Imagine yourself playing a round of golf with names like Nicklaus, Palmer, and Player. While you may never actually get to play a round with Jack, Arnie, and Gary, you can walk in their footsteps while you play a round or two on one of their championship golf courses on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

You may have heard of a few other golf course architects that have designed a course or two in the area. Names like Pete Dye, George Fazio, Fuzzy Zoeller, George Cobb, Tom Fazio, Arthur Hills, Robert Trent Jones, and Clyde Johnston. It doesn’t matter if you’re a duffer or a scratch golfer, there are a wide variety of courses with unique layouts and challenges for golfers of all skill levels.

The most recognized course on the Island is the Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines, home of the PGA Tour’s Heritage Classic tournament. While you may not recognize the course by name, photos of the 18th hole overlooking the Harbour Town Lighthouse and Marina are among the most popular travel photos in the U.S. Getting a tee time at Harbour Town can be difficult – and expensive. Depending upon the time of day and season, an 18-hole round will set you back between $135 and $200.

If you can’t get out to the Harbour Town Links, there are still plenty of championship golf options. Among other local favorites are the Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run, Oyster Reef at Hilton Head Plantation, and the Arthur Hills course at Palmetto Dunes.

Of course, you can find great golf off the Island. Hop on a ferry to Daufuskie Island and play another Jack Nicklaus design at the Melrose Club. Or you can take a quick drive over to the mainland and play one of Arnold Palmer’s best layouts at Crescent Pointe in nearby Bluffton, SC.

Beaches, Biking, and More

Beginning in the 1960’s, developer Charles Fraser developed a master plan for Hilton Head Island in which all of the homes, structures, and facilities would blend in with their natural surroundings to preserve the beauty of the marshes, woodlands, and waterways. The guidelines and covenants that guided local development are now blueprints for eco-friendly communities worldwide.

Today, Hilton Head is a thriving resort community with over 12-miles of sandy beaches, hundreds of shops and restaurants, dozens of hotels, and over 50 golf courses in the greater South Carolina Low Country. The area also features plenty of activities for non-golfers including boating, sailing, day cruises, nature and bike trails, shopping outlet malls, day spas, and seasonal festivals.

Choosing where to stay for your Hilton Head vacation depends largely upon your traveling companions and just how much you want to be pampered during your stay. There are thousands of villas available in the area for those that want a “home away from home” and don’t mind cooking and cleaning while on vacation.

Staying in one of the many hotels in the area may be a better option for most, especially if you are traveling with children or non-golfers. Many of the larger Hilton Head hotels offer season Kids’ Camps that allow you to break away for a day of golf or shopping. These larger hotels are all within close proximity to the beach, and all have on site food and entertainment. Some of these hotels also have day spa facilities on the hotel grounds.

But no matter where you choose to stay, you’re only minutes away from the best golf vacation of your life! Visit Hilton Head Island – South Carolina’s Treasured Coast.

Author by Shawn Kosloff.

Each year, over two million people find their way to Hilton Head Island to find a relaxing vacation spot in the sun. The largest island off the coast of Georgia has been developed as a tourist’s paradise, carefully zoned, environmentally sensitive, and always with a sense of appreciation for the history and natural bounty of this unique place.

It is always the right time to explore the many options available as Hilton Head vacation rentals. The savvy tourist has the opportunity to find the exact rental property on the island, to ensure the perfect vacation. First, the vacationer needs to decide how to spend his time on the island. The different resort plantations, vestiges of the old sugar and indigo plantations, have been rebuilt as self-contained resort areas. Ocean properties are also available. Many Hilton Head natives, who may live in the interior villages of the island, rent out their homes during part of the year. Other properties are available as part of a golf or tennis vacation. Nature lovers may want to stay close to the hiking trails along the protected marshes or near the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, home to native wildlife.

There are many types of Hilton Head vacation rentals, including the residential plantations, hotels, condos, villas, and even houses. A place to stay can be as little as $70 a night for a modest motel to over $4,000 a week for a four-bedroom luxury home. Many of these rentals are privately owned but may be listed with specialty agents.

Vacation rentals are available all year round in Hilton Head. Rental reductions of 30% or more are often found in the off-season for those who are not limited to vacationing during the short summer months. Also, many discounted packages can be found if a visitor is willing to gamble on finding a last-minute accommodation. A full listing of rental accommodations is available from the Hilton Head Chamber of Commerce.

Author by Jennifer Bailey.