Top South Carolina Public Golf Courses

🏌️‍♂️ Top South Carolina Public Golf Courses
(Based on Wikipedia, Course Profiles & Golf Rankings)

South Carolina is a golfer’s paradise — where Southern charm, coastal beauty, and championship pedigree collide. From the dramatic shores of Hilton Head Island to the historic fairways near Charleston, the Palmetto State offers some of the finest public-access golf in the country. Whether you’re chasing PGA Tour history, ocean breezes, or Lowcountry landscapes, South Carolina delivers with unforgettable golf experiences.

Harbour Town Golf Links – Pete Dye & Jack Nicklaus
📍 Hilton Head Island
🌴 Iconic lighthouse finishing hole and tight tree-lined fairways
🏆 Home of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage
🎯 Demands precision and course management — a true shotmaker’s test
🗒️ Course site

Kiawah Island (Ocean Course) – Pete Dye
📍 Kiawah Island
🌊 Legendary coastal layout with wind-swept dunes and ocean views
🏆 Host of the 1991 Ryder Cup, 2012 & 2021 PGA Championships
🏌️‍♂️ One of the most challenging courses in the U.S.
🗒️ Course site

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club – Mike Strantz
📍 Pawleys Island
🌸 Lowcountry masterpiece with moss-draped oaks and flowering marshlands
🎯 Beautiful and strategic — one of the most beloved public courses in the South
💎 Exceptional conditions and scenery
🗒️ Course site

True Blue Golf Club – Mike Strantz
📍 Pawleys Island
🏖️ Bold, wide fairways with dramatic bunkering
🎯 A powerful, artistic layout with high replay value
🌾 Sister course to Caledonia, but more muscular
🗒️ Course site

Tidewater Golf Club – Ken Tomlinson
📍 North Myrtle Beach
🌅 Scenic layout along the Intracoastal Waterway and saltwater marshes
🏌️‍♂️ Elevation changes and panoramic views — rare for the region
🎯 Highly rated Myrtle Beach public track
🗒️ Course site

Dunes Golf & Beach Club – Robert Trent Jones Sr.
📍 Myrtle Beach
🌊 Classic seaside design with the famous par-5 “Waterloo” 13th hole
🏆 Has hosted Senior Tour and college events
🎯 A must-play in Myrtle Beach with club history
🗒️ Course site

Heron Point by Pete Dye – Pete Dye
📍 Hilton Head Island
🌿 Recently renovated, offers a modern take on Dye’s signature style
🎯 Challenging greens and strategic bunkering
🏌️‍♂️ Located within the Sea Pines Resort
🗒️ Course site

The Ocean Course at Sea Pines – George Cobb (original)
📍 Hilton Head Island
🌊 Atlantic views and tight doglegs make this scenic and fun
🎯 Less punishing than Harbour Town, great for mid-level golfers
🗒️ Course site

Barefoot Resort (Love Course) – Davis Love III
📍 North Myrtle Beach
🏛️ Inspired by Pinehurst, features recreated plantation ruins
🎯 Forgiving fairways but demanding green complexes
🗒️ Course site

Legends Golf Resort (Heathland) – Tom Doak
📍 Myrtle Beach
🏌️‍♂️ Links-inspired layout with wide-open fairways and pot bunkers
🌄 Evokes the feel of traditional British Isles golf
🎯 Great value and playability
🗒️ Course site

⛳ Why Golf in South Carolina?

🏖️ Home to iconic resort courses with PGA Tour history
🌲 Gorgeous Lowcountry terrain with salt marshes, oaks, and ocean vistas
💰 Accessible to all skill levels with strong public options
🍤 Cap your round with fresh seafood and Southern hospitality