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3.3
7 Reviews (7)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
1.6
Value
1.6
Layout
5.0
Friendliness
5.0
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.1
16.7%
Recommend this course
6 out of 7 reviews
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5 Stars
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Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
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0%
Recommend this course
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Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
1.0
Value
1.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
5.0
0%
Recommend this course
1 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Private/Resort
Par 72
Length 7171 yards
Slope 141
Rating 75.6

The May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff features a challenging Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course that plays along the banks of the river. The championship layout blends in perfectly with the beautiful natural surroundings provided by the May River Forest, which is filled with century-old live oak trees. Although the fairways are seemingly wide and inviting, they are flanked by bunkers and natural waste areas. The gently undulating greens are also surrounded by intimidating white sand bunkers and water hazards come into play throughout. The back nine consists of an equal number of par 3s, 4s, and 5s, offering an interesting variety of challenges. With such a scenic and diverse golf course, it was difficult to pick a signature hole but 6, 7, 12, and 14 are all contenders.

Course Details

Year Built 2004
Golf Season Year round
Architect Jack Nicklaus (2004) Jim Lipe (2004)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Caddies Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Appropriate golf attire

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Grill, Restaurant

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in South Carolina (2021 #3)

Reviews

3.3
7 Reviews (7)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0

A+ layout, D conditions

Beautiful layout and terrific pro shop staff. The course conditions are poor public course equivalent at best. Sloppy, weedy, and unkempt - really too bad for what once was a nearly perfectly conditioned course.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
I Recommend This Course
5.0

A first class experience

Just a really special place. The facilities are top notch; an excellent driving range and a short game facility that is unmatched. Arrive early and enjoy all that the club has to offer.

The course is superb. Generous fairways give way to extremely challenging, undulating greens that are well-guarded by bunkers. Your approach shot is often visually intimidating. And if you miss on the wrong side into one of the dozens of runoffs, well, good luck. There isn't a bad hole on the course. The par 3s (there are 5) are truly exceptional, especially 6, 11, and 17.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 38
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
D C Advisor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

My Favorite in the Bluffton.HH Area

May River Golf Club in Bluffton, SC is my favorite course from this great trip to South Carolina Low Country golf experience. May River is a semi-private club allowing access to members and guests of the amazing Montage Palmetto Bluff. Designed by Jack Nicklaus this course has unending low country charm, outstanding routing, beautiful views and most importantly no one hole felt boring or as a means to get to the next hole. Full of challenges, the course runs alongside the May River which comes into play often, the rest of the course is routed through lagoons and marshes giving a player a true low county golf experience. May River is also not a push over resort course by any measure while almost not rough is present water comes into play on 11 of 18 holes and massive fairway bunkers, deep greenside bunkers and tree-lined fairways are everywhere else. The greens are generally domed with contours, making the overall course experience great for those with great short games and or solid irons. I would definitely try to make this a part of any Hilton Head/Bluffton golf trip, I considered it a can't miss.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Get ready to hit the Beach on this Excellent Track

Course is a semi-private 18 hole layout. Played it the last day before ‘In Season Rates” turn a $120 round to $220. Hard to lose a ball on this track, unless you dunk it in the water, which there is plenty of here. Fairways and greens were in impeccable shape. If drive is in the fairway you get 40-50 yards role in dry conditions. Greens were like glass first 9, softened a bit after the sun did its work. Bunkers litter this course all over - I must have ended up in the sand close to 50% of the holes. If you do not land your ball in middle of green, you risk it rolling off into green side valley or bunker. Caddies were excellent and friendly. It’s a very well maintained, very challenging course that I would absolutely play again. Excellent short game area that apparently inspired Tiger’s backyard practice facility. Driving Range looks into the sun in the AM and has some trees placed in odd spaces so hard to gauge how you are striking it. Clubhouse Staff was great. As we finished our round, the Membership was getting ready to start their Husband Wife tournament and the entire field was dressed for St. Patty’s day to the hilt. Very enjoyable round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

May River, A true test of golf skills

We had the pleasure of playing this beautiful course as the guest of a member for the second time today and Trust me it's even better the second time.We started on a driving range that is in better shape than the greens at many courses which is the first sign of the pristine course conditions on the entire course.The routing of this course make this course one of the best challenges I have found in the area. The majority of the holes require good choices and better execution or you will find yourself with some difficult up and downs on very fast, very true rolling greens. Play the correct tees or it will spoil your day.
Take the time to find this gem,it is worth the effort.
Kudos to Jack on a great design

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Industry Insider
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Walked

A low-country gem

This Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is part of the Palmetto Bluff Resort. The course is secluded, very scenic and was designed to be easily walkable. I teed off at 8.30 am with a caddie and played in 3 hours. The course was in immaculate shape and boasts a number of interesting holes. The back nine consists of 3 par 3s, 3 par 4s and 3 par 5s.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Master's Prep Round

I played May River the day before we headed down to The Master's. Upon arriving, the club house is very unassuming. The staff that greeted us was very friendly and offered valet parking. Our four caddies met us on the driving range and offered suggestions for shots that we would need on the course. We found after starting play that the practice green replicated the actual green speeds exactly. Our caddies were very friendly and offered the correct advice at the right times. The course was in great condition. The fairways were lush and the lies were perfect. The greens have a lot of slight breaks that are hard to pick up but this is where the caddies were great. The course is challenging and you will hit every club in your bag. Don't skip eating here, the food is fantastic!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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Golf Packages

Sea Pines Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $217 (USD)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 7 nights’ accommodations at the Sea Pines Resort and up to 5 rounds of golf at your choice of Harbour Town Golf Links, Atlantic Dunes Golf Course, and Heron Point Course.

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $137 (USD)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 7 nights’ accommodations at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort and up to 5 rounds of golf at your choice of Palmetto Dunes – Robert Trent Jones Course, Palmetto Dunes – Arthur Hills Course, Palmetto Dunes – George Fazio Course, and Hilton Head National Golf Club.

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

FROM $207 (USD)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Oyster Reef Golf Course, Robber’s Row Course, Barony Course, and The Shipyard Golf Course.

The Villas at Kiawah Island Stay & Play Package

FROM $177 (USD)
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 7 nights’ accommodations in a 1 to 4-bedroom unit at The Villas of Kiawah Island and up to 5 rounds of golf on your choice of Kiawah Island - Cougar Point, Kiawah Island - Osprey Point, Kiawah Island - Oak Point, Kiawah Island - Turtle Point, and Kiawah Island - The Ocean Course.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Stay & Play Package

FROM $337 (USD)
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Sanctuary Hotel and up to 4 rounds of golf on your choice of Kiawah Island - Cougar Point, Kiawah Island - Osprey Point, Kiawah Island - Oak Point, Kiawah Island - Turtle Point, and Kiawah Island - The Ocean Course.
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