Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort

Harbour Town Golf Links isn’t just a golf course—it’s a masterclass in restraint, precision, and coastal brutality, freshly sharpened by a stunning redesign that somehow made this already iconic track even more demanding and unforgettable. The updates are subtle in the best possible way—nothing flashy or artificial, just thoughtful tweaks that respect Pete Dye’s original madness while tightening the screws on anyone foolish enough to think they can muscle their way through this place.

Fairways now feel narrower without actually being narrower, like the course is whispering doubts in your ear before every tee shot. Greens are devilishly contoured and ask all the right questions, especially when the wind starts to dance through the pines and flagsticks like it’s got money on your opponent. The bunkers? Still cruel. Maybe crueler. And the visual framing on holes like 4, 13, and of course 18—now even more jaw-dropping—draws you in right before they chew you up.

This isn’t a bomb-and-gouge resort course—you’ll need to think your way around this track. Every shot demands intent. Every hole demands respect. And yes, you’ll use every single club in the bag, maybe twice, with at least three moments where you're forced to invent a shot you’ve never practiced just to escape with bogey. It’s that kind of challenge—the kind that leaves you mentally smoked and somehow grinning about it.

And somehow, it’s even more photogenic than before—which is saying something, considering the place has always looked like it was designed to be on a magazine cover. If you're looking for a cakewalk, go elsewhere. If you're looking for one of the best tests of golf anywhere, made even better by a world-class redesign, this is it. Harbour Town is back in peak form—and it'll haunt you in the best way possible.

A six-month project led by DL3's Love Golf Design replaced every blade of grass and bulkhead. I've never seen a course so dialed in for a grand opening like this. Every hole has been tweaked to maximize the beauty of the Lowcountry, make the course play tougher for the pros and more playable for the rest of us. Its best holes - the short par 4s at no. 9 and 13, the monstrous 18th and all the par 3s - are iconic in the world of golf.

I am not sure how this is the 6th most expensive public course in the United States or a top 50 course in the United States. It doesn't get close to cracking the top 50 I have even personally played. Holes 17 and 18 are good holes with 18 being a very iconic hole. The first 16 are unmemorable. There were a few really cool green complexes including #9. Conditions were good. Greens were extremely slow. Weather was fantastic. Highly recommend scheduling a tee time where you finish up on 18 at sunset. The major design flaw in the course is holes 10 & 16 where someone on 16 could literally get killed with a drive on 10. Our caddy was great but they aren't really there to help... Just to keep you moving at a better pace. Not really sure why a caddy was needed and I would have rather not had one. The clubhouse is really nice. Great merch selection. The food was awesome. The locker room is massive. The entire harbour town area is really cool. Just felt the course wasn't all that. Glad I can say I played it though.

Very fun course with challenges everywhere. Scenic finish and interesting par 3s!

Had a great round with family. Caddy was awesome and overall experience was great!

It's odd to call a golf course built in the late 1960s "historically significant," but Harbour Town deserves every bit of that designation for the way it ushered in the modern era of golf design in the U.S., as well as the dawn of the "signature design" era. Despite the intimate feeling of practically every hole corridor, it somehow never feels claustrophobic. Thanks to the subtle bends of the fairways and orientations and diminutive size of the greens, it is an aspirational shotmaker's course that somehow never feels overwhelming. And thanks to the restrained and clever placement of its hazards, it is a stern test that somehow never feels unbeatable. Good golf is rewarded, and substandard golf is tolerated for the most part. Mounds and railroad ties add character and ambiance, and the brilliantly walkable routing makes it a joy to play over and over. It's one of my all-time favorite golf courses.

Could go on and on about this place and will. From the second you step on property the staff is friendly and goes out of their way to make your experience great. The course is beautiful, unique, and in great shape. The staff also did a great job of handling our 13 person group for lunch as well. Can't wait to be back to this special place.

Harbour Town Golf Links, One of the earlier Pete Dye designs that put him on the map. Located in Hilton Head, SC this course has many of the famed features you either love or hate from the Dyebolical mind of Pete Dye. The course is a true gem and requires a thoughtful mind and well executed shots to score well. I am usually a fan of courses with elevation changes and sweeping expansive view, while this course does not offer much of either (excluding famed 17 and 18) I was more than impressed by the use of the land and the beauty of the course. While a respectable bailout area is present on most holes the corridors are tight and you can find yourself easily blocked by large trees. It also must be noted that the greens are fairly small and often with a hazard to one side but are very receptive. I had a great time throughout the course but the stretch from 13 to 18 is special, and 17 and 18 are a near perfect final two holes. The Tour will be playing the RBC Heritage this week, this course is often referred to as a shotmakers course and I truly understand why.

Enjoyed getting to play a course I watch every year on TV but the conditions were only ok due to overseeding. Grass throughout the course was a little thick and putting was extremely slow. Obviously during regular conditions the course would be in top shape but during this time frame it not and the price should reflect that. Way to expensive during overseeding. The layout is fun but get able as long as you can stay out of the trees. Glad I played the course while in town but future trips I will skip it to play else where which are much cheaper.

Harbour Town lived up to its reputation- it was a fantastic course (for me #3 all time), challenging but fair, very scenic and each hole is a treat. One of the highlights of our trip was 3 rounds (also played the other 2 courses) with our caddie Rick P. I can’t say enough about how he enhanced our experience and enjoyment. When I go back to Harbour Town I definitely will request Rick for his reading of greens, course tips, but most importantly just being a great dude. Would recommend this course to everyone- has to be played.

For the money that we paid for our round, we would have expected a far superior cart fleet. The carts were no better than what you would find in a low end public course

So this course did not disappoint me at all. Sure the weather was only in low to mid 50’s, but the sun was shining. Yes the cost to play here if you in fact pay full price, as I did, is high. I wasn’t disappointed and may play again if I can get a discounted rate. All said and done, you could spend just around $300 US with a forecaddie, per person. But it’s now off my bucket list and although I didn’t start off well, the day was all good. Pace of play was around 4-1/2 hrs for the first 16 holes, then it took almost 45 minutes to play the last two as it just got extremely slow (probably due to the photo opportunities). The course is tight in spots, but was in very good shape with the tourney only 6 weeks away.

Our fore caddie was fine. Great guy, but I would have preferred that we had the option. He just showed up on the tee and we had to use him. To be honest, we did not need him and it was an additional $30 I did not want to spend.

Having said that, what a great experience. This would not keep me from coming back but should be by request.

Greens were in excellent condition, fairways only fair. Golf carts are pathetic for the price we paid, similar in to a cart you woul get at a second rate public course.

Great day, though it was cart path only. Tough course with excellent design.

Our foursome really enjoyed our round here. We opted to walk and had two caddies that carried our bags for our group. If you're willing to pay the extra caddy tip money, walking is totally worth doing! I feel like we got to experience and enjoy the course more by walking. Note that if you have a big cart bag, the course will probably provide you a carry bag to borrow for the round so that caddies can carry it.

The staff were very friendly and helpful. They are there to make sure your experience is an enjoyable one!

The first 15 holes are a nice layout that culminates starting at 16 fairway with amazing views of the Sound. You'll want some pictures.

Fairways are narrow and tree lined and green complexes are tricky. The course is difficult, but we felt it was fair for all abilities. So bring a straight tee ball and your short game!

First time playing at this course. I had a fantastic experience at this course. Great layout, challenging greens, and exceptional customer service. My forecaddie Randy gave helpful tips during my round and was a great guy to talk to. Unfortunately, the greens were just punched but they were still rolling pure. Even if your debating whether to play this because of the price, its totally worth it. This course is a must-play in Hilton Head and I plan on coming back in the future.

Although a little expensive, I found the experience well worth the cost. Very tight course with tree lined fairways, but fair. You just can’t hit a huge slice or hook. Greens were in great condition and rolling at around an 11 on the meter. Our caddie, Boyde (sp?), was great. Being a player himself, really helped us pick our clubs and areas to aim at. Very knowledgeable about the course. We didn’t get to use the clubhouse amenities due to the wives wanting to go out. Last four holes are beautifully designed and provide great views. I would totally recommend playing here and plan to return.

The course was in absolutely pristine shape. The RBC Heritage took place a week earlier, which I'm sure helped.

Our family also received a discount by purchasing a "3-Pack" for all of the three courses at Sea Pines, which definitely helped with the high price tag that accompanies Harbour Town.

Our forecaddie helped, but the other players in our group complained that he didn't work very hard compared to other forecaddies. Regardless, having a forecaddie certainly helps with the pace-of-play.

The course is incredibly difficult, but it's hard not to enjoy playing such a beautiful and well-kept course.