Robert Cupp at Palmetto Hall Plantation
About
While Hilton Head is chock full of courses designed by some of the greatest names in golf, just one of them was designed with a computer to give it lines straighter than an arrow throughout.
The Robert Cupp Course at Palmetto Hall can be one of the most interesting and eclectic courses you'll play, as well as possibly one of the toughest. From the back tees the course plays to 7,079, with a slope rating of 144.
Named as Golf World's top designer in 1992, Cupp created a course that is visually challenging as well as challenging to play. With sand traps looking as if they were drawn in by, well, a computer, this is a course you'll tell your friends about, though you may not tell them your score.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 72 | 7079 yards | 75.2 | 149 |
| Blue | 72 | 6524 yards | 72.3 | 135 |
| White | 72 | 6042 yards | 69.9 | 124 |
| Forward (W) | 72 | 5220 yards | 70.8 | 123 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold M: 74.6/141 | 417 | 557 | 324 | 205 | 433 | 542 | 459 | 147 | 470 | 3554 | 512 | 315 | 219 | 440 | 360 | 504 | 170 | 448 | 414 | 3382 | 6936 |
| Blue M: 72.2/136 | 364 | 521 | 324 | 183 | 400 | 513 | 411 | 136 | 380 | 3232 | 496 | 303 | 185 | 415 | 338 | 478 | 160 | 422 | 389 | 3186 | 6418 |
| White M: 70.1/131 W: 75.7/144 | 348 | 466 | 324 | 153 | 355 | 491 | 375 | 119 | 360 | 2991 | 478 | 288 | 171 | 385 | 318 | 464 | 143 | 380 | 352 | 2979 | 5970 |
| Black M: 68.7/125 W: 73.9/141 | 348 | 466 | 324 | 153 | 315 | 420 | 317 | 119 | 360 | 2822 | 478 | 288 | 131 | 343 | 318 | 464 | 143 | 321 | 352 | 2838 | 5660 |
| Palmetto M: 67.3/121 W: 72.6/134 | 317 | 399 | 324 | 153 | 315 | 420 | 317 | 119 | 341 | 2705 | 406 | 240 | 131 | 343 | 318 | 464 | 143 | 321 | 300 | 2666 | 5371 |
| Green M: 66.4/116 W: 71.8/130 | 317 | 399 | 324 | 127 | 315 | 420 | 317 | 101 | 341 | 2661 | 406 | 240 | 131 | 343 | 260 | 392 | 120 | 321 | 300 | 2513 | 5174 |
| Orange/Orange M: 63.3/110 W: 67.5/122 | 317 | 353 | 279 | 127 | 255 | 355 | 275 | 101 | 237 | 2299 | 349 | 240 | 131 | 247 | 260 | 392 | 120 | 247 | 230 | 2216 | 4515 |
| Orange M: 62.6/110 W: 66.0/117 | 264 | 353 | 279 | 127 | 255 | 355 | 275 | 101 | 237 | 2246 | 349 | 240 | 131 | 247 | 181 | 333 | 79 | 247 | 230 | 2037 | 4283 |
| Handicap | 15 | 11 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 4 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in South Carolina (2015 #12)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Short on value
For the price range Cupp is a disappointment. The course is short on amenities. Holes are not clearly mark for distance. Gas powered carts though will make you feel like you hitting in the 80’s again. Given the many great tracks on Hilton Head I would skip spending any money here.
Needs investment
Cart paths are very uneven. You can bounce yourself from the cart. Sand traps need sand!
Always like this coujrse
I’ve played both off the Palmetto Hall courses many times and they’re always among my favorites on the Island. With the Hills course shut down for a rebuild Cupp was the only choice. Both are tough with lots of places to get in trouble. Fairways and greens were in good shape although the greens are slow in the summer. I’ll definitely go back.
Not the same as it was a few years back
Played this course a few years ago and the conditions were great. Played last week and the fairways and rough have a lot of weeds growing. They just aerated the fairways and ruff so maybe that will help. I have yo say, the greens were fantastic, rolled true and fast.
Not what it was
Played this course a few years ago and it was fantastic. They recently aerated the fairways which is fine but you can tell by the amount of weeds in the fairways they have a problem. The greens are great but the rest of the course is rough. I love the layout and hope they get the fairways and bunkers fixed. When we were teeing off the staff was talking about all the bathrooms being locked and they were heading out to unlock them, we go to 15 and they were still locked. Hope they can’t fix this so it can be the great course it was a few years ago.
Staff was great. The forest was in good shape and played for a good price.
bad greens
It started with extremely unfriendly staff in the Pro shop. When we got to the back nine the greens were unplayable. It was basically sand on top of dirt. The course should be shut down but they will not do that. I would not play again even if they paid me to play.
Favorite Course on the Island
The Robert Cupp course is my favorite course on the island by far. The opening three holes are awesome and leads into what is a testing rest of the course. Definitely my favorite opening holes I’ve ever played. The layout is unique and challenging which calls for excellent shot making tee to green, especially from the back tees which I played. Conditions were also phenomenal. I am from up north and think Bermuda grass runs slow but the Cupp course runs on the faster side for Bermuda, especially the steep downhill putts. Best value golf course I’ve ever played at $65 on a weekday morning. I played Harbour Town two days later and I enjoyed the Cupp course more and thought it was more difficult at a 4th of the cost. As difficult and as awesome of a layout as some other PGA courses I’ve played. Hole 7 is the most difficult fairway to hit that I have ever seen. Flew through my round in 3 hours playing by myself first tee time out. Staff was very friendly and excellent. Stock up on water and snacks as the club house is not near the turn. Overall excellent experience I can’t wait to play this track again.
Great course
Course was great condition for early March greens were in good shape very happy with pace of play I would return to play here
In our opinion the best golf course at this price range
Great course, friendly starters, good cart paths, true greens...what more do you want for USD 50 !
Very nice course
We are here for 3 months in the winter. Cupp course was very good! No issues. Would recommend this course to anyone. Don’t hesitate to play it. We played 9 holes.
My wife and I played and found it very enjoyable. Everyone was nice, from the pro shop staff, the starter and the cart lady.
We were paired with 2 nice gentlemen
We played from the blacks. Which made it a little easier, but had some risk reward shots.
The greens were a little furry, but I guess it was the time of year
Poor conditions here
It’s too bad you don’t get discounts when the course is in such poor shape. I have played here every year for about 12-13 years. This was the worst condition ever for this course. Definite theme for most courses this year, although not very happy. Where do I start. The 1st hole was dry as could be. Fairway was short brown, let’s call it hay. No difference between fairway and rough. The sand traps were a mix bag of some actually sand you could hit out of, while others had a mere covering over the hard clay bottom. Tee’s were poor too. The greens were slow, and many were in rough shape. They were even sprayed so they looked not bad from a distance. Very disappointed this year. As for the marshalls, I think I saw one, but they did nothing to speed up a 5 hour 20 min round.
Slow and buppy
Starting time just before 1pm, took just short of 5hrs. We hade to wait on almost every tee box, greens where very furry and buppy. It's Tuesday and same holes were being used as weekend. No idea hole placement, wasnt 3 like starter said. Layout of course it's nice. Alittle attention to detail, course would be a 4 star.
Greens in great condition. Course dry considering recent heavy rain. Pace of play a little slow. No ranger
Great course and very good value
Thoroughly enjoyed our round today. Starter couldn't have been more friendly......course had recovered well following 48hrs of rain... tees and fairways great... greens slightly slower than others but all good... bunkers fine....will play again
No play.
Did not play as course was closed. Trying to get refund but getting the run around.