cjohnbrown

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.

Atlantic Dunes in Hilton Head, SC is a Davis Love III design/redesign. Atlantic Dunes is a pure fun experience. The course has an upbeat fun energy to it. The first hole gives you an overall idea of the experience on the course, a narrow strip of land flanked by water on both sides, this course has a fairly high number of water hazards (14 out of 18 Holes). The conditions were great the course was fun and challenging and not brutal.No. 15 gives you a beautiful view of the Atlantic and the hole is fun with almost an island green in sand feel. If in Hilton Head, make your way over to this course and have a fun experience and maybe bring an extra sleeve of balls.

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.

Heron Point on Hilton Head Island is another Pete Dye design. Pete Dye is up to his normal tricks on some of these holes but this course offers a more tame experience compared to Harbour Town. Shot-making and smart decisions are still needed to score well. Heron Point shares the same pro shop as Atlantic Dunes but they play very differently which would make these courses a very good choice for 36 holes of golf. No one hole jumps out as a signature hole but 18 was a very nice hole to finish on with a nice dogleg around a lake which your second shot might have to clear the lake to reach the flag. The customer service was great the rangers and starters were very helpful and upbeat. If you are looking for an easy fun 36 hole day in Hilton Head, I highly recommend Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes (you also receive a discount from Sea Pines when you play multiple rounds in the same day).

Outstanding holes, each one beautiful and engaging. The conditions are great and the greens a receptive and good speed. The only minus and it is small the course is in no way walkable but I wasn't going to walk anyway but I do like a walkable routed course. I give this course a 10/10 easily. Do not miss a chance to play. Also a great value for the spectular holes you get to play. Especially 9 and 18. jaw dropping finishes

Outstanding value to price (I am coming from out of town) a lot of fun, feels like a classic design. Great conditions, nice staff, cool pro shop. It feels like bethpage in the since it has a classic design, very challenging and is accessible.

from what I saw the course is great, a perfect hilly Donald Ross, it is a little shaggier and less maintained than the Pete Dye Course up the hill but it is a lot of fun and an outstanding value especially after playing Pete Dye

The course is dramatic in scale, one of the most visually stunning and challenging courses. Caddies are great, course conditions are perfect. Bring your A game and a Camera.

Fun course with a tough and engaging finishing stretch. Good Conditions. A good play if you get the opportunity to play this private gem.

A great Pete Dye track that is challenging and beautiful. The conditions are very good. One of the best short game and warm-up areas you can find.

Great course and conditions are a little less than what I am use to from here, still good but usually better

A lot of great courses in this area, and this is one of them, fun, always in the best conditions and some very challenging holes with some holes that are very good birdie opportunities if you don't get too greedy.

PB Dye Golf Club - I finally get all the debate about this course. You definitely can walk away either hating or loving it. PB Dye GC is a beautiful golf course designed by the son of the great Pete Dye, PB Dye. The design and routing are very good in general with a lot of touches that Pete Dye would have in his designs but you will find more blind tee shots than you would normally expect which means to truly appreciate you might need to play a few times. The course does have a great GPS system that even has bluetooth and satellite radio built in. The fairways are fairly generous if you choose the right line. The course utilized the great rolling topography of Frederick County very well offering beautiful surroundings and a very challenging course. The greens are incredibly challenging not only to putt but to attack. The greens while generally generous in size have a lot of undulations and if on the wrong tier you can be punished greatly. The course pulled a lot of bunkering from the original design and while the course is more playable their are places the bunkering would have been great to see. PB Dye is a must play for any Maryland Golfer the course is different, challenging and you will definitely leave with an opinion. The course does an excellent job managing the pace of play, have very good customer services and a 19th hole has the best views and food options in Frederick County.

Waverly Woods Golf Club - Marriottsville, MD
A beautiful golf course by one of my favorite local course architects Arthur Hills (Designer of other favs Blue Mash and National Golf Club). Waverly Woods is a very nice layout that take advantage of it rolling hills topography. The fairways are fairly generous and the course is enjoyable and not stressful. The course is routed through a residential community but houses are rarely in play and often hidden behind tall trees that frame these generous and hilly fairways. Note: if playing for the first time get the yardage book which provides advice on how to play, many fairways are dramatically pitched in one direction and a well struck drive could end up with a horrible lie. I would recommend playing this course and I can not wait to get out there again. Staff was friendly and did a great job managing pace of play