Hilton Head Golf Scene

It can be argued that Jack Nicklaus never quite surpassed Arnold Palmer in terms of popularity, even though he eventually eclipsed Palmers success in professional golf. Before he earned the nickname the Golden Bear, Palmers faithful, known as Arnies Army chided the pudgy 22-year-old by calling him ‘Fat Jack’ at the 1962 U.S. Open held at Oakmont Country Club just outside of Pittsburgh.

But as Nicklaus brought a magnificent power game to the forefront of golf, and denied his opponents again and again with clutch putts and impenetrable concentration, he earned a more distinguished nickname -The Golden Bear.

One of the hundreds of courses created by Nicklaus’ design firm, but one of the few to bear his most recognizable nickname, the Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run has a character all its own, featuring a variety of holes winding masterfully throughout the pristinely elegant Indigo Run community that routinely require more thought than muscle.

The anticipatory phrase “Are we there yet” elicits images of the prototypical American family vacation, a summer sojourn that begins and ends with a long day in the car. Sure, the sound of impatient children has in part been quelled thanks to the rise of text messaging, the proliferation of the iPod and the convenience offered by the portable DVD player, but spending hours in cramped quarters hasn’t necessarily become the equivalent of a deep tissue massage.

At Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, those excruciating hours spent on the Interstate uncomfortably stuffed in your automobile could be your last, at least until the end of your vacation.

Recently named the No. 1 “Family Resort” in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure magazine, Palmetto Dunes not only offers its guests dozens of diverse opportunities to relax, explore and indulge, the premier resort does so without requiring guests to go beyond its gates. 

The final golf course constructed inside the gates of Hilton Head Plantation, the Country Club of Hilton Head, rises above its peers literally and figuratively in a variety of ways.

Opened in 1987, the Rees Jones design is characterized by wide-open fairways that allow for maximum playability, smallish but frequently elevated greens that revert to a more traditional style instead of featuring multiple tiers and mile long putts and a bounty of strategically placed bunkers ready to smother an errant shot.

On the course’s signature hole, the par-5 12th, you’ll be able to make it to the peak of Hilton Head Island rather easily. As the dogleg left bends around the corner, a plaque is positioned on the right side of the fairway marks the highest point above sea level; a paltry 28 feet, 24 inches. It’s not exactly Mt. Kilimanjaro, but it is unique to the Country Club of Hilton Head.

From year-round golf buddy packages to winter snowbirdie getaways, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort proudly offers the ultimate Hilton Head Island golf experience.

Golf accolades abound at this premier oceanfront resort. Fodor's Golf Digest bestowed four stars on all three courses, while Golf magazine awarded Palmetto Dunes a Silver Medal, honoring it as one of the country’s “Top 75 Resorts.” It’s no wonder visitors from across the country flock to Palmetto Dunes to tee off on some of the Lowcountry’s premier courses. 

Since its creation in 1957 by visionary developer Charles Fraser, the Sea Pines Company has been the single most influential entity on Hilton Head Island and its golf courses, most notably Harbour Town Golf Links, have greatly influenced golf course architecture from coast to coast.

This year, Hilton Head’s most notable event, the PGA TOUR’s Verizon Heritage, Pete Dye, the most renowned contributor to course design on the island and The Sea Pines Resort’s newest golf course, Heron Point by Pete Dye, will have all celebrated milestones.

What began as the Heritage Classic in 1969 on Thanksgiving Day has evolved into one of the most venerable stops on the PGA TOUR with champions such as inaugural winner Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. This year the Verizon Heritage, annually hosted by the acclaimed Harbour Town Golf Links celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Playing three world-class courses, including PGA Tour tested Harbour Town Golf Links, all within shouting distance of each other sounds like an ideal golf vacation, but if your game isn’t up to par it might not be so enjoyable.

Fear not, The Sea Pines Resort has all the tools to turn a struggling golfer into a happy golfer, whether it be a frustrated beginner or an accomplished player looking to shave the last few strokes off his scorecard.

• Golf Instruction comes in many varieties at Sea Pines, including private lessons and golf clinics at the Plantation Club and the resort’s renowned Golf Academy.

Casting aside presumption, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to believe that many high-profile collegiate golf tournaments don’t begin with a 45-minute ferry boat ride.

On the weekend of Sept. 6, that’s just what some of the nation’s top college golfers will do, as they board a ferry from Hilton Head Island or maybe Savannah and make their way to the understated barrier island of Daufuskie to compete in the inaugural Rees Jones Collegiate Invitational hosted by Haig Point Golf Club. 

It may not have the bells and whistles of Belfair or Wexford (two more recognizable private facilities in the Hilton Head area) or the history and heritage of Harbour Town Golf Links, but Dolphin Head Golf Club has managed to carve out a unique niche for itself among the crowded Lowcountry golf scene.

The feeling of a close-knit community is apparent as soon as you enter the Dolphin Head clubhouse. The laid back, friendly environment creates a great atmosphere for golf. 

With the opening of one of Hilton Head’s first golf courses more than 40 years ago, the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort played a key role in the island’s eventual evolution into one of the world’s most renowned golf destinations. Now, 40 years later, Palmetto Dunes is again redefining the golf and vacation experience on Hilton Head, further enhancing the legend of this small barrier island off the South Carolina coast.

Long the home to three of Hilton Head’s finest golf courses, Palmetto Dunes has now evolved into a fullservice resort offering visitors to the island the complete vacation experience both on the links and away from them. From world-class golf, relaxing accommodations, three miles of oceanfront beach, tennis and a host of other outdoor activities, Palmetto Dunes offers the entire Hilton Head menu, all within its gates.

Indeed, there’s a reason why Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort was recently rated the top Family Resort in the U.S. by Travel and Leisure Family Magazine. In addition to the 54 holes of championship golf, the resort offers visitors a world-class tennis center featuring more than 25 clay and hard courts, a host of water sports supported by a full Outfitters Center, a private resort-access beach and dozens of shopping and dining options all within the resort property.

The four-man scramble is one of the most enjoyable formats for team competition in golf. After all, finding one decent shot out of four is a welcome proposition to many golfers. Beginning this spring, golf clubs across the country will be able to compete in The Great American Scramble and vie for the coveted title of National Champions in Las Vegas.

After the longstanding Buick/Oldsmobile Scramble shut down in 2005, golfers were left without a national scramble competition. PGA Professional Wayne Stone decided to change that. Stone created an event aimed at bringing excitement, camaraderie and team-building experiences back to golfers through the scramble format.

Stone, who is the director of Golf at Windermere Country Club in Windermere, Fla., decided there was enough interest to create a national scramble just by gauging the response of his members to the loss of the Buick event. Encouraged by the feedback, Stone set out to create the national tournament that was currently missing from the golf world.