Golf in Charleston

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

Since 1982, Perry Green has been putting his PGA membership to good use, hosting private and group golf lessons, camps, and clinics for all ages. His innate golfing expertise, which netted him the 2005 Illinois PGA Senior Masters Championship, is bolstered by a video-analysis system that allows him to examine every aspect of his students' form and point out faults in the arc of their swing or the creases in their chinos.

Nestled along the banks of Wagner Creek and the Wando River, Dunes West Golf & Country Club stretches across 6,871 yards of Carolina Lowcountry sculpted into an 18-hole layout designed by architect Arthur Hills. After traversing rolling terrain, quicksand bunkers, and oversize greens, golfers can conclude the par 72 layout at the 456-yard, par 4 18th hole, where Wagner Creek guards the entire left side of a shallow green that reveals the clubhouse's brick arches and second-story veranda just beyond the fringe. Golfers with slice-prone swings can make adjustments at the club’s driving range or schedule a lesson with one of the club’s PGA professionals, both more feasible than trying to control drives with telekinesis.

Course at a Glance:

• Designed by Arthur Hills
• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,781 yards from the farthest tees
• Five tee options
• Scorecard