golfer's guide hilton head

GOLFER’S GUIDEA Supplement of Hilton Head Monthly

Long Cove, Belfair and Dataw have Home Course Advantage | p. 22

hilton head island/lowcountry local edition hiltonhead.golfersguide.com

January 2012

Princeof TidesDavis Love III talks aboutHarbour Town, The Ocean Course and his Ryder Cup team. | p. 10

Local Course Recordspp. 14 & 19

SouthCarolina’sFirst Majorp. 26

Scan Here for Our Local Website

Best Lowcountry 19th Holesp. 33

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C O N T E N T S

Golfer’s Guide Local EditionHilton Head Island/Lowcountry

January 2012

Fred Warren | Publisher843-384-7406

JG Walker | Editorial Consultant

Holly Feltner | Publication Coordinator

Jeremy Swartz | Art Director

Charles Grace | Designer

Kelly Graham | Design Consultant

Brad King | Editorial Contributor

Barry Kaufman | Editorial Consultant

Golfer’s Guide, Inc.

Marc Frey | CEO

Glen Klepchick | COO

Golfer’s Guide. Inc.PO Box 5926

Hilton Head Island, SC 29938Phone: 843-842-7878

Fax: 843-842-9387GolfersGuide.com/HiltonHead

Copyright ©2012 Golfer’s Guide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Golf course rates are subject to change at any time. Golfer’s Guide is not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions

or changes in rates or information.

Comments or questions?Let us hear from you:

[email protected]

8 Prince of Tides Exclusive interview with Davis Love III

20 Home Course Advantage Three Lowcountry golf clubs that work

24 The Sanctuary Charleston-style luxury by The Ocean Course

F E A T U R E S 2 Local Golf News Plus upcoming local golf events

5 What’s Hot & What’s Not The ups and downs of golf and “culture”

12 Scorecard: Resort Course Records Frosty at Harbour Town

17 Scorecard: Private Course Records Rickie Fowler at Belfair

31 Best 19th Holes Where to relax after playing a round

D E P A R T M E N T S

13 Lowcountry Public Golf Courses

14 Golf Maps Hilton Head Island, Blu� ton & The Lowcountry

16 Lowcountry Private Golf Clubs

C E N T E R P I E C E

20

Fore!

Happy New Year and welcome to the new Golfer’s Guide Local Edition for Hilton Head Island and � e Lowcountry. We’ve created this magazine to be� er inform and entertain local

golfers who share our love of the game. My friend, the late Mark Brown, founded Golfer’s Guide and got me

involved in the golf-publishing business more than 25 years ago. His passion for the game and its traditions had a profound e� ect on me then and continues to inspire me today. Having now come full circle in this great business, I also want to personally thank my colleagues listed on the masthead and the advertisers who have helped to make this � rst edition possible.

We here at Golfer’s Guide think that 2012 will be a banner year for golf in South Carolina and speci� cally here in � e Lowcountry. We want to do our part to increase the total number of local golf rounds played this year. To get started towards accomplishing that goal, we’ve put together a mix of news items and fun features with an exclusive interview and other stories. Let us know what you think about the state of golf in � e Lowcountry and what you’d like to see in future editions of our magazine. We’ve created an email address—[email protected]—for that very reason. See you on the next tee…

by Fred WarrenPublisher

About the CoverDavis Love III is a

Sea Island resident and � ve-time

Heritage winner who always seems to play well along

the coast.

“I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept

me as a member.”— Groucho Marx

Belfair’s Avenue of Oaks

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HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com2 HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com

Arnold Palmer Day onHilton Head Island

The completely remodeled and newly renamed Arnold Palmer Course at Wexford Plantation reopened on October 20 with The King himself in attendance and Hilton Head Island Mayor Drew Laughlin pro-claiming the day in his honor. The significant Wexford course work by the Arnold Palmer Design Company included the repositioning of tee com-plexes, the elimination of a number of bunkers and modification of oth-ers, tree removal to widen some fairways and major upgrades to all of the greens. “We hope the strategy, options and variety of play challenge your intellect and … your personal game,” Palmer said to Wexford members and other local officials after touring the course.

Dye tunes up Harbour Town Course architect Pete Dye has completed a series of minor renova-

tions to his Harbour Town Golf Links that included lengthening the layout by 150 yards, expanding or reshaping a number of bunkers and removing some trees to improve sight lines and create new strategic op-portunities. Harbour Town has hosted the PGA TOUR every year since 1969 and welcomes new title sponsor Royal Bank of Canada in 2012 to the RBC Heritage Classic during the week of April 9.

Players Am heads to Berkeley Hall

After 12 years at Belfair, the Heritage Classic Foundation Players Amateur is moving to Berkeley Hall in 2012. The tournament dates are July 9-15. Past winners of this prestigious amateur event include Rickie Fowler and Camilo Villegas. This year’s winner will earn a sponsor’s exemption to the 2013 RBC Heritage Classic.

Bloody Point to reopen The Bloody Point golf course on Daufuski Island is set to reopen in

2012. Davis Love III’s design company will be working on the project to restore the original design by Ben Wright and Tom Weiskopf.

Recent honors Bill Sampson, Director of Golf at Old Tabby Links at Spring Island,

has been named the 2011 “Carolinas PGA Golf Professional of the Year.”

Kevin Morgan, superintendent at Crescent Pointe and Eagle’s Pointe, was named 2011 “Employee of the Year” by the Lowcountry Golf Course Owner’s Association.

Nicole Weller, head golf teaching professional at The Landings Club, was named “Teacher of the Year” for 2011 by the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals Southeast Section.

Old South Golf Links has been named the 2011 “Golf Course of the Year” by the Lowcountry Golf Course Owner’s Association.

Works in progress Construction on the Argent Lakes golf course at Sun City Hilton

Head has passed the halfway point: Architect Tim Freeland has completed 12 holes on the layout, which is designed as a short course with only par threes and fours. The remaining six holes will be completed by mid-2012.

The Cotton Dike Golf Course at Dataw Island Club reopened in November following a six-month renovation by Billy Fuller Golf Design of Atlanta. The layout’s hydraulic irrigation system was completely re-placed, 17 of the greens were recontoured and all of the putting surfaces now sport MiniVerde Ultra Dwarf Bermuda. In December, Fuller began a comparable refurbishment of Dataw’s Morgan River Golf Course to be completed by August 2012.

The Belfair East Course also had new MiniVerde Ultra Dwarf greens installed last year, along with renovations to all of the bunkers. Similar bunker work on the West Course will be undertaken in 2012, when Bel-fair members will also decide about a planned clubhouse expansion.

Williams to retire atDolphin Head

Burrell Williams, Head Professional at Dol-phin Head Golf Club in Hilton Head Plantation since 1986, will retire in June 2012. “On a daily basis, members or guests of the club make a point to express their gratitude for the service, attention, and genuineness provided by Burrell. He has be-come a legend at Dolphin Head and he will be greatly missed by everyone at the club, “ said Dol-phin Head General Manager Kristy Stewart.

L O C A L G O L f N e w s

Arnold Palmer hits the ceremonial first tee shot at Wexford

move to bottom

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L O C A L G O L f N e w s

Long Cove to host newcollegiate event

Long Cove Club announced last month that it will host the inaugural Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Ladies Invi-tational Tournament from March 1-4, 2012. The event was the brainchild of Long Cove’s Head Golf Professional Bob Patton and his long-time friend Puggy Blackmon, the University of South Carolina’s Director of Golf. Blackmon then contacted his friend Darius Rucker, a native South Carolinian, a huge golf fan and now a solo artist after gain-ing fame with “Hootie and the Blowfish.” Rucker agreed to lend his name to the event and will play a private concert for the tournament participants and Long Cove members. Event competitors will include women’s golf teams from schools in the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12, plus Notre Dame and others. Long Cove has committed to hosting the 72-hole event for the next five years. The public is invited to join the gallery.

Send us information about important golf news or your club’s upcoming golf events in an email to [email protected].

Long Cove Club, where architect Pete Dye has made a number of enhancements to the top-rated private course in the state, plans to un-dertake an extensive clubhouse renovation in 2012.

Local Golf EventsMarch 11

The Collegiate Amateur at Dataw Island843-838-8250 | Dataw.org

March 21-23women’s sC Golf Association Team Championship

Oldfield Plantation in Okatie | wsCGA.org

March 26Live Green and Network Green, hosted by experience Green, in Bluffton and

March 27 on Hilton Head Island (see p. 8) | HiltonHeadIsland.org

April 9-15Royal Bank of Canada Heritage Classic presented by BoeingHarbour Town Golf Links | 843-671-2448 | RBCHeritage.com

April 16-2210th Annual Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf/Champions TourThe westin savannah Harbor Golf Resort & spa in savannah

912-236-1333 | LMLOG.com

August 9-12PGA Championship | The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

800-742-4653 | PGA.com/PGAChampionship/2012

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T R E N D S

H TWhat’s Hot

N TWhat’s Not

David Feherty, host of The Golf Channel’s best new show, now in

its 2nd hilarious season

RBC Heritage logo merchandise

“Golf in the Kingdom,” the much-anticipated movie

based on the classic novel by Michael Murphy

White belts for golfers 30 and

under - age and waist

Tickets to the 2012 PGA Championship, the � rst Major

ever to be played in South Carolina

Lexi Thompson, the 16-year-old phenom who has won twice

since September

Longhorn Steakhouse, Blu� ton’s newest restaurant

Existing golf courses being renovated

The all-new Golfer’s Guide Local Edition

“Golf in the Kingdom,” the

The all-new Golfer’s Guide Local Edition

Lucas Glover’s beard, now in its 2nd

hilarious season

Verizon Heritage logo merchandise

“The Swinger,” a “novel” about

a scandalously unfaithful

professionalgolfer…soundtoo familiar?

White Belts for golfers 40 and over - age OR waist

Slow play and cell phones at the PGA Championship or any other

golf event – EVER!

John Daly (we are pulling for him, but not

betting on him)

The Mall at Shelter Cove (we are pulling for it, but not

betting on it)

New golf coursesbeing built

[email protected](but you can change that)

That’s our opinion. What’s yours? Send your best What’s Hot/What’s Not ideas to [email protected]

golf event – EVER!

pulling for him, but not

The Mall at Shelter Cove

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HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com6

Hilton Head Island is known and revered around the world as a resort destination that has preserved its natural beauty through thoughtful stewardship.

Residents and visitors alike are well-acquainted with the Island’s effort to protect nesting sea turtles and century-old live oaks, to renourish its post-card-perfect beaches, and to provide plenty of green space for all to enjoy.

“We like to think of sustainability as being in our DNA,” says Susan Thom-as, Vice-President of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Com-merce Visitor & Convention Bureau. “It all goes back to Charles Fraser.”

Hilton Head owes a huge debt to Fraser, the innovative developer who was as passionate about preserving nature as he was about building a world-class resort that would endure for generations to enjoy.

“We are focused on taking Fraser’s vision to the next level to sustain places, people and profits for a healthy community,” says Thomas.

The state’s first Audubon Green Community

They are certainly off to a great start. This fall, the Chamber hosted the International Ecotourism Society’s annual conference. In addition to bring-ing over 350 eco-tourism attendees from around the world to Hilton Head to talk about travel and sustainability, the Island was awarded Audubon In-ternational’s Green Community designation. The town is the first in South Carolina to earn the award for its ongoing green initiatives.

“Hilton Head has demonstrated a strong commitment to embodying the ideals of sustainability—economic vitality, environmental protection, and social responsibility,” says Suzi Van Etten, manager of Audubon’s Sustainable Communities Program. “With the surrounding natural landscape of this barrier island, Hilton Head has much to celebrate. It is a unique destination filled with residents that care deeply about the place they call home.”

Working with Audubon, Hilton Head developed strategies for conserv-ing energy and water, reducing waste, promoting renewable energy, and planning for green space and building design.

“Hilton Head Island is known for its golf and for its environmental sensi-tivity,” says Steve Riley, Hilton Head’s Town Manager. “The Audubon name is well-known for its environmental commitment. Locally, the Audubon name has long been linked to the Newhall Preserve and more recently with many of our most forward-thinking golf courses. Given those linkages, seek-ing the Audubon Society’s Green Community designation was the right choice for our Island.”

The best-selling author and naturalist Todd Ballantine, who writes the “Eco Vibe” blog for the Chamber’s website, adds “The modern history of Hilton Head Island was founded on the protection of natural resources, out-door recreation, and creative development. In order for the Island to remain sustainable–that is, to be economically viable, maintain its recreation attrac-tions, and remain a socially balanced community–its leaders must try new approaches to community management. If the will is there, then there will be a way.”

The Chamber and the Town have shown they have both the will and the way.

“Our efforts are all part of helping all of us to sustain our life here, reduce our carbon footprint, and ensure future generations will enjoy the same,” says Thomas.

HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com

Harbour Town’s 18th during the 2011 Heritage

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ns p e c i a l a d v e r t i s e m e n t

The Island and its golf courses get Audubon’s stamp of approval

Hilton Head is Seeing Green

by Bob Dagley

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Area golf courses are leading the way

Hilton Head is valued as a golf destination nearly as much as it is for its natural beauty. Nev-er is that more apparent than during the annual CBS coverage of the RBC Heritage each April. � e panoramic shots of the coastline, Harbour Town’s iconic lighthouse, and the photogenic Harbour Town Golf Links course have im-pressed audiences worldwide, especially in the era of high-de� nition television.

So it’s signi� cant to note that the region’s golf courses are taking green initiatives seriously. Of-ten, they have been ahead of the curve.

� e most recognized initiative being taken is certi� cation as an Audubon Cooperative Sanc-tuary. Audubon International awards that certi-� cation to golf courses that demonstrate e� orts to protect the environment, conserve natural resources and provide wildlife habitats.

A number of local courses, including all three of Sea Pines Resort’s courses, have already been certi� ed. In fact, the Ocean Course at Sea Pines has been certi� ed for over a decade.

“We are proud to say we are fully certi� ed as Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries,” says Cary Corbi� , Director of the Sports Division and Director of Golf for Sea Pines Resort. “Nature is what Sea Pines is all about. � at’s a testament to Charles Fraser. Everything he did here was nature-based and well thought out. With the Audubon certi� cation, at the end of the day you know you are doing the right thing.”

But certi� cation isn’t an easy undertaking (and courses must be re-certi� ed every two years).

To be designated a Certi� ed Audubon Coop-erative Sanctuary, a golf course must develop and implement an environmental management plan and document the results in six key areas: Environmental Planning, Chemical Use Re-duction and Safety, Water Conservation, Wa-ter Quality Management, Wildlife and Habitat Management and Outreach and Education.

As part of Sea Pines’ environmental manage-ment plan, the water used to maintain its golf courses is reclaimed (� ltered and reused). � at e� ort not only helps conserve water, but man-age its quality.

� e bene� ts of this program are not just lim-ited to the environment. A study by Audubon International reports a richer golf experience at courses that are in harmony with the envi-ronment. � e study also cites be� er � nancial performance through reduced insurance pre-miums and reduced costs for energy, water, pes-ticides and fertilizers.

Last year, the Chamber sponsored a work-shop for area golf course superintendents with the folks from Audubon to discuss how to get their courses designated as Certi� ed Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. � e goal is to get ev-ery local golf course certi� ed, says � omas.

� at’s an achievement that would have cer-tainly pleased the late Charles Fraser.

For more information on the Chamber’s green ef-forts and how area golf courses are doing their part, visit www.hiltonheadisland.org.

Editor’s Note: � is is the � rst in a series of articles spon-sored by the Hilton Head Island-Blu� on Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the community to help foster the sustainability of people, places and pro� ts. Look for the next issue of Golfer’s Guide to read about the Chamber’s soon-to-be-announced Eco Smart sustainability certi� cation program.

Hilton Head AreaCertified Audubon

Cooperative Sanctuary Golf Courses

Bear Creek Golf Club

The Sea Pines Resort:Harbour Town Golf Links

The Ocean CourseHeron Point

Old� eld

Secession Golf Club

Sun City Hilton Head:Okatie Creek

Hidden Cypress

The Golf Club at Hidden Lakes


Secession’s 18th green

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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GolfersGuide.com8

Davis Love III, September 2011(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

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i N T E R V i E W

Brad King: As a five-time Heritage Classic cham-pion at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head, you are now hosting a tournament [The McGladrey Classic] at a resort destination [Sea Island, Georgia] just a couple of hours down the road. Do you think your ties with a new PGA TOUR event will affect your relationship with the Heritage? Davis Love III: The Heritage will always be special to my family and me. We are trying to build on the success and the feel of the Her-itage and have another event that is a favorite of the players and their families, and show that the Southeast coast from The Heritage to The Players is a world-class golf destination. It works out great that our event is in the fall, opposite the Heritage’s spring date. It pro-vides another opportunity for golf fans in the Lowcountry to be able to see and enjoy great golf in person. BK: Not many people remember that you won the Junior Heritage at Harbour Town a few years back. DL III [laughing]: It was 1982 and defi-nitely my first big win! I actually didn’t win much as a junior or amateur. BK: You also enjoyed your first PGA TOUR vic-tory at Harbour Town in 1987, along with four subse-quent Heritage titles. How do you explain your close connection to this golf course? DL III: I think I learned to play Harbour

Town patiently. The greens are what I grew up putting on. Harbour Town and Seaside [at Sea Island] are very different, but the Ber-muda grass is similar and the putting is more natural to me than a player that grew up on bent [grass]. I had some good luck at Harbour Town, and then my confidence on the course just grew. BK: What do you and your family enjoy doing most on Hilton Head? What are some of your favorite plac-es around the island? DL III: We love the beach and the back yard at our host, Arthur Blank’s, house. You can’t beat Giusseppi’s pizza, and the kids still like putt-putt! BK: Congratulations on an outstanding second McGladrey Classic [in 2011], which not only en-joyed a thrilling playoff finish between two outstand-ing young talents [Ben Crane and Webb Simpson], but also received plenty of favorable press, and looked great on TV. [What are] your thoughts on where the tournament finds itself after its sophomore year? DL III: Thank you. We are thrilled with the success of the event. McGladrey and our foun-dation team, led by Scott Reid and Mark Love, are great partners and Sea Island is a great host. It’s important to us that the players and sponsors love the week, and we will continue to grow our charity donations. We doubled our donations from year one to this year.

Prince ofTides

by Brad King

0In an exclusive interview for Golfer’s Guide, Davis Love III talks about the Heritage Classic, his own Sea Island tournament, golf course architecture,

the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah and his new Ryder Cup job.

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GolfersGuide.com

BK: In 2010 you weren’t at Sea Island at the start of tournament week [because] you were wrapping up the Ryder Cup competition in Wales. This year you were able to enjoy everything from start to finish. What were some of the highlights of you and your family’s week during the tournament? DL III: The highlights this year for me were not only being around to see the building of the event, but also helping with the tournament preparation and getting to see how hard our team works. And, of course, to have [son] Dru caddie for me — that was a real highlight of the week. BK: Like most high-end golf resorts, Sea Island has been hit hard by the weakened world economy. How has witnessing first-hand the struggles of the resort you’ve called home most of your life affected you? DL III: Well, it’s been tougher on my close friends, the Jones family, but they have con-tinued to work hard for the community and the employees. We have been thankful that The McGladrey Classic can showcase the resort and show the world that it is fabu-lous and open for business. We always say all we have to do is get people to Sea Island and they are hooked. The event exposes and shows off the resort to more people than any other type of marketing. And it goes beyond just Sea Island, this event and the media exposure it brings showcases what is great about the entire Golden Isles of Georgia. Over time, we feel it will create an impact on the entire coastal region from Jacksonville to Savannah to Hilton Head. BK: How have you convinced so many of the TOUR’s up-and-coming stars to move down to St. Simons and Sea Island with you? How would you describe the appeal of the Golden Isles? DL III: They know how great the golf is, and they may come to play or work on their game. But the people, the churches, schools and the sense of hometown in a resort setting draw them in as a place to raise a family. Our secret got out on TOUR! BK: You have also carved out quite a favorable reputation for yourself in the field of golf course architecture. What are your feelings about the current state of that industry? DL III: Like so many businesses, the economy has really hurt [the building of new courses]. We are staying in the game any way we can and hoping to be ready to build on our success when it starts to come back. Right now we are working on a few

new holes on The Dunes Course at Diamante Cabo San Lucas, a course we designed in Mexico that was recently ranked No. 58 in the world. We’re also working on a few other small projects. BK: We understand one of those smaller projects is consulting with the new owners of Bloody Point over on Daufuskie Island. What can you tell us about Love Golf Design’s upcoming work at Bloody Point? DL III: We think Bloody Point is a unique golf course with some interesting history, designed by Tom Weiskopf — some-

one after whom I modeled not only my golf swing, but also a little bit of my business ca-reer. But the golf course right now is complete-ly grown over. We are planning to consult with them on getting the course back playable and in good agronomic shape. It’s not a full design project for us, but we always prided ourselves on being flexible enough to meet any owner’s needs. BK: Have you lobbied at all to design the 2016

Olympic golf course in Rio de Janeiro? If you did not get the job, is there an architect you would like to see get it or think most deserves it? DL III: No, I haven’t lobbied for the job. But I love what Ben Crenshaw is doing now, and Gil Hanse is doing great work. BK: Your very first architectural design was right here in the Lowcountry at Fripp Island, and you also designed the popular Eagle’s Pointe Golf Club in Bluffton. Why do you think Hilton Head and the Lowcountry of South Carolina have produced so many outstanding golf courses during the past four or five decades? DL III: The Lowcountry is blessed with some great land and weather for golf, which is why the area has had the best developers and architects build there.

BK: Though not unexpected, your appointment as U.S. Ryder Cup captain in 2012 is a tremendous honor. [What are] your thoughts on the significance of the job, along with the responsibilities and media spotlight that come with it, too? DL III: Well, it’s certainly a great honor and I am thrilled to be leading the team. I’m not sure I am ready for the media crush, but [wife] Robin has me ready and organized with the clothes and gifts. She is a great event planner and she has been to 13 matches with me. We have been talking about how we would captain a team if we had the chance for a long time. BK: OK, so at age 47, perhaps you are not one of the young guns on the PGA TOUR anymore. Nevertheless, you enjoyed a pretty good year

i N T E R V i E W

“I hope one day it will be said that I was successful

in the game while putting my family and faith first, and that I upheld the traditions of the

game as my father did.”

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GolfersGuide.com

11

out there with them in 2011. Is your 2012 focus more on Davis Love the golfer or Davis Love the Ryder Cup captain? DL III: We will be ready for the matches as captain — but I will be playing a full schedule and trying to make my team! BK: How excited are you about playing the 2012 PGA Championship as a former champion at the Ocean Course on nearby Kiawah Island? What are your thoughts about that particular golf course design? DL III: I think it’s great to have a major tournament near home, and on such a great course. I hope my success on Pete Dye courses will come out again. BK: What are your thoughts on the state of the PGA TOUR, post Ti-ger Woods scandal? Are you generally enthusiastic about the state of the game and the direction the TOUR is heading?

DL III: The TOUR is great; we are growing as other sports are struggling. There are many new sponsors, fans, and a great crop of new young Americans. The players really cannot fathom what a great job [PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim] Finchem has done in a terrible marketplace. BK: Through the Davis Love Foundation, you are active in many chari-ties and good causes, including this year’s inaugural GOLF 9/12 event. What do you hope is your legacy in the game of golf ? DL III: I hope one day it will be said that I was successful in the game while putting my family and faith first, and that I upheld the traditions of the game as my father did. The foundation is just one result of the things that we have learned from players that Robin and I have been mentored by — that we have to use our success and blessings as a platform to benefit people less fortunate, and grow and give back to the game.

Brad King is former senior editor of LINKS Magazine, longtime golf columnist for the Hilton Head Island Packet and current contributing writer for TheAPosition.com and numerous other publications. Since 2002, he has served as president of Brad King Communications and resides in Winston-Salem, N.C.

i N T E R V i E W

Davis Love III at The McGladrey Classic, October 2011

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P U B L I C G O L F C O U R S E R E C O R D S

Oyster ReefEric Roudabush, 66

Palmetto Hall – Cupp CourseCharles Howe, 64

Palmetto Hall – Hills CourseBilly Palmer & Chris Peters, 67

Sea Pines’ Ocean CourseEric Kennedy, 65

Country Club of Hilton HeadMatt Presnell, 63

Crescent PointeBilly Palmer, 65

Eagle’s PointeRoger Rowland, 65

Golden Bear at IndigoBrian Agee, 64

Old South Golf LinksRick Stallings & P.J. Cowan, 62

Palmetto Dunes – Arthur HillsBryce Molder, 60

Palmetto Dunes – George FazioMike Bright, 63

Palmetto Dunes – Robert Trent Jones OceanfrontJoe Jasper, 67

PinecrestJ.D. Hoft, 62

The Sanctuary at Cat IslandRobb Simmons, 67

Sea Pines – Harbour Town Golf LinksDavid Frost, 61

The Club at Savannah HarborMark James, 63

MelrosePaul Azinger, 62

Bloody PointDavid Peoples, 65

2011 “Golf Course of the Year” Old South Golf Links

Frosty shoots a cool 61

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P U B L I C G O L F C O U R S E S

Country Club of Hilton Head70 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Headhiltonheadclub.com 843-681-4653

Crescent Pointe1 Crescent Pointe, Blu� toncrescentpointegolf.com 843-706-2600

Eagle’s Pointe1 Eagle’s Pointe, Blu� toneaglespointegolf.com 843-757-5900

Fripp Island ResortOcean Creek and Ocean Point courses201 Tarpon Blvd., Fripp Islandfrippislandresort.com 888-741-8974

Golden Bear at Indigo Run72 Golden Bear Way, Hilton Head clubcorp.com/Clubs/Golden-Bear-Golf-Club-at-Indigo-Run 843-689-2200

Hilton Head National60 Hilton Head National Drive, Hilton Headgolfhiltonheadnational.com 843-842-5900

Island West40 Island West Drive, Blu� tonislandwestgolf.net 843-815-6660

Old Carolina89 Old Carolina Drive, Blu� tonoldcarolinagolf.com 843-757-8311

Old South Golf Links50 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Blu� tonoldsouthgolf.com 843-785-5353

Oyster Reef155 High Blu� Road, Hilton Headhiltonheadgolf.net 843-681-1764

Palmetto DunesArthur Hills Course#2 Leamington Lane, Hilton Headpalmettodunes.com 843-785-1138

Palmetto DunesGeorge Fazio Course#2 Carnoustie, Hilton Headpalmettodunes.com 843-785-1138

Palmetto DunesRobert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course7 Trent Jones Lane, Hilton Headpalmettodunes.com 843-785-1138

Palmetto Hall Golf ClubCupp and Hills courses108 Fort Howell Drive, Hilton Headhiltonheadgolf.net 843-342-2582

Pinecrest1 Pinecrest Way, Blu� tonpinecrestsc.com 843-757-8960

Port Royal Golf ClubPlanter’s Row, Robber’s Row and Barony courses10 Clubhouse Drive, Hilton Headhiltonheadgolf.net 843-681-1700

Rose Hill4 Clubhouse Drive, Blu� tongolfrosehill.com 843-757-9030

Sanctuary at Cat Island8 Waveland Avenue, Beaufortsanctuarygolfcatisland.com 843-524-0300

Shipyard Golf Club45 Shipyard Drive, Hilton Headhiltonheadgolf.net 843-686-8802

Sea PinesHarbour Town Golf Links11 Lighthouse Lane, Hilton Headseapines.com 843-363-8385

Sea PinesHeron Point and Ocean Course100 N. Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Headseapines.com 843-842-1477

The Club at Savannah Harbor2 Resort Drive, Savannah, GAtheclubatsavannahharbor.com 912-201-2240

WINTER SPECIALS

Many resort courses in The Lowcountry o� er discount rates during the cool sea-son of local golf. The higher prices in the ranges below are generally for 18-hole weekend or holiday tee times, but we recommend that you con� rm your rate directly with the golf club sta� . Be sure to also check with them about daily spe-cials and multi-round promotions.

Country Club of Hilton Head $49-$110

Crescent Pointe/ Eagle’s Pointe $99 Signature Series (thru March 4)

Golden Bear at Indigo Run$35-$49

Hilton Head National$40 (Jan. local rate)+replays & 2-course deals

Island West (thru Feb.)$20-$30

Old South (thru Feb. 27)$55-$70prepaid specials $39-$45

Palmetto Dunes (thru Feb. 1)RT Jones / $65-$85Hills / $59-$79Fazio / $55-$75+multi-round rates

Pinecrest (thru Feb.)$25-$39

Rose Hill$35/round

Sanctuary at Cat Island$40-$60Twilight specials

Sea Pines (thru Feb. 1)Harbour Town / $165 and upHeron Point / $60 and upOcean Course / $60 and up+multi-round ratesSuper Sunday specials

The Club at Savannah HarborJanuary Holiday special

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12 Comments or questions?Let us hear from you:

[email protected]

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SAVANNAH AREA

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Golfer’s Guide Lowcountry Golf MapThese overview maps are designed to give general locations of the region’s public

courses (listed on page 13 and represented as ) and private clubs (listed on page 16 and represented as ). For more specific directions,

call the phone numbers listed or use your GPS.

Hardeeville

Berkeley Hall

Bluffton

Okatie

Belfair

HamptonHall

Sun CityHilton Head

Pooler

RichmondHill

SkidawayIsland

Savannah

DawfuskieIsland

GG Map Spread 3.indd 14 12/21/11 6:43:34 PM


HILTON HEAD ISLAND AREA

BEAUFORT AREA

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Bluffton

IndigoRun

Palmetto Dunes

Spanish Wells

LongCove

Wexford

ShipyardSea Pines

ColletonRiver

SpringIsland

Hilton Head Plantation

Port Royal Plantation

Palmetto Hall

Cat Island

FrippIsland

DatawIsland

MossCreek

Belfair Okatie

Beaufort

DawfuskieIsland

GG Map Spread 3.indd 15 12/21/11 2:26:33 PM


P R I V A T E G o l f C o u R s E s

Bear Creek Golf Club237 Whooping Crane Way, Hilton Headbearcreekgolfclub.org 843-681-2667

BelfairEast and West courses200 Belfair oaks Blvd., Blufftonbelfair1811.com 843-757-0700

Berkely HallNorth and south courses366 Good Hope Road, Blufftonberkeleyhallclub.com 843-815-8494

Brays Island115 Brays Island Drive, sheldonbraysisland.org 843-846-3170

Callawassie176 Callawassie Drive, okatiecallawassieisland.com 843-987-2125

Chechessee Creek Club18 Chechessee Creek Drive, okatiechechesseecreekclub.com 843-987-7000

Colleton RiverDye and Nicklaus courses60 Colleton River Drive, Blufftoncolletonriverclub.com 843-836-4400

DatawCotton Dike and Morgan River courses100 Dataw Club Road, st. Helena Islanddataw.org 843-838-8250

Dolphin Head56 High Bluff Road, Hilton Headdolphinheadgc.com 843-681-5550

Golf Club at Indigo Run101 Berwick Drive, Hilton Head clubcorp.com/clubs/The-Golf-Club-at-Indigo-Run 843-689-3500

Haig Point10 Haig Point Circle, Hilton Headhaigpoint.com 843-341-8155

Hampton Hall170 Hampton Hall Blvd., Blufftonhamptonhallsc.com 843-815-8720

Hilton Head Lakes2005 Wiregrass Way, Hardeevillehiltonheadlakes.com 843-208-5353

Long Cove44 long Cove Drive, Hilton Headlongcoveclub.org 843-686-1020

Moss CreekDevil’s Elbow North and south courses100 Devil’s Elbow lane, Hilton Headmosscreek-hiltonhead.com 843-837-2231

Oldfield136 oldfield Way, okatieoldfield1732.com 843-379-5051

May River Club/Palmetto Bluff1 Village Park square, Blufftonpalmettobluff.com 866-316-5262

Savannah Quarters8 Palladian Way, Pooler, GAsavannahQuartersCC.com 912-450-2700

Sea Pines Country Club 30 Governors Road, Hilton Headseapinescountryclub.com 843-671-2345

Spanish Wells Golf Clubone Brams Point Road, Hilton Headspanishwellsclub.com 843-681-2819

Old Tabby Links/Spring Island 42 Mobley oaks lane, okatie springisland.com 843-987-2200

Sun CityHidden Cypress, okatie Creek and Argent lakes courses672 Cypress Hills Drive, Bluffton843-705-4999

The Ford Plantation1 Clubhouse Drive, Richmond Hill, GAfordplantation.com 912-756-2742

The Landings on Skidaway Island Marshwood, Magnolia, Plantation, Palmetto,oakridge and Deer Creek courses1 Palmer’s Draw, savannah, GAthelandings.com 912-598-2596

Wexford111 Wexford Club Drive, Hilton Headwexfordplantation.com 843-686-8810

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P R I V A T E G O L F C O U R S E R E C O R D S

Long Cove44 Long Cove Drive, Hilton Headlongcoveclub.org 843-686-1020

Moss CreekDevil’s Elbow North and South courses100 Devil’s Elbow Lane, Hilton Headmosscreek-hiltonhead.com 843-837-2231

Old� eld136 Old� eld Way, Okatieold� eld1732.com 843-379-5051

May River Club/Palmetto Blu� 1 Village Park Square, Blu� tonpalmettoblu� .com 866-316-5262

Savannah Quarters8 Palladian Way, Pooler, GASavannahQuartersCC.com 912-450-2700

Sea Pines Country Club 30 Governors Road, Hilton Headseapinescountryclub.com 843-671-2345

Spanish Wells Golf ClubOne Brams Point Road, Hilton Headspanishwellsclub.com 843-681-2819

Old Tabby Links/Spring Island 42 Mobley Oaks Lane, Okatie springisland.com 843-987-2200

Sun CityHidden Cypress, Okatie Creek and Argent Lakes courses672 Cypress Hills Drive, Blu� ton843-705-4999

The Ford Plantation1 Clubhouse Drive, Richmond Hill, GAfordplantation.com 912-756-2742

The Landings on Skidaway Island Marshwood, Magnolia, Plantation, Palmetto,Oakridge and Deer Creek courses1 Palmer’s Draw, Savannah, GAthelandings.com 912-598-2596

Wexford111 Wexford Club Drive, Hilton Headwexfordplantation.com 843-686-8810

Bear CreekJe� DeVincentis, 67

Belfair – EastMark Anderson, 60

Belfair – WestRickie Fowler, 64

Chechessee CreekTodd Berringer, 63

The Ford PlantationMark Silvers, 65

Hilton Head LakesJordan Pomeranz, 67

Long CoveBlake Trimble, 65

Moss Creek – Devil’s Elbow SouthRon Cerrudo, Mike Harmon, Ron Frisch

& Eric Hogge, 66

Moss Creek – Devil’s Elbow NorthTerry Florence & Vic Lipscomb, 63

Old� eldKyle Dobbs, 64

Savannah QuartersJustin Smith, 61

Sea Pines Country ClubJohn Spelman, 64

Spanish Wells Golf ClubTom Cornelia, 62

Spring Island – Old Tabby LinksKelly Mitchell, 65

Sun City – Hidden CypressBlaine McCallister, 68

Fowler cards a 64at Players-Amin 2007

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HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.comHiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com20

R E A L E S T A T E

by JG Walker

Home CourseAdvantage

It all starts with the land,” said Belfair General Manager David Por-ter. “Our developers acquired a site with great natural beauty, then brought in Tom Fazio, who built two amazing golf courses here.”

Fazio designed both the East and West Courses at Belfair in Blu� on, as well as Co� on Dike for Beaufort’s Dataw Island Club, which is also home to Arthur Hills’ Morgan River layout.

“When you combine two spectacular se� ings in a four-season climate with brilliant golf architecture,” said Dataw’s Director of Golf Dave Brit-ton, “your members get courses where the look and even the playing strat-egies are constantly changing. � at keeps the golf fresh.”

At Long Cove Club on Hilton Head Island, the members have only one home course to play, but they’re OK with that since it’s almost unani-mously ranked as the best private course in South Carolina.

“Pete Dye blessed us with one of his � nest designs,” Long Cove Club Head Golf Professional Bob Pa� on said, “and our members appreciate what a truly great course they have.”

But if great locations and designs are a given in the equation, good plan-ning and timely decision-making seem to be important variables that get these golf clubs to a happy bo� om line.

“A er our members took over in 2001,” said Belfair GM Porter, “they put in a $15,000 initiation fee in 2003—which I think was unique in the

area at the time—to fund a capital improvements plan for the courses and golf facilities. � at made it possible for us last year to redo all the greens and bunkers on the East Course and end the year with money in the bank and no debt. � is year we’ll upgrade all the bunkers on our West Course and, if the members approve, expand the clubhouse.”

Dataw also completely recontoured and regrassed the Co� on Dike greens last year, while similar renovations now underway on Morgan River are part of an overall $5.4 million investment in the home courses. “It’s a testament to the club’s commitment to maintaining our � nest ame-nities and to our con� dence in the future,” said Dataw General Manager Ted Bartle� .

Like Belfair, Long Cove is planning major clubhouse improvements this spring and architect Dye has made numerous tweaks to his layout over the years, as well as bigger changes like adding new championship tees on � ve holes and relocating bunkers. “He’s improved his own design to accommodate today’s player who hits 300-yard drives,” Pa� on said, “and at the same time made the course even more playable for our higher-handicap members and their guests.”

And play they do: Long Cove hosted about 34,000 rounds in 2011, a � gure that has remained steady for years. Belfair booked just over 46,000 rounds, even with the East Course on the sidelines, and Dataw recorded

The golf clubs at Long Cove, Belfair and Dataw are among the most active and successful in the Lowcountry. A closer look reveals some of their “secrets” to maintaining that…

“

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HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com 21HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com

similar totals with Co� on Dike out of play for six months. Both of the 36-hole clubs may see up to 60,000 annual rounds when their respective renovation proj-ects are completed.

So having the resources avail-able and the willingness to use them seems to be a common thread that connects these busy Lowcountry golf clubs, but is there another important element in their formulas for success?

“It’s all about the people—members and sta� ,” said Porter, noting that both groups at Belfair are always discussing creative program ideas and that new Director of Golf James Swi� brings a fresh perspective to that brainstorming. e Belfair GM also cited the club’s top-rated practice facilities and three full-time instructors on sta� as major contributors to keeping the members and their games sharp.

Long Cove also has a new key sta� member, highly regarded golf in-structor Tim Cooke, while head pro Bob Pa� on and driving-force mem-bers like former PGA TOUR professional Jim Ferree and his wife Karen,

an accomplished amateur play-er in her own right, have been with the club since its inception. “What our members brought with them was a genuine pas-sion for golf—the historic tradi-tions and values that the game represents,” Long Cove Club General Manager David Loan said. “And they’ve got an expe-rienced and energetic sta� here

that strives to meet their high expectations.” e ubiquitous Feree is also a founding member of Belfair and the Jim

Ferree Learning Center there is named in his honor.Whether it’s hi� ing balls on the range to improve their individual

scores, playing in a team tournament for the club, creating an event to pro-mote the game or giving something back to the community, the members at Dataw, Long Cove and Belfair seem to consistently � nd new ways to express their love of golf.

All three clubs feature special member events, from Belfair’s monthly “Men’s Night Out” (a nine-hole twilight tournament and a big steak

Belfair

Dataw



dinner with all the trimmings) to Long Cove’s recent “Mys-tery on the Orient Express” themed event (36 holes of ladies member-guest play and some fun-filled sleuthing around the clubhouse). All participate in competitive events with other local clubs, like the home-and-away rivalry that Dataw members have developed with their peers at Fripp Island, Callawassie and Moss Creek. And each club in-vites guest speakers, from sports psychologists and nutritional ex-perts to authors and touring pros, who invigorate members with new ideas or provide a shared evening’s entertainment.

Also enhancing club cama-raderie are the annual trips to high-profile golf destinations: Belfair members went to Ban-don Dunes in Oregon last year and Long Cove members made a tour of Scotland to play his-toric courses like St. Andrews, Royal Aberdeen and Carnoustie.

Back on the home courses, Dataw, Belfair and Long Cove host visiting players for a variety of golf tournaments that keep member-volunteers and double-duty staffs on their toes, from the Heritage Players-Am that Belfair hosted for the past 12 years to the new Darius Rucker Intercolle-giate (Ladies Invitational) that debuts this March at Long Cove (see “Local Golf Events” on p. 3).

And each of the clubs’ representatives cited their very active women’s programs, with inde-pendent golf associations run by elected boards, as vital factors in enhancing overall club enthu-siasm and success. While the men certainly do their part in community-outreach efforts, women members often seem to be in the fore-front. The Long Cove Club Community En-dowment Fund has raised more than $500,000 since 2003 to benefit Lowcountry nonprofit programs from improving health care and child nutrition to supporting military service mem-bers and their families.

Likewise, Porter noted a recent weeklong fundraiser at Belfair, including a golf tourna-ment, silent auction and other activities that collected more than $46,000 for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. He could have been speaking for Dataw and Long Cove as well when he said, “We’re very proud of our women’s golf association.”

Those ladies also are key par-ticipants in each club’s “Ambassa-dor” program in which members host prospective residents that come from the same geographi-cal area, have similar professional backgrounds or share specific interests. Visitors get unfiltered answers to their questions and have a jump-start on establishing new social networks when they decide to join the club.

“And what those new mem-bers bring to a golf club is often just as important as what they find here,” said Dataw’s golf director Britton, who offered a ready example: “A new mem-ber recently signed up for one of our match-play tournaments and asked if I could go over the match-play rules with her. So I decided to have a little seminar in case there were any others who thought a refresher might be helpful and I ended up with

a room full of new and old members. She did everyone a favor and our teams played with confidence that they knew the rules inside-out and could concentrate on making shots.

“It was a little thing by itself,” Britton conclud-ed, “but I think it represents something larger: Even if you have great facilities and resources, a golf club excels because of the positive interac-tion among members and with the staff. Some-times it’s as simple as just having fun on the course, but I think the sum total of those kinds of interactions can really improve someone’s overall quality of life and that’s what a good golf club does.”

Special thanks to Dataw Island Club Director of Marketing David Warren, Long Cove Club Director of Communications Parker Harrington and Belfair General Manager David Porter for their assistance with this story.

What gives your golf club its “home course ad-vantage”? Let us know with an email to [email protected].

HH National

R E A L E S T A T E

Long Cove

Members at Dataw, Long Cove and Belfair seem

to consistently find new ways to

express their love of golf.


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D R I V E T I M ESouthern Golf Destinations

by JG Walker

Kiawah Calls

Remember the drama of the 1991 Ryder Cup? Well, a whole new generation of the game’s elite will take to the stage this time in the � rst Big Four major championship ever played in South

Carolina.Joining the gallery or watching the tournament on TV this sum-

mer will be exciting, but here’s an even be� er idea: Take advan-tage of Kiawah’s winter rates now to book your own tee time on � e Ocean Course and a night or two at � e Sanctuary, the re-sort’s world-class oceanfront hotel. Treat your partner to an a� er-noon at the spa and a romantic sunset dinner and you’ll both leaveKiawah feeling like champions.

The Sanctuary

Arriving at � e Sanctuary through a tunnel of live oaks, the hotel itself is nearly invisible because of all those trees and that’s just what the architects intended: Your � rst impression is a “Wow” as you walk through the doors.

� e Sanctuary’s grand entrance hall is as good as it gets: the multi-story atrium abounds in light and space as your wide-open eyes are di-rected through gigantic windows above a football-� eld-size manicured lawn and over the sand dunes to the ocean breakers beyond. How this unique se� ing was created is remarkable:

First, more than 400 trees, including 160 Live Oaks at least 50 feet tall, were dug up by the world’s largest mechanical spade and transported to a nearby farm. Big loads of � ll dirt were imported to raise the site to 21 feet above sea level. Having rejected all futuristic designs of glass and steel, construction began on a Charleston-style hotel of glass and brick and wood and stucco, with slate-tile shingles on the roof and intricate details in copper and iron everywhere. � en all of those hundreds of well-cared-for trees were returned and replanted on the site with the loss of only a single palme� o.

� e result is a graceful double-winged luxury hotel that’s impressive without being imposing, spectacular without being pretentious and ultra-modern in amenities without being at all “new” in appearance. Which makes � e Sanctuary the perfect � t for a resort where great architecture is important—inside and out.

The Ocean Course

Five brilliant golf designers have built � ve outstanding courses at Ki-awah, including � e Ocean Course, the same one that hosted the memo-rable Ryder Cup—except that it’s really not. Nor is it the same course that architect Pete Dye originally planned. Nor is it exactly the same today as it will be tomorrow. And that’s part of its greatness.

the PGA and you.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort and The Ocean Course will host the 2012 PGA Champion.

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HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com 25HiltonHead.GolfersGuide.com

Because The Ocean Course is exposed to a pair of nature’s mightiest shape-changing forces: the Atlantic Ocean and Pete Dye. The layout’s proximity to a pristine sprawl of beachfront creates a fluid palate for the artist. And Dye is indeed an artist who works in the mediums of sand and sod, with tools that range from a bulldozer to a shovel and rake.

Building a golf course on the literal fringe of a continent was an in-your-face challenge to one of the Earth’s most mercu-rial environments. From the beginning, it was clear that The Ocean Course would offer just about the most wind-and-weather-influenced rounds the American game had ever seen. Play-ing downwind, you might make some pars. Play-ing into the wind, you might have to take some doubles. And hitting high into the crosswinds was like playing roulette of the Russian variety. And those breezes change by the day, the hour and, sometimes, the minute.

Since its official opening in 1991, Dye has returned often to his Ocean Course, repairing Mother Nature’s damage when necessary and improving his masterpiece where possible. It was perfect for the Ryder Cup, as it was for the 2003 World Cup and the 2007 Senior PGA

Championship, and as it will be for the 2012 PGA. Dye reportedly vis-ited the layout no less than six times in 2011, tweaking here, molding there and sharpening everywhere. Last August, while the PGA Cham-pionship was being played in Atlanta, the course was set up to the exact same tournament standards—to observe the arc of the sun, the surge of the surf and the weathervane’s spin above the clubhouse with exactly

one year to go and counting. The Ocean Course is a “truth-in-advertising”

name because 10 holes are set directly along the beach and the other eight run parallel to it. From the first tee to the final green, every hole offers yet another sweeping ocean view. To his credit, Dye’s design includes many elevated tees and raised fairways, so the player isn’t blind to what’s ahead. To be honest, The Ocean Course can be a very tough round of golf. So play the middle tees unless you have a very low handicap, swal-

low your pride and lay up when you know you should, and be smart about your risk-reward adventures. More than any other you’ll ever play, the Ocean Course is not amenable to conquest. It demands and will earn your respect.

The Ocean Course is exposed to a pair of

nature’s mightiest shape-changing

forces: The Atlantic Ocean and Pete Dye.

Kiawah Beach and 16th hole on The Ocean Course

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All-Star Lineup

Kiawah’s other four golf courses aren’t as famous as The Ocean Course, but each would probably be a flagship resort layout anywhere else. The most convenient for Sanctuary guests is Turtle Point, a Jack Nicklaus design adjacent to the hotel with three signature oceanfront holes. Cougar Point by Gary Player features a riverside front nine with abundant wildlife and four dramatic closing holes. Osprey Point is a Tom Fazio creation with large natural lakes amid an old-growth forest of oak, pine and palmetto.

Kiawah’s “fifth course” is Oak Point by Hilton Head Island-based golf architect Clyde John-ston. As a warm-up round for The Ocean Course, Oak Point is every bit the equal of the re-sort’s other layouts in terms of visual grandeur and playing enjoyment. For the golfer who can occasionally hit a solid 7 iron or metal 3, the rare front nine at Oak Point with three par 3s and three par 5s presents numerous scoring opportunities. The Ultra Dwarf greens this season are in exceptionally good shape and the layout’s namesake centurions protect many approaches from the occasionally stiff gusts. At least until the last three holes, which open wide up as they play towards a grand finish beside the junction of historic Haulover Creek and the Kiawah River.

Sunset Dining

Kiawah offers a choice of world-class restau-rants with one scenic similarity: because the island’s beach actually faces south instead of east, both of the resort’s signature restaurants offer incredible sunset views over the surf and adjacent wetlands. The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary is America’s only Forbes Four-Star/AAA Four-Diamond-rated steakhouse, spe-cializing in hand-selected and grilled-to-per-fection beef and chops. But the seafood lover in you might opt for The Atlantic Room in The

Ocean Course clubhouse, with local catches featured on the menu, plus a host of creative side dishes. And those sunsets are almost as good as the fare.

In addition, The Sanctuary’s Jasmine Porch features authentic Lowcountry cuisine and, like all of the resort’s eateries, participates in the farm-to-table program that features fresh local vegetables, fruits and seafood. The Sanctuary even has its own herb garden and takes great pride in all of its eco-sustainability programs. The hotel, like all five of the resort’s golf courses, is an Audubon International Certified Coop-erative Sanctuary.

The Extras

At a renowned luxury hotel, you expect to pay more and to get more; The Sanctuary de-livers on its end of the bargain. From reception to checkout, the staff exudes a laid-back friend-liness that’s never pushy, but always attentive. The oversized guestrooms and suites feature double-sink bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, bedding custom-made for the resort in Omaha and wrought-iron balconies with

ocean views. All of the bases are covered and there are many ap-preciated extras.

The Sanctuary Spa is one of only 30 Forbes Five-Star Spas in the world. Twelve private rooms are available for spa specialties like the Mint Julep Facial and the Lowcountry Verbena Body Polish. Mas-sages are offered for women, men and couples, plus a signa-ture deep-relaxation treatment called a “Body Wrapture.” In addition an indoor pool with adjacent fitness facilities on the first floor, the spa also features a full-service salon.

The noted due-south ocean-front orientation at Kiawah means that the island’s unin-terrupted 10-mile shoreline is bathed in sunshine all day long when the skies are clear. Kiawah Beach really is one of South

Carolina’s best for a long hike, a lazy stroll or a carefree bike ride at low tide.

AAA gives The Sanctuary its top rating of Five Diamonds, while Mobil awards it all of their Five Stars. And Conde Nast Traveler named Kiawah “The No. 1 Island to Visit on the US Mainland.” To be the best of that best is mighty impressive.

From now through the end of February, The Sanc-tuary is offering a special winter “Bed & Breakfast” rate of $285 per weeknight (Sun.-Weds.) and $315 on weekend nights. Kiawah villa rates start at $193 per night with a minimum two-night stay. Both offers include daily breakfast for two at Jasmine Porch or the Town Center Market, plus complimentary space-available accommodations upgrades.

Greens fees through March 4 are $222 for Ki-awah Resort guests on The Ocean Course, $114 for Osprey Point, Turtle Point and Cougar Point, and $72 at Oak Point. Rates are slightly higher for play-ers not staying at the resort. For details, call 800-654-2924 or go to KiawahResort.com.

Dataw

D R I V E T I M E

The Sanctuary

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