Golf Digest, one of the nation’s oldest golf magazines, began ranking the best courses in each state in 1977—11 years after the debut of the publication’s Top 100 in America.
Both listings are often part of traveling players’ guide to fulfilling their personal playing resumes. Below you will find South Carolina’s top 35 courses as ranked by Golf Digest include nine that anyone can play. The three courses on Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Courses are also noted.
2026 Rankings
1. The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island (public/GD Top 100), previous rank: 1
2. The Congaree Golf Club, Ridgeland (private - Host to the 2022 CJ Cup; 2021 Palmetto Championship at Congaree/GD Top 100), previous rank:
3. Yeamans Hall Club, Charleston (private/GD Top 100), previous rank:
4. Sage Valley Golf Club, Graniteville (private/GD Second 100), previous rank:
5. Old Barnwell Golf Club, Aiken (private), previous rank: NR 6. Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island (public/GD Second 100), previous rank: 6
7. Secession Golf Club, Beaufort , Beaufort( private/GD Second 100), previous rank: 5
8. Kiawah Island Club Cassique Course, Kiawah Island (private/GD Second 100), previous rank: 7
9. Long Cove Club, Hilton Head Island (private/GD Second 100), previous rank: 8
10. Sage Valley, Granviteville (private), previous rank: 4
11. Kiawah Island Club River Course (private/GD Second 100), previous rank: 9
12. Palmetto Golf Club, Aiken (private), previous rank: 10
13. The Country Club of Charleston, Charleston (private), previous rank: 12
14. Colleton River Club Dye Course, Bluffton (private), previous rank: 13
15. May River Golf Club At Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton (public/GD Second 100), previous rank: 11
16. Old Tabby Links, Okatie (private), previous rank: 14
17. Chechessee Creek Club, Okatie (private), previous rank: 16
18. The Cliffs At Mountain Park, Travelers Rest (private), previous rank: 17
19. Greenville Country Club Chanticleer Course (private), previous rank: 15
20. Quioxte Club, Sumter (private), previou rank: 19
21. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Myrtle Beach (semi-private/public), previous rank: 21
22. Colleton River Club Nicklaus Course, Bluffton (private), previous rank: 18
23. Musgrove Mill Golf Club, Clinton (private), previous rank: 23
24. The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, Sunset (private), previous rank: 21
25. Haig Point Club Signature Course, Daufuskie Island (private), previous rank: 22
8. Long Cove Club, Hilton Head Island (private/GD Second 100), previous rank: 8
18. The Golf Club At Briar's Creek, Johns Island (private), previous rank:
19.
20. Country Club Of Charleston (private), previous rank:
21.
22. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Pawleys Island (public), previous rank:
23.
24. Belfair Golf Club West Course, Bluffton (private), previous rank:
25. The Cliffs At Keowee Falls, Salem (private), previous rank:
26. Bulls Bay G.C., Awendaw (private), previous rank:
27. Callawassie Island Club, Okatie (private), previous rank:
28. The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Sunset (private), previous rank:
29. Barefoot Resort & G.C. (Dye Course) (N. Myrtle Beach) , previous rank:
30. True Blue G. C., Pawleys Island , previous rank:
31. Belfaire G. C. (East Course), (private) Bluffton, previous rank:
32. Berkeley Hall G. C. (North Course) (private) Bluffton, previous rank:
33. TPC Myrtle Bea
34. Osprey Point G.C., Kiawah Island, previous rank:
35. Daniel Island Club (Ralston Creek Course) (private) Charleston, previous rank:
