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Bob is a former sports writer at Columbia’s The State newspaper. He enjoys golf at South Carolina’s 350-plus courses, and after a round, sampling craft beers from the Palmetto State’s breweries.
A course as beautiful as it is challenging, The Ocean Course has been named the Best in Region by the SC Golf Course Ratings Panel.
The SC Golf Course Ratings Panel— Made up of more than 100 golf enthusiasts who represent a diverse range of occupations, handicaps and backgrounds,—has once again named The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort the Best in Region among Greater Charleston golf courses in the 2021 “Top Courses You Can Play” list. A course as beautiful as it is challenging, The Ocean Course has also been named South Carolina’s top layout for more than a decade in the Golf Course Ratings Panel’s every-other-year “Top 50 Courses in South Carolina,” which includes public-access and private courses.
“Word-of-mouth” of another type has boosted both The Ocean Course and Harbour Town, with the Ocean Course earning praise from PGA TOUR players during the 2012 PGA, while Harbour Town was rated the second-favorite annual stop by the TOUR players, behind only Augusta National. Such endorsements usually lure tourists and weekend players.
South Carolina’s coast dominates the “Top Courses You Can Play,” with eight Charleston courses, four from Hilton Head Island-Bluffton and 13 from the Grand Strand—or 25 of the 29 named—making the rankings, not counting honorable mentions.
The Ocean Course was a top vote-getter in the Charleston area, along with the Links Course at Wild Dunes Resort (Isle of Palms), and all of Kiawah's courses, including Turtle Point (designed by Jack Nicklaus), Osprey Point (Tom Fazio) and Cougar Point (Gary Player) were also selected among the top courses. Kiawah has hosted such events as the 2007 Senior PGA Championship, and the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships.
New to the list for the Greater Charleston area was the Harbor Course at Wild Dunes Resort. Bordered by the Intracoastal Waterway, the Harbor Course will test all aspects of your golf game.
Orangeburg Country Club and one of Myrtle Beach's regular award-winners, The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, are actually private courses. Because both allow outside play (OCC through Santee golf packages Golf Santee and Santee-Cooper Golf; The Dunes Club via partner hotels in Myrtle Beach), the two are included in the "You Can Play" rankings.
South Carolina's Top Courses Anyone Can Play
Harbour Town Golf Links is one of the most popular courses in the Lowcountry.
Whether you're a pro, an enthusiast or just occasionally hit the links, an unparalleled golfing experience awaits when you tee up at one of our top public golf courses. The Palmetto State's mountains-to-sea topography means you can choose from a range of impressive aesthetics to set your preferred mood for a round with friends or a solo turn to practice your swing.
Upstate
The foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, serene lakes, and lush foliage make stunning backdrops for golfing in this region.
Views of Lake Hartwell define the 18-hole championship John E. Walker Sr. Golf Course.
Bob is a former sports writer at Columbia’s The State newspaper. He enjoys golf at South Carolina’s 350-plus courses, and after a round, sampling craft beers from the Palmetto State’s breweries.
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