Traveling to Augusta? We’ve chosen 5 of our favorite golf destinations to stay and play at during Masters Week. These resorts are close enough to Augusta but far enough from the action so you can enjoy a solitary round of golf and recharge your batteries before Masters Sunday.
1. Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort | Hilton Head Island, SC
Located just a 2.5 hour drive from Augusta, Palmetto Dunes offers visitors three unique 18-hole Championship golf experiences.
The Jones Course has some of the best water views on Hilton Head Island. The challenging bunker placements and wide fairways make this track inviting for players of all skill levels. The offshore winds also pose an added challenge to every shot.
As the only par-70 public golf course on Hilton Head Island, many argue that the George Fazio Course has the toughest final four holes in the area. The narrow tree-lined fairways create little room for error. Aeration begins May 16th, so get out there while the greens are still rolling!
The Arthur Hills Course is definitely the shotmaker’s paradise, as it requires precision and accuracy. Stretches of dunes and water hazards are scattered throughout the course, so be sure to brush up on your short game before heading out.
Where to Stay: Palmetto Dunes Resort
2. May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff | Bluffton, SC
Shortly after its opening, Jack Nicklaus’ May River Championship Course was named the best new course by the South Carolina Course Ratings Panel. Located just 20 minutes from Palmetto Dunes, the 7,200 yards of rolling fairways and undulating greens gives players a front row seat to the true South Carolina coastal experience. Nicklaus imported the bunker sand from Ohio due to its angular grain, which adheres to the sloped surfaces in rough coastal weather. The back nine is unique, as it consists of three par-3’s, three par-4’s, and three par-5’s.
Where to Stay: Montage at Palmetto Bluff
3. Reynolds Lake Oconee | Greensboro, GA
Reynolds Lake Oconee provides visitors with five spectacular courses. Whether it’s the three 9-hole par-36 courses at the National Golf Course, or the beautiful Great Waters Course (arguably one of the most scenic par-72 courses in the Southeast), the views do not disappoint. The dense forests, challenging bunker placements, and lakefront scenery provide a first-class golf experience unlike any other. If you’re looking for a more remote experience with plenty of course options, Reynolds Lake Oconee is the perfect spot.
Where to Stay: The Ritz-Carlton at Reynolds Lake Oconee
4. The Sea Pines Resort | Hilton Head Island, SC
Those who’ve played Harbour Town Golf Links understand why it is a favorite among PGA Tour players. Home to the RBC Heritage since 1969, Harbour Town Golf Links was designed by Pete Dye with the help of professional golfer Jack Nicklaus. The course was renovated in 2015 with an updated irrigation system and new bermuda grass. The tee boxes, fairways, and roughs were placed with Celebration Bermuda Grass while the greens were re-grassed with TifEagle Bermuda. The overhanging oaks and the famous 18th on the Calibogue Sound will keep you coming back for more.
Named South Carolina’s 2015 Course of the Year, Heron Point is one of two Dye masterpieces at Sea Pines. Dye supervised the 2014 course renovations with the goal of making it more player-friendly. Dye’s team softened the contours around the greens and enlarged the putting surfaces. At 7,000 yards from the tips, the course can be played by golfers of all skill levels – with 7 tee boxes on every hole.
As the first course built on Hilton Head Island in 1962 by prolific architect George Cobb, the Ocean Course at Sea Pines embraces the true coastal golf experience. This breathtaking course boasts one of only two oceanfront holes on Hilton Head Island and poses delightful challenges to novices and veterans alike. As a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary course, this esteemed Hilton Head location features strategically placed lagoons and bunkers that will offers a fabulous Southern Lowcountry experience for all players lucky enough to play.
Where to Stay: The Inn & Club at Harbour Town
5. The Heritage Collection | Hilton Head, SC
The Heritage Collection has an overwhelming selection of Championship golf scattered throughout the Southeast, however its four fabulous Hilton Head locations are close enough to Augusta that you can enjoy a round and not
Palmetto Hall Plantation Club consists of two unique 18-hole courses designed by Robbert Cupp and Arthur Hills. After its opening in 1991, the Arthur Hills Course was rated one of “America’s Top 10 New Courses” by Golf Digest. Both courses maintain classic designs that weave through moss-draped oaks, dark lagoons, and palmetto palms.
| Oyster Reef Golf Club‘s 18-hole championship course shares 190 acres of Lowcountry land with lush greenery and marshlands. This Rees Jones par-72 design challenges players of all skill levels, and can be played from as long as 7,014 yards at the tips or as short as 5,288 yards. The famous Par-3 #6 is one of the most scenic courses on Hilton Head Island, as it plays 192 yards from the championship tees and faces directly into a breathtaking view of Port Royal Sound. |
| Enjoy award-winning championship golf on historic Civil War grounds at Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club, situated on the northwestern point of Hilton Head Island. In 1997, Golf Magazine recognized the club as a “Silver Medal Resort” for its three spectacular 18-hole golf courses: The Barony Course, Planter’s Row Course, and Robber’s Row Course (redesigned by Pete Dye in 1994). The course has been named one of the “Top 75 U.S. Golf Resorts” by Golf Digest Magazine for good reason: its scenic marshlands, rich history, and notoriously difficult approach shots make the experience a unique one. |
Shipyard Golf Club offers 27 holes of Championship golf with three 9-hole courses. These courses are surrounded by lagoons, ponds, and marshland. If you are looking for alligators, Shipyard won’t let you down. You can schedule a tee time to play one of three different 18-hole combinations, and if you’d like to spend the morning golfing before you head off to Augusta, this is the perfect option.
Where to Stay: The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa