Long Cove Club

I have played Long Cove numerous times and in various weather conditions. It is a very demanding yet very fair test, severely penalizing the poor shots while greatly rewarding the good ones. The course condition is always immaculate. This private course is a true Pete Dye design that will keep your attention on every shot and challenge your imagination and playing ability on every hole. Very "walkable".

Even though I did not play well the course and the weather was just perfect, Had a heck of a time reading Mr. Dye's greens but the greens were perfect for this late in the year, The staff was very friendly and helpful. And the Manhattans in the grill room did a great job of soothing my injured ego. LOL. Not too terribly long when played from the white tees so no real excuses. A must-play if you are ever on Hilton Head Island.

I have been a member of Long Cove Club for some 30 years and a full-time resident for the last 7 years. In my business life I had the opportunity to play on some of the best known courses in Asia and in Australia and New Zealand. I can say without hesitation that Long Cove compares favorably at all times of the year with any of the famous courses. It has challenging holes for all levels of golfers, as well as being scenically attractive. My 2 grandsons started playing here as soon as they were able to hold a golf club and have become top college golfers. The elder, Jeffrey Lang (Dartmouth team 2014-18), has said the following about his experience:

Even after playing the likes of Spyglass, St. Andrews, The Country Club, and other top 100 courses around the globe, Long Cove remains one of my favorite designs in all of golf. To be sure, part of the allure is the nostalgia - countless memories of exciting rounds since I first started chipping and putting after hours on the 14th green at age 7. But as I’ve grown older and seen more and more courses, I’ve come to appreciate just how special Long Cove is. No one hole is the same. Every single shot in the bag is tested - from fitting a long drive between trees on 15, to finessing a blind wedge on 5, to bombing a 4 iron to a tight green on 8. This course is one of those rare few where the more you play it, the more interesting it becomes.

And his brother Jack Lang (Davidson team 2015-19) added:

Long Cove stands out in my mind as one of the most diverse tests of golf I’ve experienced. It features doglegs that go multiple directions with tee shots and approach shots that demand all sorts of different shot shapes. As such, each hole is visually different and interesting in its own way. When conditions are firm and the wind is up strategy is a must with birdies meriting well positioned shots off the tee giving access to wherever pins may be. The course is forgiving enough to be fair (as pars can be made with the recovery game and short game), while tee shots on 8, 11, 13, and 15 offer minimal bailout such that you still have to be in control of your golf ball to score well. It is possibly the most balanced course I have played and never gets old.

Without doubt Long Cove stands out as one of the finest courses in the Carolinas.

Long rated the #1 course in SC until Kiawah Ocean opened and also the local tournament course surpassed it. It is architecturally one of the finest in the lowcountry. Great variety in Par 3 4 and 5 holes. Some trademark holes from Dye (Alps 5th) are here, most holes are lined by housing, but with appropriate corridors. Smallish greens present, except the 18th which is massive. Will be closed soon for a re-grassing project. Architecturally, this course is classic Dye in that angles and position (Strategy) are more important than brute strength. On a hole-by-hole basis, it is more demanding than the local PGA Tour tournament course. I've played about a dozen times over the years, know the area well and never turn down an invitation to play here. There is a premium on the short game here as well as strategic measures. needed to score well. Difficulty ebbs and flows making for a fine experience and challenge. High recommendation.