The Lowcountry week · Hilton Head Island & Bluffton
Golf, Boating & Beaches.
Courses · marinas · twelve miles of beach
Most relocating buyers move to the Lowcountry for exactly this chapter: a morning tee time, an afternoon on the water, an evening walk on firm sand. This page links the real courses, marinas, and beach parks, and explains how access works, because the difference between public tee times, resident rates, and private membership changes both the calendar and the budget.
Last updated October 2026 By Kim Striker
What golf is available, and who can play?
Hilton Head and Bluffton hold dozens of courses across three tiers: resort courses with public tee times, private clubs with member and guest play, and the championship layouts inside Sun City for residents. The island's famous names include Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the RBC Heritage, and Palmetto Dunes' three resort courses. A few well-known courses with verified club sites are below; the community profiles name the courses inside each gate.
| Course | Notes | Club site |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course | Palmetto Dunes, oceanfront resort play | Visit |
| George Fazio Course | Palmetto Dunes | Visit |
| Arthur Hills Course | Palmetto Dunes | Visit |
| Shipyard Golf Club | 27 holes, Clipper, Galleon, Brigantine | Visit |
| Dolphin Head Golf Club | Hilton Head Plantation | Visit |
| Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run | Jack Nicklaus design | Visit |
| Palmetto Hall Golf & Country Club | North end | Visit |
| Legendary Golf | Practice facility and golf park | Visit |
Harbour Town Golf Links, May River at Palmetto Bluff, and the private club courses are documented on the community pages. Fees are set per course and season; call ahead for rates and resident credentials. [VERIFY: refresh course list and links each season]
Where does the boat live?
The island's marinas cluster on Broad Creek and Calibogue Sound: Shelter Cove, Palmetto Dunes Marina along an 11-mile lagoon system, Harbour Town and South Beach in Sea Pines, and Wexford's lock-controlled harbor, one of only four on the East Coast. On the mainland, Moss Creek and Colleton River run deep-water marinas, and Palmetto Bluff's Wilson Landing opens the May River.
Dock depth, tide windows, and waitlists decide the real answer for your boat size and draft. The community profiles note which communities have deep water, and Kim includes the marina question in every waterfront search.
Communities with water accessHow does the beach actually work?
About twelve miles of Atlantic beach run Hilton Head's ocean side. The shoreline is public from the high tide line, and access varies by neighborhood: town parks such as Coligny Beach Park offer parking, restrooms, and boardwalks, while gated community walkovers serve residents and their guests. In season, arrive early, the sand fills by mid-morning on summer weekends.
Tides matter more than weather: low tide opens the firm walking beach for miles, high tide narrows it to a strip at the foot of the dunes. Buyers who plan to walk the beach daily often choose a community with private access, and the profiles flag which ones have it.
Answers
Golf, boating, and beach questions
Which Hilton Head courses are open to the public?
The resort courses, Palmetto Dunes' three courses, Shipyard, Port Royal, and Harbour Town accept outside play with tee times at published rates. The private clubs, Long Cove, Wexford, Belfair, and Berkeley Hall among them, limit play to members and guests. Check each club's site or call ahead, and confirm resident rates where you will live.
How many miles of beach does Hilton Head have?
About 12 miles of Atlantic beachfront run the length of the island. Access points include Coligny Beach Park, Driessen Beach, and the resort-community walkovers; parking is free at several town parks and limited in others. [VERIFY: current town beach access and parking rules]
Where can I keep a boat?
Marinas with slips include Harbour Town and South Beach in Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes, Wexford's lock-controlled harbor, Moss Creek, and Colleton River, plus Windmill Harbour at Hilton Head Plantation. Some communities have resident docks subject to permitting. [VERIFY: current slip availability and fees]
What are membership costs at the private clubs?
They vary widely by club and by tier, and initiation and dues change with each board budget. Request the current membership summary in writing before you make an offer, and note that some communities separate club membership from property ownership entirely.
Is boating realistic for a first-time owner in the Lowcountry?
Yes, with planning. Hire a surveyor for the boat as well as the house, verify dock depth and tide windows at the property, and confirm the marina's waitlist before you commit to a slip. Kim factors the marina question into every waterfront search.
Next step
Match the community to your tee time and tide.
On a relocation call, Kim sorts the short list by golf access, marina depth, and beach walkability, so the week looks right before the offer does.