-influenced strategic design
• Resort-friendly yet challenging routing
• Central Hilton Head location

Location: North Myrtle Beach | Par: 72 | Designer: Pete Dye | Opened: 2000

The Dye Course at Barefoot Resort stands as one of Myrtle Beach’s most visually striking and strategically demanding resort layouts. True to Pete Dye’s architectural style, the course features dramatic bunkering, railroad-tie accents, and expansive waste areas that create bold framing throughout the round.

Natural elevation changes - uncommon for the region - add depth and variety to the routing. Fairways appear generous, but preferred angles into greens are critical, particularly where water and bunkering shape approach shots. The layout demands thoughtful positioning rather than brute force, rewarding players who embrace its strategic intent.

"What a great experience! The staff is welcoming and helpful. The course was in great shape! Definitely a must play!" - Trusted Golfbreaks customer

Signature Hole – Par 4, 18th The closing hole begins with an elevated tee shot offering a panoramic view of the fairway and hazards below. A precise drive is essential to set up a controlled approach to a green framed by bunkers and water. The dramatic amphitheater-style finish provides both visual flair and strategic tension, capping the round memorably.

Key Features

• Classic Pete Dye design elements
• Elevated tees and bold hazard shaping
• Strong finishing stretch within a multi-course resort

Location: Pawleys Island | Par: 70 | Designer: Mike Strantz | Opened: 1994

Ranked the no.15 course in South Carolina by Top 100 Golf Courses

Caledonia is one of the most visually captivating and architecturally artistic courses in the Southeast. Routed through centuries-old live oaks draped in Spanish moss, tidal creeks, and marshland, the course embraces the Lowcountry’s natural beauty while showcasing Mike Strantz’s bold design creativity.

The layout is compact yet highly strategic, placing emphasis on shot-shaping, positional play, and intelligent risk management. Fairways move fluidly through corridors of towering trees, while elevated greens and imaginative bunker placement add visual drama. Strantz used subtle elevation changes - rare for coastal terrain - to create dynamic sightlines and approach angles.

Though shorter in length, Caledonia demands precision and rewards thoughtful play. Its seamless integration into the natural environment gives it a timeless, almost cinematic character that continues to rank among South Carolina’s most beloved designs.

"Outstanding in every way! Staff, course, lunch! We will definitely return!!" - Trusted Golfbreaks customer

Signature Hole – Par 4, 18th The closing hole plays toward the stately plantation-style clubhouse, framed by moss-draped oaks and reflecting water along the approach. The picturesque setting makes it one of the most photographed finishes in Myrtle Beach golf, blending aesthetic beauty with strategic tension.

Key Features

• Signature Mike Strantz artistry
• Intimate, tree-lined Lowcountry routing
• One of the Southeast’s most scenic finales

Location: Pawleys Island | Par: 72 | Designer: Mike Strantz | Opened: 1998

Ranked the no.32 course in South Carolina by Top 100 Golf Courses

True Blue offers a dramatic architectural contrast to Caledonia, embracing a bolder, more expansive Lowcountry style. Fairways are wide and sculpted, bordered by sprawling waste areas and massive bunkers that create a muscular visual identity. The routing moves across open terrain with greater exposure to wind, demanding more aggressive decision-making from the tee.

Green complexes are large and heavily contoured, requiring precise approach distances and confident putting. While the course encourages bold play, hazards are positioned to punish poorly executed aggression. Strantz’s creative shaping and bold scale make True Blue one of the most visually distinctive courses in Myrtle Beach.

"Our favorite course of the trip! Great staff and conditions. Very cool, unique layout. Beautiful views." - Trusted Golfbreaks customer

Signature Hole – Par 3, 17th The 17th is a striking short hole played over water to a well-protected green framed by sculpted bunkering. Wind direction and pin placement dramatically alter strategy, and the bold shaping around the green creates challenging recovery options for misses. It exemplifies the dramatic flair and visual strength of the design.

Key Features

• Expansive, visually bold architecture
• Large, undulating greens
• Premier pairing with Caledonia

Travel Tips for Golf in South Carolina

• Best time to visit: March–May and September–November offer ideal temperatures and firm conditions.
• Hilton Head vs Myrtle Beach: Hilton Head offers refined, strategic golf; Myrtle Beach provides volume and variety.
• Stay-and-play advantages: Resorts such as Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Sea Pines Resort, and Barefoot Resort provide preferred tee times and on-site convenience.

For planning support, explore our South Carolina golf guide.