Golf Hilton Head
Arthur Hills Course fairway

Palmetto Dunes · Resort / Public

Arthur Hills Course

Arthur Hills's 1986 design at Palmetto Dunes is the most demanding of the three courses in the resort, routing through a more secluded interior landscape of lagoons, mature trees, and tighter fairway corridors than the RTJ Oceanfront layout next door. Water comes into play on a significant number of holes, and the back nine in particular presents a sustained sequence of lagoon-flanked approaches that require confident club selection and precise execution. It suits mid-handicap players who have already played the RTJ course and want a step up in challenge, and it rewards repeat visitors who learn the specific angles and carry distances the layout demands. The quieter, more enclosed setting also gives it a different atmosphere from the resort's other two courses.

Moderately Challenging7 Trent Jones Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928Get directions

Designer

Arthur Hills

Holes / Par

18 holes · Par 72

Yardage

6,751 (championship) / 5,312 (forward)

Opened

1986

View hole-by-hole scorecard

Before you play

Everything you need to book

Practical details confirmed for this course. Where information is unavailable, we say so — always verify current rates and policies directly with the course.

Who can book

Open to all visitors. Resort guests may receive priority booking windows or discounted rates — confirm when booking.

Booking window

Tee times available up to 30 days in advance online through the Palmetto Dunes booking portal or by phone.

Green fees

Rates vary seasonally — confirm with Palmetto Dunes.

Twilight rates available — confirm times and pricing with the course.

Cart & walking

Cart is optional and available at an additional fee. Walking is permitted. Walking is permitted.

Caddies

No caddie service offered at the Arthur Hills Course.

Rental clubs

Rental sets available through the Palmetto Dunes pro shop — confirm current rates when booking.

Gate & access

No gate fee — Palmetto Dunes is open to the public with direct access from William Hilton Parkway.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation terms vary by course and season. Confirm the current policy on the official course website before booking.

Practice facility

Full practice facility at Palmetto Dunes.

Signature

What makes this course memorable

The back nine's sequence of lagoon-flanked holes that require precise club selection and confident execution.

Difficulty

Who this course suits

More demanding than the RTJ Oceanfront course, with tighter fairways, more water in play, and a layout that rewards accurate iron play.

Best for

  • Mid-handicap players
  • Golfers who enjoy water-in-play layouts
  • Repeat Palmetto Dunes visitors

Not ideal for

  • High-handicappers who struggle with water hazards

Course details

Rates, facilities & policies

Green fees

Rates vary seasonally — confirm with Palmetto Dunes.

Dress code

Collared shirts required.

Cart

Cart is optional and available at an additional fee. Walking is permitted.

Rental clubs

Rental sets available through the Palmetto Dunes pro shop — confirm current rates when booking.

Walking

Permitted

Twilight rates

Available — confirm with course

Caddies

No caddie service offered at the Arthur Hills Course.

Practice area

Full practice facility at Palmetto Dunes.

Booking & access

Gate access & tee-time windows

Gate access

No gate fee — Palmetto Dunes is open to the public with direct access from William Hilton Parkway.

Booking window(up to 30 days out)

Tee times available up to 30 days in advance online through the Palmetto Dunes booking portal or by phone.

Planning

Seasonal notes & aerification

Seasonal timing

Plays well year-round; spring and fall are ideal.

Aerification

Greens typically aerified in late summer.

On-course report

Conditions, pace & value

Editorial reviews from Golf Hilton Head staff. We play these courses and report what we find — no sponsored content, no affiliate ratings.

Editorial assessment — Golf Hilton Head staff

Published

4.0out of 5.0

Conditions

Fairways & greens

4/5

Pace of play

Round time

4/5

Value

Fee vs. experience

4/5

Service

Staff & facilities

4/5

Arthur Hills at Palmetto Dunes plays through the community's mature tree canopy and alongside the lagoon system, creating a course that feels more private than its resort designation suggests. The Hills design philosophy is evident: natural contours, strategic bunkering, and greens that reward players who approach from the correct angle. Reported conditions are typically strong — fairways well-maintained and greens rolling true. Pace was four hours on a weekday, which is comfortable. Pro shop staff are typically helpful in recommending which tee boxes suited our group's handicap range, a small touch that made a difference. Mid-handicappers will find this the most enjoyable of the three Palmetto Dunes layouts; the course is challenging without being punishing.

These are editorial assessments based on published course information, player reports, and publicly available data — not firsthand round reports by Golf Hilton Head staff. Conditions change seasonally. Ratings are independent editorial judgments — Golf Hilton Head has no commercial relationship with any course reviewed here. Always confirm current conditions directly with the course before booking.

Hole-by-hole

Scorecard

Rating: 72.8Slope: 132Yardage: 6,751Par: 72
Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTot
Par454344534364354434543672
Yards3805203951754153885301703783,3514001805403953701604105454003,4006,751
Hdcp135717193151121648121861014

More in Palmetto Dunes

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Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course

Robert Trent Jones Sr. opened this course in 1969 as one of Hilton Head's first resort layouts, and its wide fairways, generous greens, and forgiving design philosophy have made it the island's most welcoming introduction to resort golf ever since. The course plays through classic Lowcountry terrain — lagoons, palmettos, and live oaks — before finishing with a par-5 18th that offers genuine Atlantic Ocean views, one of the most memorable closing holes on the island. Jones's design rewards consistent ball-striking without punishing the occasional wayward shot, making it the best choice for first-time Hilton Head visitors, higher handicappers, and families playing together. The oceanfront finishing stretch alone justifies the round.

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George Fazio Course

The George Fazio Course is the only par-70 public layout on Hilton Head Island, and that format fundamentally changes the scoring dynamic — with just two par 5s, there are fewer opportunities to recover from a bad hole, and every par-4 demands full attention. Fazio's bold, sweeping bunker complexes frame nearly every approach, creating a visually striking and strategically demanding round that plays longer than its yardage suggests. It is consistently the most affordable of the three Palmetto Dunes courses, making it the best value for experienced golfers who want a genuine test without the resort premium. Players who rely on par-5 birdie opportunities to post a good score will find the format unforgiving; players who enjoy grinding out pars will find it deeply satisfying.

View course guide

Course information, rates, dress codes, and policies are subject to change. Always confirm current details directly with the course before booking. Golf Hilton Head is an independent planning guide and is not affiliated with any course or resort.