By Few states carry a mix of both prestige and affordability quite like South Carolina. At one end of the spectrum, Kiawah Island and Hilton Head Island's top golf resorts host PGA Tour events and major championships, while destinations like Myrtle Beach showcase incredible selection and value. Far too few tourists and snowbirds venture inland, where the courses are even more affordable, and plenty of unsung layouts can be found.
The top 15 golf courses in South Carolina, as rated by Golf Advisor raters in 2015, showcase a little bit of all the Palmetto State has to offer. Courses' scores were calculated on a mix of their overall and subcategory ratings. You can click on each golf course name to find detailed ratings and review information.
Top 15 courses in South Carolina in 2015
15. Dolphin Head Golf Course
Hilton Head Island
Architect: Gary Player
14. The Walker Golf Course At Clemson University
Clemson
Architect: D.J. DeVictor
13. Man O'War
Myrtle Beach
Architect: Dan Maples
12. Palmetto Hall Plantation*
Hilton Head Island
Architect: Bob Cupp, Arthur Hills
11. RiverTowne Country Club
Mount Pleasant
Architect: Arnold Palmer
10. Hilton Head National Golf Club
Bluffton
Architect: Gary Player
9. Old South Golf Links
Bluffton
Architect: Clyde Johnston
8. Edgewater Golf Club
Lancaster
Architect: Bruce Brodsky
7. Mount Vintage Plantation & Golf Club
North Augusta
Architect: Tom Jackson
6. Heron Point at Sea Pines Resort
Hilton Head Island
Architect: Pete Dye
5. The Witch Golf Links
Conway
Architect: Dan Maples
4. Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort
Kiawah Island
Architect: Pete Dye
3. Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Hilton Head Island
Architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr.
2. Cobblestone Park Golf Club
Blythewood
Architect: P.B. Dye
1. Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head Island
Architect: Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye
* Denotes 36-hole facility.
* Editor's Note: The original version of this list included Thistle Golf Club, which is located just north of the border in Sunset Beach, N.C. It has been removed and inserted into the North Carolina top 20 ranking. The South Carolina top 15 has been adjusted accordingly.
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I have been a golf pro in the Myrtle Beach area for 25 years. 10 of these courses would not be in my top 50 in the State! This list is a joke.
It's merely subjective. If you wish to make a change for 2016's best of lists, please review the courses you feel are missing from the list and encourage others to do so. The more reviews, the better the sample size.
That list is not worthy of publishing....
Some top "ranked" courses didn't receive enough votes. Feel free to review some of your favorites on Golf Advisor and hopefully they get enough votes and star power to qualify.
They probably never played Monticello at Savannah Lakes
The inclusion of the Witch and Man-O-War is a joke, they're not bad but there are at least 15 better courses in the Myrtle Beach area. Perhaps the players reviewing these courses were on packages that included only lower priced courses. Consider any of the following: TPC Myrtle Beach, Caladonia, True Blue, Legends Heathland, Mooreland or Parkland as alternatives to those mentioned.
I've lived in MB before and played most of the courses. I think Witch/Man O'War are good at what they are trying to do, which might reflect their high rating. A lot of those higher-end MB courses you mention just didn't get enough reviews to qualify this year.
I don't see it on the list...perhaps it's been removed? As it should be as it's in Sunset Beach, North Carolina...
Why is The Thistle Golf Club on this list? It clearly states that it's in North Carolina.