Hilton Head Island Sports & Outdoors

Hilton Head is famous for its golf courses, many of which were designed by top course designers such as Robert Trent Jones and Tom Fazio. There are numerous courses scattered around the island, many of which are open to the public. The greens fees are not cheap, but the courses are generally in very good condition and bound to give most golfers a good challenge. The courses that we played featured plenty of water hazards, sand traps, and tight fairways.

The most well known golf courses on Hilton Head Island are those at Palmetto Dunes and Sea Pines, which hosts an annual professional PGA pro golf tournament. In addition to courses on the island, there are also a number of courses nearby on the mainland, which are within a 30-minute drive.

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When we took the tour from the museum, the guide told us that this roan pony was a descendant of the Conquistador horses brought by the Spaniards. Since I knew to be false many of the stories that the guide told us, I suspect that this story has been embroidered a bit.

There is horseback riding available.

Equipment: Lawton Stables, located in Sea Pines plantation, offers guided trail rides for people 8 years old and up through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, a 600 acre preserve where many plants and animals can be observed. Also available are pony ride for kids 7 and under, hayrides (also through the Forest Preserve) and professional training and riding lessons.

Sea Horse Farms, on Mitchellville Road, offers trail rides, part of which are on the beach, for those 8 years old or more (250 Lb. maximum). They also offer pony rides geared to kids birthday parties, with the ponies rented by the hour, currently for $100. .

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Bike Trails are everywhere and most places on the island have bike rentals, and Tennis is apparently as much of a Hilton Head sport as Golf.

There are hundreds of courts all over the island, and Hilton Head is also home to two famous tennis pros: Dennis Van der Meer and Stan Smith. All three Grand Slam playing surfaces are available and there are lighted courts for night play.

Public courts
CLUB COURTS TELEPHONE
Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center 23 clay, 2 hard 8 lighted 843-785-1152
Port Royal Racquet Club 10 clay, 2 grass, 4 hard. 6 lighted 843-686-8803
Sea Pines Racquet Club 24 clay, 5 lighted 843-363-4495
Shipyard Racquet Club (Van der Meer) 13 Har-Tru, 4 hard, 3 indoor 843-686-8804
South Beach Racquet Club 11 clay, 2 lighted. 843-671-2215
Van der Meer Tennis Center 17 hard, 4 covered 800-845-6138

Two courts are available at the Fairfield Station County park on the north end, where Mi Tierra restaurant is. They are under the supervision of the Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services.

Hilton Head High School has six courts and Hilton Head Middle School four more which are available weekend and evenings when school is in session and anytime in the summer. These courts have no user fee

Equipment: There are 8 public tennis courts on Hilton Head Island under the supervision of the Island Recreation Center and with the cooperation of Public Tennis, Inc. All are lighted for night play.

Four are at the Chaplin Public Tennis Center in the Chaplin Community Park and four more are at the Cordillo Public Tennis Center on Cordillo Road between DeAllyon Ave. and Pope Ave. These courts are intended for use by islanders.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day fees are charged for the use of these courts. They are open from 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM unless reserved for lessons or USTA use. For more information call Cameron Everett at 843-681-7273.

Bikes rent for about $27/week.

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Hilton Head is well known as a golf destination. There are lots of courses and some have been designed by very famous golf architects. Because we were there in the winter, the courses were a little less green, but they still were impressive.

According to one website, "The ultimate vote of confidence comes from the Fodor's Golf Digest Places to Play fifth edition where the courses at Palmetto Dunes received high rankings from the golfers who know them from first hand experience. The Arthur Hills course rated an impressive 4.5 stars and was noted as an "excellent course and treated like a king; great condition; last three holes unbelievable". The George Fazio rated an outstanding 4 stars. The Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course received accolades from Golf Magazine as 'The Pick of the Month' in March 2003.

I don't play golf. I did go onto the Arthur Hills course in Palmetto Dunes to photograph the rear range light - the only real lighthouse on Hilton Head

Equipment: Golf packages and golf lessons are available and the courses have pro shops. Golf Packages starting as low as $69.00 * Per Golfer/Night for 7 night 5 rounds (four golfers)

I was scared at first but it became a great and exciteing memory to take home with me.

Equipment: Wear a bathing suit and wear nothing that you care to lose. Jewelry.sun glasses, dentil or orthadontic devises, should be left behind,
It's VERY Wet, Bumpty , and Fun, ENJOY!

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Among the oldest golf courses in the Hilton Head area, the Ocean course at Sea Pines underwent a complete renovation by PGA Pro-Architect Mark Mccumber in 1996. This is an 18-hole, par 72 course. The Ocean Course features a stunning combination of lagoons, bunkers and contouring that creates a beautiful, yet challenging, round of golf. The par-3 15th runs directly out to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, one of only a couple holes on Hilton Head Island to offer a true glimpse of the ocean. This course is a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary," only the fourth in South Carolina & 187th in the world to achieve this designation.

Equipment: 18-holes: $100
9-holes: $60
Open all year.

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The Hilton Head Island area is one of the nation's foremost golf meccas. Golf Digest named Hilton Head Island Number 10 on its list of the world's best golf resorts. Unfortunately, golf on Hilton Head is not exactly inexpensive. On the island an $80 green fee is pretty common even in the offseason. During the spring season - roughly defined as the first of March through the first of May - rates can skyrocket above $150 and in the case of Harbour Golf Links, $250.

There is at least 10 beautiful golf courses on this island, all top notch. You can use your Celebration Visitors Card mentioned in Must See Tip for any where from $5 to $15 off.
1) Country Club of Hilton Head,
(843)-681-4653 www.hiltonheadclub.com

2) Golden Bear Golf Club,
(843)-689-2200

3) Crescent Pointe Golf Club, (843) 706-2600, (843) 341-2500, or (888) 325-1833

4) Eagle's Pointe Golf Club (843) 686-4457
(843) 757-5900 or (888) 325-1833

5) Old Carolina Golf Links (843)785-6363
(888)785-7274 www.oldcarolinagolf.com

6)Old South Golf Links (843)785-5353
(800 257-8997 www.oldsouthgolf.com

7) Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club (843)689-golf, (800)234-6418 www.hiltonheadgolf.net

8) Shipyard Golf Club (843 689-golf
(800)234-6318 www.hiltonheadgold.net

9) Daufuskie Island Golf Clubs
(843) 842-2000, (800) 648-6788

10) Rose Hill Golf Club (843) 842-3740
www.rosehillgolf.com

This island is a golfers dream!