Let's Play Golf: SC's Top Public Courses

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 2025 “Best Courses in South Carolina” 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. The Ocean Course was awarded the Mike Strantz Memorial Award which recognizes the best public access course in South Carolina.

“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 seven Charleston courses, seven from Hilton Head Island-Bluffton and 12 from the Grand Strand—or 27 of the 31 named—making the rankings, not counting honorable mentions.

GREATER CHARLESTON AREA

the Links Course, Wild Dunes — Tom Fazio’s first solo design, the Links Course's fairways are framed by palms and oaks leading to a dramatic finish along the Atlantic.

The Ocean Course was the Best in Region in the Charleston area, while the following courses were also recognized as top courses in the region:

Honorable Mentions: Dunes West Golf & River Club | RiverTowne Country Club | The Links at Stono Ferry

GRAND STRAND REGION

aerial view of Pawleys Plantation Golf course, marsh — Built in classic Lowcountry style, Pawleys Plantation has subtle greens, often massive bunkers and tight fairways dotted with water and marsh

The Dunes Golf & Beach Club was selected as Best in Region in the Grand Strand, while the following courses were also recognized as top courses in the region. The Dunes Club currently hosts the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic PGA Tour event.

LOWCOUNTRY REGION

Heron Point, designed by Pete Dye, is one of the island's most scenic. Photo provided by Sea Pines Resort.j

Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort was selected as the Best in Region. Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island is a much-heralded, long-time host of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. The following courses were also recognized as top offerings: