Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort

About
The Harbor Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is one of three 18-hole courses at the Sea Pines Resort. It is constantly ranked one of the best courses in the area and in the U.S. Pete Dye, with help from Jack Nicklaus, who designed the course and it is touted as one of his finest courses. The par-71 course covers 7,099 yards of flat terrain.
The RBC Heritage is an annual golf tournament played at the Harbour Town. This challenging course is known for its stunning views and attracts top professional golfers from all over the world. The tournament has been a beloved tradition since the course's opening in 1969, drawing in over 100,000 spectators each year and is an elevated event in 2023. If you're looking to attend or follow the tournament, make sure to mark your calendar for the week following the Masters in April.
As for the course itself, Harbor Town's sloping greens are small and covered in Tif Eagle grass. There are several challenging par 3s but the signature hole of the golf course is a tricky par 4. The infamous 18th hole is 458 yards that require a long tee shot towards the lighthouse. The breeze from the Calibogue Sound is definitely a factor in the difficulty of the hole.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
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Heritage | 71 | 7099 yards | 75.6 | 148 |
Blue | 71 | 6681 yards | 73.3 | 144 |
White | 71 | 6253 yards | 71.4 | 136 |
White (W) | 71 | 6253 yards | 76.2 | 144 |
Gold | 71 | 5867 yards | 69.6 | 131 |
Gold (W) | 71 | 5867 yards | 74.1 | 137 |
Green | 71 | 5084 yards | 66.7 | 118 |
Green (W) | 71 | 5084 yards | 69.8 | 126 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heritage M: 75.9/152 | 410 | 550 | 469 | 200 | 569 | 419 | 219 | 473 | 332 | 3641 | 451 | 436 | 430 | 373 | 192 | 588 | 434 | 198 | 472 | 3574 | 7215 |
Blue M: 74.0/150 | 392 | 502 | 411 | 187 | 549 | 404 | 195 | 435 | 322 | 3397 | 421 | 413 | 404 | 354 | 165 | 571 | 395 | 185 | 444 | 3352 | 6749 |
White M: 72.1/146 W: 78.0/150 | 380 | 471 | 381 | 165 | 511 | 373 | 160 | 405 | 298 | 3144 | 358 | 387 | 376 | 339 | 148 | 541 | 361 | 170 | 414 | 3094 | 6238 |
Gold M: 69.9/136 W: 75.4/144 | 347 | 424 | 355 | 155 | 485 | 360 | 148 | 380 | 283 | 2937 | 324 | 326 | 330 | 324 | 138 | 511 | 333 | 159 | 377 | 2822 | 5759 |
Green M: 65.8/128 W: 71.3/131 | 330 | 383 | 315 | 118 | 427 | 318 | 113 | 309 | 267 | 2580 | 287 | 285 | 272 | 307 | 107 | 421 | 304 | 130 | 304 | 2417 | 4997 |
Handicap | 11 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 2 | |||
Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
Handicap (W) | 11 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 2 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet FacilitiesAvailable Sports
TennisReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by jpar17 on 08/10/2023
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Photo submitted by jpar17 on 08/10/2023
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Photo submitted by jpar17 on 08/10/2023
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Photo submitted by jpar17 on 08/10/2023
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Photo submitted by jpar17 on 08/10/2023
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Harbour Town Golf Links, hole 4 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/30/2022
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Harbour Town Golf Links, hole 12 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/30/2022
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Harbour Town Golf Links, hole 13 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/30/2022
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Harbour Town Golf Links, hole 18 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/30/2022
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Photo submitted by cjohnbrown on 04/14/2021
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Photo submitted by DMcK1120 on 10/29/2020
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Photo submitted by DMcK1120 on 10/29/2020
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Photo submitted by DMcK1120 on 10/29/2020
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 10/12/2018
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 10/12/2018
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 10/12/2018
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Sunrise on the first hole. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 11/21/2016
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The par-3 4th hole. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 11/21/2016
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The view from the men's locker room balcony Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 11/21/2016
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Teeing off on the par-3 17th Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 11/21/2016
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Teeing off on 18 Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 11/21/2016
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New palm trees already being transplanted at Harbour Town. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 11/21/2016
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Photo submitted by Filthy20 on 07/26/2016
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/29/2015
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The historic lighthouse Photo submitted by JayCoffinGC on 02/20/2014
Overrated & Overpriced
I am not sure how this is the 6th most expensive public course in the United States or a top 50 course in the United States. It doesn't get close to cracking the top 50 I have even personally played. Holes 17 and 18 are good holes with 18 being a very iconic hole. The first 16 are unmemorable. There were a few really cool green complexes including #9. Conditions were good. Greens were extremely slow. Weather was fantastic. Highly recommend scheduling a tee time where you finish up on 18 at sunset. The major design flaw in the course is holes 10 & 16 where someone on 16 could literally get killed with a drive on 10. Our caddy was great but they aren't really there to help... Just to keep you moving at a better pace. Not really sure why a caddy was needed and I would have rather not had one. The clubhouse is really nice. Great merch selection. The food was awesome. The locker room is massive. The entire harbour town area is really cool. Just felt the course wasn't all that. Glad I can say I played it though.
Great experience
Very fun course with challenges everywhere. Scenic finish and interesting par 3s!
Great Day at Harbour Town
Had a great round with family. Caddy was awesome and overall experience was great!
A midcentury-modern marvel
It's odd to call a golf course built in the late 1960s "historically significant," but Harbour Town deserves every bit of that designation for the way it ushered in the modern era of golf design in the U.S., as well as the dawn of the "signature design" era. Despite the intimate feeling of practically every hole corridor, it somehow never feels claustrophobic. Thanks to the subtle bends of the fairways and orientations and diminutive size of the greens, it is an aspirational shotmaker's course that somehow never feels overwhelming. And thanks to the restrained and clever placement of its hazards, it is a stern test that somehow never feels unbeatable. Good golf is rewarded, and substandard golf is tolerated for the most part. Mounds and railroad ties add character and ambiance, and the brilliantly walkable routing makes it a joy to play over and over. It's one of my all-time favorite golf courses.
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Harbour Town Golf Links, hole 4 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/30/2022
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Harbour Town Golf Links, hole 12 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/30/2022
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Harbour Town Golf Links, hole 13 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/30/2022
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Harbour Town Golf Links, hole 18 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/30/2022
Exceeded high expectations
Could go on and on about this place and will. From the second you step on property the staff is friendly and goes out of their way to make your experience great. The course is beautiful, unique, and in great shape. The staff also did a great job of handling our 13 person group for lunch as well. Can't wait to be back to this special place.
Great Classic Pete Dye Design
Harbour Town Golf Links, One of the earlier Pete Dye designs that put him on the map. Located in Hilton Head, SC this course has many of the famed features you either love or hate from the Dyebolical mind of Pete Dye. The course is a true gem and requires a thoughtful mind and well executed shots to score well. I am usually a fan of courses with elevation changes and sweeping expansive view, while this course does not offer much of either (excluding famed 17 and 18) I was more than impressed by the use of the land and the beauty of the course. While a respectable bailout area is present on most holes the corridors are tight and you can find yourself easily blocked by large trees. It also must be noted that the greens are fairly small and often with a hazard to one side but are very receptive. I had a great time throughout the course but the stretch from 13 to 18 is special, and 17 and 18 are a near perfect final two holes. The Tour will be playing the RBC Heritage this week, this course is often referred to as a shotmakers course and I truly understand why.
Great experience on a good course
Enjoyed getting to play a course I watch every year on TV but the conditions were only ok due to overseeding. Grass throughout the course was a little thick and putting was extremely slow. Obviously during regular conditions the course would be in top shape but during this time frame it not and the price should reflect that. Way to expensive during overseeding. The layout is fun but get able as long as you can stay out of the trees. Glad I played the course while in town but future trips I will skip it to play else where which are much cheaper.
What a great course and experience
Harbour Town lived up to its reputation- it was a fantastic course (for me #3 all time), challenging but fair, very scenic and each hole is a treat. One of the highlights of our trip was 3 rounds (also played the other 2 courses) with our caddie Rick P. I can’t say enough about how he enhanced our experience and enjoyment. When I go back to Harbour Town I definitely will request Rick for his reading of greens, course tips, but most importantly just being a great dude. Would recommend this course to everyone- has to be played.
Carts
For the money that we paid for our round, we would have expected a far superior cart fleet. The carts were no better than what you would find in a low end public course
Required fore caddies
Our fore caddie was fine. Great guy, but I would have preferred that we had the option. He just showed up on the tee and we had to use him. To be honest, we did not need him and it was an additional $30 I did not want to spend.
Having said that, what a great experience. This would not keep me from coming back but should be by request.
Greens were in excellent condition, fairways only fair. Golf carts are pathetic for the price we paid, similar in to a cart you woul get at a second rate public course.
Great course
Great day, though it was cart path only. Tough course with excellent design.
What can I say, it’s HarbourTown
So this course did not disappoint me at all. Sure the weather was only in low to mid 50’s, but the sun was shining. Yes the cost to play here if you in fact pay full price, as I did, is high. I wasn’t disappointed and may play again if I can get a discounted rate. All said and done, you could spend just around $300 US with a forecaddie, per person. But it’s now off my bucket list and although I didn’t start off well, the day was all good. Pace of play was around 4-1/2 hrs for the first 16 holes, then it took almost 45 minutes to play the last two as it just got extremely slow (probably due to the photo opportunities). The course is tight in spots, but was in very good shape with the tourney only 6 weeks away.
First Time at Harbour Town
Our foursome really enjoyed our round here. We opted to walk and had two caddies that carried our bags for our group. If you're willing to pay the extra caddy tip money, walking is totally worth doing! I feel like we got to experience and enjoy the course more by walking. Note that if you have a big cart bag, the course will probably provide you a carry bag to borrow for the round so that caddies can carry it.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. They are there to make sure your experience is an enjoyable one!
The first 15 holes are a nice layout that culminates starting at 16 fairway with amazing views of the Sound. You'll want some pictures.
Fairways are narrow and tree lined and green complexes are tricky. The course is difficult, but we felt it was fair for all abilities. So bring a straight tee ball and your short game!
This course is amazing
First time playing at this course. I had a fantastic experience at this course. Great layout, challenging greens, and exceptional customer service. My forecaddie Randy gave helpful tips during my round and was a great guy to talk to. Unfortunately, the greens were just punched but they were still rolling pure. Even if your debating whether to play this because of the price, its totally worth it. This course is a must-play in Hilton Head and I plan on coming back in the future.
Worth the money
Although a little expensive, I found the experience well worth the cost. Very tight course with tree lined fairways, but fair. You just can’t hit a huge slice or hook. Greens were in great condition and rolling at around an 11 on the meter. Our caddie, Boyde (sp?), was great. Being a player himself, really helped us pick our clubs and areas to aim at. Very knowledgeable about the course. We didn’t get to use the clubhouse amenities due to the wives wanting to go out. Last four holes are beautifully designed and provide great views. I would totally recommend playing here and plan to return.
Wow.
The course was in absolutely pristine shape. The RBC Heritage took place a week earlier, which I'm sure helped.
Our family also received a discount by purchasing a "3-Pack" for all of the three courses at Sea Pines, which definitely helped with the high price tag that accompanies Harbour Town.
Our forecaddie helped, but the other players in our group complained that he didn't work very hard compared to other forecaddies. Regardless, having a forecaddie certainly helps with the pace-of-play.
The course is incredibly difficult, but it's hard not to enjoy playing such a beautiful and well-kept course.
Just a Joy
Only once before have I spent over $200 to play a golf course and that was Pebble Beach $500 10 years ago. Having watched the RBC Heritage on TV for many years I thought that $349 or $290 PM wasn't worth it but decided to bite the bullet and play. Good decision. TV does not do this place justice. Danny our fore caddie was excellent and really encouraged my wife. The course is immaculate and and the final 3 holes are well worth the wait but the rest of the course should not be underestimated. When you don't play that well but still fall in love with a course, you know it's special. Pete Dye Classic.
I can understand your comment since I recently played the course as well. I had a similar thought but then asked myself, “Did you come for the golf or the golf carts?”
The carts are fine and do not disrupt the excellent experience of the course.