Golf Hilton Head
Dolphin Head Golf Club fairway

Hilton Head Plantation · Semi-Private

Dolphin Head Golf Club

Gary Player's 1973 design at Dolphin Head is one of the shorter courses on the island at just over 6,100 yards, but its mature live oak canopy, natural terrain, and relaxed north-island setting give it a character that longer, more demanding courses often lack. The tree-lined fairways create a genuinely scenic round — some of the most beautiful canopy golf on Hilton Head — and the layout is forgiving enough for mid-to-high handicappers to enjoy without the pressure of water-heavy or tightly bunkered designs. It is a semi-private course with public tee times available, making it one of the more accessible options in the Hilton Head Plantation area. Golfers who want a scenic, unhurried round away from the resort corridors will find Dolphin Head a consistently satisfying choice.

Moderate1 Club Course Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926Get directions

Designer

Gary Player

Holes / Par

18 holes · Par 72

Yardage

6,310 (championship) / 4,888 (forward)

Opened

1973

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

Members have priority. Public tee times are available — confirm availability and any guest restrictions directly with the course.

Booking window

Tee times available up to 30 days in advance online or by phone. Non-residents are welcome with a confirmed reservation.

Green fees

Semi-private — public tee times available. Confirm rates directly.

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 Dolphin Head Golf Club.

Rental clubs

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

Gate & access

Hilton Head Plantation gate fee applies to non-residents. Visitors with a confirmed tee time are admitted — present your booking confirmation at the gate.

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.

Signature

What makes this course memorable

The mature live oak canopy that frames several fairways — one of the most scenic tree-lined settings on the island.

Difficulty

Who this course suits

One of the shorter courses on the island, with mature tree cover and a more relaxed pace. A good option for mid-to-high handicappers who want a north-island round without the pressure of a demanding layout.

Best for

  • Mid-to-high handicappers
  • Players staying in Hilton Head Plantation
  • Golfers who prefer a relaxed pace

Not ideal for

  • Low-handicappers seeking a serious test

Course details

Rates, facilities & policies

Green fees

Semi-private — public tee times available. Confirm rates directly.

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 pro shop — confirm current rates when booking.

Walking

Permitted

Twilight rates

Available — confirm with course

Caddies

No caddie service offered at Dolphin Head Golf Club.

Practice area

Practice facility available.

Booking & access

Gate access & tee-time windows

Gate access

Hilton Head Plantation gate fee applies to non-residents. Visitors with a confirmed tee time are admitted — present your booking confirmation at the gate.

Booking window(up to 30 days out)

Tee times available up to 30 days in advance online or by phone. Non-residents are welcome with a confirmed reservation.

Planning

Seasonal notes & aerification

Seasonal timing

Plays well year-round; a good value option 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.

Aeration notice

Dolphin Head Golf Club aerates greens annually, typically in late September or early October. Temporary greens are used for approximately two weeks post-aeration. Confirm current green status when booking.

Editorial assessment — Golf Hilton Head staff

Published

4.3out of 5.0

Conditions

Fairways & greens

3/5

Pace of play

Round time

5/5

Value

Fee vs. experience

5/5

Service

Staff & facilities

4/5

Dolphin Head is the most relaxed round on Hilton Head Island. The Hilton Head Plantation layout plays through a quiet residential setting with minimal development visible from the fairways, and the pace of play — three hours and forty minutes on a Saturday — is the fastest we've recorded on the island. Reported conditions are typically adequate but not exceptional based on reported conditions: fairways showed some late-summer wear in a few areas, and two greens had minor surface irregularities. That said, the greens were rolling consistently and the overall playability was high. Staff are typically friendly and the atmosphere was notably low-key compared to the resort courses. At its current green fee, Dolphin Head is the best budget option for golfers who want a full 18-hole round on the island without the resort price or pace.

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: 70.8Slope: 126Yardage: 6,310Par: 71
Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTot
Par443543454364344354443571
Yards3653801755103901653755053553,2203701703853601605153753653903,0906,310
Hdcp951531177111321648186101214

More in Hilton Head Plantation

Other courses in this community

Hilton Head Plantation

Oyster Reef Golf Club

Rees Jones designed Oyster Reef in 1982 as a semi-private layout that punches well above its access tier — marsh-flanked holes, firm and fast greens, and strategic bunkering that demands accurate iron play throughout. The back nine in particular opens up to sweeping Lowcountry marsh views that rival anything on the island's resort courses, giving the round a visual quality that surprises first-time visitors. At nearly 6,900 yards from the tips, it is one of the longer semi-private courses in the area, and Jones's design rewards players who can shape shots and control trajectory rather than simply hitting it hard. For experienced golfers who want a serious test at semi-private rates, Oyster Reef is one of the best-kept secrets on the island.

View course guide

Hilton Head Plantation

Country Club of Hilton Head

Rees Jones's 1985 design sits inside the gated Hilton Head Plantation community and operates on a semi-private model — members enjoy priority access while outside guests can book tee times when availability allows. Jones brought his trademark strategic bunkering and precise green complexes to a routing that winds through mature Lowcountry hardwoods and past tidal marshes. The layout is demanding enough to satisfy low-handicappers yet accessible enough for mid-handicap visitors. It is one of the island's better-kept secrets for golfers who want a quality Rees Jones round away from the resort crowds.

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.