In short
For a Hilton Head Island golf trip, stay inside Sea Pines if Harbour Town is the round you came for: The Inn & Club sits on the course, and guests who book their stay through The Sea Pines Resort can reserve tee times beyond the 90 day public window. Palmetto Dunes in the middle of the island puts three more public courses at your door, and Coligny, Folly Field and Bluffton are 10 to 20 minutes by car from the nearest courses (drive times on this page are for outside summer weekends and rush hour on US 278). Spring and fall are the best seasons, but Harbour Town hosts the RBC Heritage from April 12 to 18, 2027, so plan around that week.
Where to stay on Hilton Head Island
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ACourse to play
Courses you can play on Hilton Head Island
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Resort guests first
Harbour Town Golf Links
Pete Dye's course, with Jack Nicklaus as consultant, that finishes by the lighthouse on Calibogue Sound and hosts the RBC Heritage. Public, with a forecaddie required and longer booking for Sea Pines guests.
Open to the public. Public tee times open 90 days ahead; guests who book their stay through The Sea Pines Resort can book tee times further out than 90 days. Book online or with the resort's golf sales team on (843) 842-8484. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead or pay for each player (groups of 16 or more have other terms). One forecaddie per tee time is required for guest rounds. Carts stay on the paths most of the year. The course hosts the RBC Heritage from April 12 to 18, 2027; in 2026 its golf shop was closed to the public all tournament week.
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Resort guests first
Heron Point by Pete Dye
The second Sea Pines course, played from the Plantation Golf Club. Public, booked the same way as Harbour Town.
Same booking rules as Harbour Town: public tee times 90 days ahead, longer for guests staying through The Sea Pines Resort, 48 hour cancellation. Plays from the Plantation Golf Club, which also has the resort's driving range. Carts may go on the fairways when conditions allow, and walking caddies or forecaddies can be requested.
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Resort guests first
Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III
The third Sea Pines course, played from the same clubhouse as Heron Point. Public, booked the same way.
Same booking rules as Harbour Town and Heron Point, from the same Plantation Golf Club. Carts may go on the fairways when conditions allow, and caddies can be requested.
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Open to the public
Robert Trent Jones at Palmetto Dunes
The Palmetto Dunes course that reaches the ocean at its par 5 10th. Public, best rates online.
Public, and a tee time is required. Book online at any hour or on 866-380-1778. Cancel or cut players at least 24 hours ahead, by phone, or pay a fee. Palmetto Dunes does not publish how far ahead you can book. No 9 hole rate on this course. Closed for aeration June 9 to 12 and August 4 to 7, 2027.
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Open to the public
George Fazio at Palmetto Dunes
A par 70 of long par 4s, the only par 70 public course on the island. Public, best rates online.
Booked the same way as the other Palmetto Dunes courses, online or on 866-380-1778, 24 hour cancellation. No driving range here: Palmetto Dunes sends players to the Arthur Hills range. Closed for aeration May 13 to 16 and August 18 to 21, 2027.
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Open to the public
Arthur Hills at Palmetto Dunes
Ten holes on the water and the historic Hilton Head Island lighthouse beside the course. Public, with a range anyone can use.
Booked the same way as the other Palmetto Dunes courses, online or on 866-380-1778, 24 hour cancellation. Its driving range is open to the public with or without a tee time. Closed for aeration June 2 to 5 and August 11 to 14, 2027.
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Open to the public
Palmetto Hall
Two courses on the north end, one by Arthur Hills and one by Robert Cupp, run by the group that also runs Port Royal, Shipyard and Oyster Reef. Public, bookable six months ahead.
Public. Book online up to six months ahead or on (843) 681-1750; the operator suggests booking at least 30 days out. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead or you are charged for the tee time.
How tee times work
All seven courses here take public tee times. At Sea Pines the public can book 90 days ahead, and guests who book their stay through The Sea Pines Resort can book further out. Palmetto Dunes takes bookings online at any hour, with its best rates online only, but does not publish its window. Palmetto Hall and the other clubs in its group open tee times six months ahead online and suggest booking at least 30 days out. Sea Pines needs 48 hours' notice to cancel; Palmetto Dunes and Palmetto Hall need 24.
Closures to know about
Harbour Town Golf Links hosts the RBC Heritage from April 12 to 18, 2027. Sea Pines has not published the 2027 dates Harbour Town is closed to public play around the tournament; in 2026 the Harbour Town golf shop was closed to the general public all tournament week. Sea Pines suggests Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes to tournament visitors, and its villa golf package is blacked out during the event. Palmetto Dunes 2027 aeration closures: Robert Trent Jones June 9 to 12 and August 4 to 7; George Fazio May 13 to 16 and August 18 to 21; Arthur Hills June 2 to 5 and August 11 to 14 (the Robert Trent Jones and Arthur Hills courses were overseeded November 2 to 3, 2026, cart path only to mid November). Sea Pines and Palmetto Hall have not published their 2027 maintenance dates.
A sensible plan
Four nights in Sea Pines works well: arrive and play Heron Point or Atlantic Dunes in the afternoon, Harbour Town early on day two, the Robert Trent Jones and George Fazio courses at Palmetto Dunes on day three, and Palmetto Hall or the Arthur Hills course on the last day. Book the Harbour Town time first and fit the rest around it.
Getting there
Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) is on the island, about 15 minutes from Palmetto Dunes and 20 from Harbour Town. Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) has more flights and is about 75 minutes from Palmetto Dunes and 80 from Harbour Town over the US 278 bridges. You will want a car, since the courses are spread along the island.
Practical notes
- Caddies
- Harbour Town requires one forecaddie per tee time for guest rounds. Sea Pines recommends tipping at least 50 USD per player for a forecaddie and 125 USD for a walking caddie. Caddies can be requested at Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes.
- Carts
- Harbour Town is cart path only most of the year; Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes allow carts on the fairways when conditions allow.
- Dress code
- Sea Pines wants collared golf shirts, shorts no more than 4 inches above the knee, soft spikes and hats worn forward, with no denim, cargo or tennis shorts, or T-shirts. Palmetto Dunes asks men for collared shirts and no denim, cut offs or tank tops.
- Cancelling
- Sea Pines charges for tee times cancelled less than 48 hours ahead (its cancellation line is (843) 363-8385). Palmetto Dunes and Palmetto Hall need 24 hours.
- Gate fee
- Sea Pines is a gated community. Visitors pay at the gate, 10 USD a day per car in 2026; short-term renters can buy a 20 USD weekly pass. Sea Pines Resort guests pick up passes at the resort's Welcome Center.
- Stay rules
- The Town of Hilton Head Island requires a short-term rental permit for privately owned homes rented for less than 30 days. Sea Pines golf perks (preferred rates, tee times beyond 90 days) apply only when you book your stay through The Sea Pines Resort. Palmetto Dunes' own rentals (3 to 21 nights) come with up to 15% off golf on its three courses.
When to book
- NowBook a room with free cancellation as close to the course as you can.
- Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
- October 17 to 21, 2027Your trip.
Free guide
The Unofficial Hilton Head Island Golf Trip Guide
Every area, every course, how tee times work and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.
Hilton Head Island golf trip questions
Can anyone play Harbour Town Golf Links?
Yes. Harbour Town takes public tee times up to 90 days ahead, online or by phone, and guests who book their stay through The Sea Pines Resort can book further out. Every guest round needs a forecaddie, with a suggested tip of at least 50 USD per player.
Where should I stay for a Hilton Head golf trip?
Sea Pines (The Inn & Club or a resort villa or home) if Harbour Town is the priority, or Palmetto Dunes in mid island for its three courses. Coligny and Folly Field are beach hotel areas about 10 minutes from the nearest courses, and Bluffton on the mainland is about 20 minutes from Palmetto Hall and 30 from Palmetto Dunes.
How far ahead can I book tee times on Hilton Head?
Sea Pines opens public tee times 90 days ahead, and its resort guests can book earlier. Palmetto Hall and its sister clubs take online bookings six months ahead. Palmetto Dunes does not publish its window, so check its online booking as soon as your dates are set.
When is the best time for a golf trip to Hilton Head?
Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons for golf, with fall highs in the 70s and 80s F. Winter and summer can be better value. Avoid RBC Heritage week (April 12 to 18, 2027) if you want to play Harbour Town.
How much does Harbour Town cost to play?
Sea Pines does not publish a rate card; you see the price when you book online or by phone, and resort guests get preferred rates. Add the forecaddie gratuity Sea Pines recommends, at least 50 USD per player.
Which airport is closest to Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) is on the island, about 15 minutes from Palmetto Dunes. Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) has more flights and is about 75 minutes away by car, 80 to Sea Pines.
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Photo credits
- Hilton Head Harbor (3926567515) by fw_gadget, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Hilton Head Island Lighthouse June 2026 by Locust member, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Lake Joe, Sea Pines Forest Preserve, Hilton Head by Geoffrey.landis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Walking bridge at night, Shelter Cove - panoramio by Mark Cowell, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Plage-Hilton-Head-Island-6 by Thierry Caro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa 01 by Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Blufton, SC - panoramio by Mike Tilley, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Harbour Town Golf, Hilton Head - 5111148479 by danperry.com, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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