Golf Hilton Head
Barony Course fairway

Port Royal · Resort / Public

Barony Course

George W. Cobb designed the Barony in 1964, making it one of the oldest resort courses on the island, and its traditional tree-lined corridors and classic Lowcountry rhythm feel genuinely different from the more modern resort designs that followed. Fairways are framed by mature pines and oaks rather than water and waste areas, rewarding accuracy off the tee in a way that feels earned rather than punitive. Port Royal is consistently among the most affordable resort options on the island, and the Barony is the most forgiving of the two Port Royal layouts — a strong choice for mid-to-high handicappers who want a proper resort round without the pressure of a demanding modern design. The old-school character is a genuine draw for golfers who find the island's newer courses too manicured.

Moderate10 Grasslawn Ave, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928Get directions

Designer

George W. Cobb

Holes / Par

18 holes · Par 72

Yardage

6,630 (championship) / 5,178 (forward)

Opened

1964

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 or by phone through Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club.

Green fees

Port Royal is consistently among the most affordable resort options on the island — confirm rates seasonally.

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 Barony Course.

Rental clubs

Rental sets available through the Port Royal pro shop — confirm current rates when booking.

Gate & access

No gate fee — Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club is open to the public.

Cancellation policy

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

Practice facility

Practice facility available at Port Royal.

Signature

What makes this course memorable

The classic tree-lined corridors that give the course a timeless, old-school Lowcountry character — a contrast to the more modern resort designs on the island.

Difficulty

Who this course suits

Tree-lined fairways demand accuracy off the tee, but the layout is forgiving enough for mid-to-high handicappers to enjoy a satisfying round.

Best for

  • Value-conscious golfers
  • Mid-to-high handicappers
  • Players who enjoy traditional layouts

Not ideal for

  • Players seeking dramatic water views or modern design features

Course details

Rates, facilities & policies

Green fees

Port Royal is consistently among the most affordable resort options on the island — confirm rates seasonally.

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 Port Royal pro shop — confirm current rates when booking.

Walking

Permitted

Twilight rates

Available — confirm with course

Caddies

No caddie service offered at the Barony Course.

Practice area

Practice facility available at Port Royal.

Booking & access

Gate access & tee-time windows

Gate access

No gate fee — Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club is open to the public.

Booking window(up to 30 days out)

Tee times available up to 30 days in advance online or by phone through Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club.

Planning

Seasonal notes & aerification

Seasonal timing

Plays well year-round; one of the best value rounds on the island in any season.

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

4.5out of 5.0

Conditions

Fairways & greens

5/5

Pace of play

Round time

4/5

Value

Fee vs. experience

4/5

Service

Staff & facilities

5/5

The Barony Course at Port Royal is one of the most consistently well-conditioned courses on the island. The George Cobb design plays through a mix of open marsh views and tree-lined corridors, with a routing that rewards course management over power. Fairways were immaculate based on reported conditions — tight, firm Bermuda that held its line well — and the greens were among the best we played all season: smooth, true, and at a speed that challenged without frustrating. Pace was four hours and ten minutes on weekend mornings. The Port Royal staff are standouts: the bag staff were efficient, the starter was welcoming, and the on-course marshals kept play moving without being intrusive. At its current green fee, Barony is excellent value for the quality of the experience.

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: 72.6Slope: 130Yardage: 6,630Par: 72
Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTot
Par454344354364534434543672
Yards3755103901804053801655203603,2853855251753953701604005354003,3456,630
Hdcp115715191731324166101881214

More in Port Royal

Other courses in this community

Port Royal

Robber's Row Course

Robber's Row has one of the more unusual design histories on the island — an original William Byrd routing from 1967 that was later reshaped by Pete Dye, layering Dye's strategic bunkering and tighter approach angles onto Byrd's foundational layout. The result is a course that feels more demanding than the Barony next door, with Dye's fingerprints visible in the bunker placement and green complex shaping, while retaining the tree-lined character of the original design. It is the better choice for mid-handicap players who want a step up from the Barony without committing to a full resort-premium round, and the Port Royal pricing makes it one of the best value-for-difficulty ratios on the island. The Byrd-Dye collaboration is a genuine curiosity for design-minded golfers.

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.