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 | 195 | 473 | 332 | 3617 | 451 | 436 | 430 | 373 | 192 | 588 | 434 | 198 | 472 | 3574 | 7191 |
Blue M: 74.0/150 | 392 | 495 | 411 | 187 | 511 | 404 | 172 | 435 | 322 | 3329 | 421 | 413 | 404 | 354 | 165 | 571 | 395 | 185 | 444 | 3352 | 6681 |
White M: 72.1/146 W: 78.0/150 | 380 | 471 | 381 | 165 | 497 | 373 | 160 | 405 | 298 | 3130 | 398 | 387 | 376 | 339 | 148 | 541 | 361 | 159 | 414 | 3123 | 6253 |
Gold M: 69.9/136 W: 75.4/144 | 347 | 424 | 355 | 155 | 485 | 360 | 148 | 380 | 283 | 2937 | 358 | 365 | 360 | 324 | 138 | 511 | 333 | 141 | 400 | 2930 | 5867 |
Green M: 65.8/128 W: 71.3/131 | 330 | 383 | 315 | 140 | 427 | 318 | 113 | 309 | 267 | 2602 | 287 | 285 | 272 | 307 | 107 | 421 | 304 | 130 | 332 | 2445 | 5047 |
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
TennisAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top 25 Courses for Pace of Play in the U.S. (2016 #4)
Reviews
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
Awesome Experience
Playing at Harbour Town isn't just a round of golf but is an entire experience. Make sure you get there plenty early to walk around and take in the world class facilities (make sure to check out the locker room, coolest one I've been in).
You also can't beat the location, HHI and Sea Pines is one of the most special, beautiful, and peaceful settings you'll ever visit.
The course is beautiful, of course holes 17 and 18 are the most special but almost every hole is unique and memorable. Holes 13 and 14 are my other favorites. Best collection of Par 3's you can ever play. It is also the hardest course I've ever played because of the pinched holes with overhanging trees and the severeness of the bunkers, but it's all part of the experience. It's one of those courses that I'm more interested in taking in the scenery than worrying about my score, but getting a few pars and birdies is special there also.
Our caddy Zac was nice and knowledgeable and pleasant to be with. If given the option I'd pass on a caddy but I totally understand why they require them here, and it is a unique add-on to the experience. He was the best caddy we could have hoped for, keeping our round relaxed but moving us along at the same time.
This was my second time playing here. With the price point it's at, it's the kind of course I'd be willing to pay to play once every couple years. We paid $195 and I'm pretty sure that's the cheapest rate of the year. Please don't raise it much more because I'd love to play again in the future but not sure I'd pay much more.
Not worth the price
First, a beautiful course. Staff was very friendly. The problem is the caddie is not there so much to help you, but to get you off the course as fast as possible. It’s an easy course to walk but the pace the caddie pushed was too fast. He drug us along at 1.5 hours on the front nine. Play slowed on the back as we ran into other groups in the last two holes. Or pace was so fast that we waited for 30 minutes at the 17th tee and still no one behind us caught up. There was a youth tourney played on the back that day but if we had not been pushed at a 3 hour pace we would never of had to wait. Very disappointed that for that level of course and how much we paid to play it, that we were pushed that fast. Really didn’t get to enjoy the course as we should have. We also played the other sea pines courses. All staff very nice and Atlantic dunes was great, heron pointe had just been aerated but still a really nice course. I would play those two again but will not play harbor town again and would advise anyone going to Hilton Head to avoid harbor town. Many other great courses on Hilton Head less expensive and can play at a normal relaxed 4 hour pace.
Top 100
Pretty cool to play a course that is featured on the pga tour. Excellent design tight varied and hard! This is as challenging as it gets don’t let the lack of overall distance fool you. Lots of bunkers and trees. Top notch Dye design. Forecaddie was very good and fun. Knew the course well and excellent at reading outs which you will need. This course have almost 18 memorable holes not just hole 18 with the lighthouse
Nice course - over rated
The course was in great condition. The RBC heritage golf tournament was in two weeks. The setup for the tournament had a lot of stands around the greens, ruining what should have been nice views. Although caddies appear to be required, none were available (or wanted for the additional expense). A nice trek with only two possible water view holes. Narrow fairways and lots of sand. Nice course if money is no object.
Staff was wonderful, course was world class. Pace was a little slow, but not unexpected. Neil, our forecaddy was awesome. Read every putt he was asked to, located almost every errant drive (and there were plenty) and was very personable.
We got to play 2 days before the course was shut down ahead of the RBC Heritage, so it was in immaculate condition - greens were firm but read true.
Paid a premium, but got what we paid for.
Great Course - Memorable Day - High Cost
It’s always fun to play a tournament course....but at $290 a player, the cost is a bit steep. None the less, I wanted my son to have the experience. We were extremely lucky - weather looked a bit sketchy but it turned out to be 75 and sunny. As a result, we had the course to ourselves and played in 3.5 hours. Our forecaddie was great. Since we were not staying in a Sea Pines property, we paid full fare for the round. You can do better if you book a package but we only had one day. $175 - $200 a player would get the course more play. Conditions were great. Greens were fast and true. Having the course to ourselves made the round fantastic but if we had to experience the typical 5 hour resort corse round, my review would be a lot less favorable. Bottom line: Would I play again? Sure, but only if the rate was under $200.Any more than that and it’s not really worth it. By the way, it’s much better to walk here than ride in a cart - the course is flat and if you ride, it’s cart path only.
Grand Experience
Great time at Harbour Town, our forecaddie Andy from London was awesome....good company and a great help on the course with where to put the ball and in reading the exceptionally small, immaculate, fast and true greens. Trees come into play on every hole if you are not careful. A real golfing experience.
The Real Deal
We took a group of 16 to Harbour Town on our annual golf trip. The entire experience was first class! When we got there we had lunch in the clubhouse locker room overlooking the course. Food was really good. Practice facilities were great although I must admit first time I’ve ever seen a house within striking distance on a range.The course conditions were perfect 1 month before tournament. Also the stands were up which gave it a cool feel. It is a very tight course good layout with the last 6 holes being very memorable. Last two holes best on the course! My caddie Brock was very knowledgeable and helpful.
Rushed
I had a 1:30 tee time, I arrived at 12:50 so I would have time to warm up at the range, and putt on the putting green. I had hit about ten balls on the range when I heard someone calling my name. That’s when I was informed I’d be going off a lil early, and I asked when and the gentleman said “well actually now.” Which was around 1:15, I was informed my group was on the tee. Then I was notified we’d be playing the back first. I immediately left for the tee and the group had already left the tee and we’re in the 10th fairway, so I teed up and joined the group. I normally like to warm up, putt and make a bathroom run before I play, and I hate to be rushed in such a manner. The course was beautiful, Alex the fore caddie was great, and I’m not saying it ruined my round but, it was a little unnerving and thank God for the bathroom facilities on 13.
It's Harbourtown
Terrific course which ate me up due to extreme windy conditions. Course in excellent shape.
Great time at Harbor Town
My wife and I played Harbor Town while in the Savannah area. We looked at it as a once in a lifetime types opportunity. For the time of year, I thought the course was in great shape. The staff was very friendly all the way from the bag drop to after the round refreshments. The course is very difficult. It was made even more difficult by winds of 20-30 mph. The course demands precision with every shot. Each group goes out with a forecaddie, which is a big assist for finding balls, getting yardage’s, course tactics, etc. if you have the chance, it is worth playing at least once.
Just Divine
From the moment we got to the bag drop, where the attendant said “You must be the Shipps,” every aspect of the experience was wonderful. The course was pristine. I was surprised at the generous width of the fairways. But as our forecaddie pointed out, you often need to be on the correct side of the fairway to have a clear shot at the green.
It was well worth the cost. Don’t miss the Pete Dye exhibit in the clubhouse.
Great greens
The greens and fairways were in excellent shape. The greens were smooth and putted true. Awesome closing holes. Beware course is almost always cart path only and a forecaddie is required.
One more checked off my bucket list
From the time you turn into the parking lot here it’s like a dream come true. The staff is first class. Donny, the caddiemaster, set our foursome up with Shea as a forecaddie and he did an outstanding job for everyone. The course played as tough as expected(shot a few strokes over my handicap). Coming down on 18 was wonderful. I even parred the 8th(#1 handicap).
Total cost with tax was $301. Worth every penny. If you’re in the area and can get a tee time, play it. You’ll always remember a great time.
Excellent Track!
Great layout! The fairways are tight and the greens are typical for a Dye layout. The staff was excellent!
Had a great experience. It was a very hot and humid day, but there was plenty of water and iced towels to keep us as comfortable as possible. Our forecaddie TJ was awesome. He had a great attitude did a nice job with our foursome.
Great layout
Course was just punched. Not worth the money for the condition. Would love to play it before it was airation.
Bucket list course
Definitely a course to play if you are in the area. You have to use a caddy so make sure you budget for it. Well maintained and beautiful layout.