Golf in Beaufort

Trees draped in spanish moss catch the wind along the edges of the fairways at Shadowmoss Plantation Golf Club, where designer Russell Breeden sculpted a 6,701-yard course into the verdant grounds of a former plantation. Throughout the par-72 layout, ponds and streams ripple on the borders of nearly every hole, often forcing golfers to choose from taking a conservative line, challenging the hazard with a big swing, or releasing their golf ball to a family of catfish. Breeden's artful use of waterways is most noticeable at the par-5 eighth hole, where a stream splits to cut across the center of the fairway and wraps two watery prongs around both sides of the hole to add pressure as golfers contemplate their approach to the green. Bermuda-grass fairways and greens await golf balls that steer clear of the course's water hazards and the various sand traps occasionally populated by disoriented sunbathers.

Before taking to the first tee, clubbers can warm up their swings and rehearse their putter-twirling routine at a practice complex that includes a driving range and a putting green. To keep golfers fresh during rounds, the club offers on-course beverage service and a full-service snack bar and lounge.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course
• Length of 6,701 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.3 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 131 from the farthest tees
• Five tee options
• Scorecard

Named the South Carolina Golf Course of the Year by the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association in 2010, Legend Oaks' 18-hole course winds through 7,011 yards of pristine Lowcountry terrain. As guests approach the club, an avenue lined by 300-year-old oak trees gives way to the emerald roof and wraparound porch of the plantation-style clubhouse, a site that recalls centuries of rustic Southern gentility. Wetlands, oaks, and fragrant pines buttress every hole across the club's picturesque par 72, ensnaring wayward golf balls. The par 4 14th hole exemplifies how course designer Scott Pool incorporated natural features into a treacherous but breathtaking layout, positioning water hazards directly in front of the tee box, a grove of pines on the right side of the fairway, and a green fortified by bunkers and picketing mashie niblicks from a bygone era. Golf carts with built-in GPS devices help clubbers traverse the emerald labyrinth, computing yardages from players' lies to the target pin, detailing nearby obstacles, and tracking every untrustworthy pelican within a five-mile radius.

Steps from the golf course, four hard-surface tennis courts and a swimming pool with a shaded gazebo round out the club's outdoor amenities. Guests can also make their way to the clubhouse for a splendid dining experience at Bistro One 18, where a diverse menu features everything from hot dogs to chicken marsala to sautéed driving-range balls.

Course at a Glance:

• Designed by Scott Pool
• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 7,011 yards from farthest tees
• Course rating of 73.5 from farthest tees
• Slope rating of 132 from farthest tees
• Five tee options
• See the scorecard

Clear blue water is common throughout Summerville Country Club’s par 71 course, which unfurls across 6,037 yards amid towering Carolina pines. In total, water hazards are in play on 12 holes; since the course layout is relatively short, golfers have to resist the temptation to use aggressive, high-risk drives and water-soluble knickers. In addition, golfers must contend with the course’s slick bermuda-grass greens, which have subtle breaks.

Each round concludes with dramatic flair on the 475-yard, par 5 18th hole, which features a dogleg-left fairway and an expansive pond that bisects the hole at the bend—strategically placed in the landing zone of long drives. Golfers can traverse the course’s gently undulating terrain in one of the club's rental carts.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-71 course
• Bermuda-grass greens
• Length of 6,037 yards from farthest tees
• Course rating of 69.0 from farthest tees
• Slope of 124 from farthest tees
• Four tee options available

Laid out by golf course architect Tommy Fazio, The Golf Club at Hilton Head Lakes effortlessly weaves through the natural fabric of the land's lakes and wetlands. More than 7,300 yards, the course challenges golfers of all ilk to navigate around curvilinear greens, chip past strategically placed bunkers, and avoid raccoons playing freeze tag. Copious fairways and five sets of tees also call for mindful decision-making, planning, and ingenuity. The club rounds out its golfing experience with a 36-acre training facility boasting target greens, bunkers, and practice greens, as well as a golf shop and café.

Cleaved through thickets of towering oaks along the Rose Hill Plantation, Rose Hill Golf Club's 18-hole course presents 6,961 yards of challenging fairways and greens. Populated by Spanish moss-swaddled trees, multiple ponds, and vibrant wildlife, the course's low country scenery and considerable difficulty—the Temptation tees boast a 74.1 course rating—form a layout worthy of grandiose nicknames. Each of the course's five tee options boasts an evocative name that suggests the tees' unique challenges; the tips are referred to as "Temptation," a nod to the Siren-like lure of playing a difficult course from its most harrowing tee placement, while the second-toughest tees' moniker is "Silver Moon," referring to the fact that those tees only appear at night.

To prepare for their round, golfers can warm up swings at the all-grass driving range or two practice holes, or let their nine-irons load up on muscle-building protein with a hot dog from the on-site grill.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole course
• Length of 6,961 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 74.1 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 139 from the farthest tees
• Five tee options

Groves of oaks and georgia pines reflect off the glassy surface of strategically placed water hazards at Southbridge Golf Club’s 18-hole course, the grassy brainchild of renowned course architect Rees Jones. Soaring above the 6,922-yard layout, wayward golf balls may carom off of the dense population of timbers, nestle into the pillowy sands of deep bunkers, or sink into the abyss of ponds, streams, and lava pits that come into play on nearly every hole. Large greens await at the end of each hole, eager to befuddle golfers with breaking putts and a fast, well-maintained surface. An onsite driving range nurtures golfers relationships with their clubs, and a menu of fresh meat, seafood, and salad at the genteel diner of Vickery’s at Southbridge curbs hunger that may sap strength from drives or preempt post-round putter-jousting competitions.

Course at a Glance:

• Designed by Rees Jones

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Length of 6,992 yards from the farthest tees

• Course rating of 74.1 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 134 from the farthest tees

• Four tee options