Golf Hilton Head
Heron Point by Pete Dye fairway

Sea Pines · Resort / Public

Heron Point by Pete Dye

Originally opened in 1973 and later renovated by Pete Dye himself, Heron Point brings Dye's signature vocabulary — stacked-sod bunkers, angular shaping, and deceptive green complexes — to a layout that rewards strategic thinking over power. The course sits between Harbour Town's precision demands and Atlantic Dunes' accessibility, making it the middle option in the Sea Pines rotation for players who want a genuine Dye challenge without the tournament-setup pressure. Marsh views appear on several holes, and the angular bunkering creates constant visual interest and decision-making from tee to green. It is the least-discussed of the three Sea Pines courses but arguably the most interesting for golfers who appreciate design craft.

Moderately Challenging100 N Sea Pines Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928Get directions

Designer

Pete Dye

Holes / Par

18 holes · Par 72

Yardage

6,933 (championship) / 5,437 (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

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

Booking window

Sea Pines Resort guests may book up to 60 days in advance; outside guests typically 30 days. Book online or by phone through Sea Pines golf reservations.

Green fees

Rates vary seasonally — confirm with Sea Pines Resort.

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

Cart & walking

Cart fee is included in the green fee. Walking is not permitted. Cart required — walking not permitted.

Caddies

No caddie service offered at Heron Point.

Rental clubs

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

Gate & access

Sea Pines gate fee applies to non-resort guests. Resort guests and those with a tee-time confirmation are typically waved through or reimbursed — confirm with Sea Pines Resort.

Cancellation policy

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

Practice facility

Access to Sea Pines practice facilities.

Signature

What makes this course memorable

The collection of angular, stacked-sod bunkers that define the visual identity of the course — classic Pete Dye craftsmanship.

Difficulty

Who this course suits

Dye's angular bunkering and strategic shaping reward players who think their way around the course rather than simply overpowering it.

Best for

  • Golfers who enjoy strategic layouts
  • Pete Dye fans
  • Mid-to-low handicappers

Not ideal for

  • Beginners unfamiliar with Dye-style bunkering

Course details

Rates, facilities & policies

Green fees

Rates vary seasonally — confirm with Sea Pines Resort.

Dress code

Collared shirts required.

Cart

Cart fee is included in the green fee. Walking is not permitted.

Rental clubs

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

Walking

Cart required

Twilight rates

Available — confirm with course

Caddies

No caddie service offered at Heron Point.

Practice area

Access to Sea Pines practice facilities.

Booking & access

Gate access & tee-time windows

Gate access

Sea Pines gate fee applies to non-resort guests. Resort guests and those with a tee-time confirmation are typically waved through or reimbursed — confirm with Sea Pines Resort.

Booking window(up to 60 days out)

Sea Pines Resort guests may book up to 60 days in advance; outside guests typically 30 days. Book online or by phone through Sea Pines golf reservations.

Planning

Seasonal notes & aerification

Seasonal timing

Spring and fall are ideal; summer heat and humidity are factors.

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

3.8out of 5.0

Conditions

Fairways & greens

4/5

Pace of play

Round time

3/5

Value

Fee vs. experience

4/5

Service

Staff & facilities

4/5

Heron Point by Pete Dye is the most demanding of the three Sea Pines resort courses, and it showed based on reported conditions. The Dye fingerprints are everywhere — railroad ties, forced carries, and greens that slope away from the player at critical moments. fairways are typically in good shape with firm turf that rewarded accurate driving. greens are typically receptive but quick, and the undulation on several putting surfaces made two-putting from distance a genuine challenge. Pace typically runs four hours and thirty minutes on a weekend, which is on the slower side; the course's difficulty contributes to that. Service is typically professional throughout. At its current green fee, Heron Point offers solid value for low-to-mid handicappers who want a genuine test — less so for high handicappers who may find the forced carries and tight corridors frustrating.

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: 74.2Slope: 141Yardage: 6,933Par: 72
Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTot
Par454344354364354434453672
Yards3955484201954353881755303803,4664101855454053751654203985643,4676,933
Hdcp113715113175921648121861014

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Harbour Town Golf Links

Designed by Pete Dye with input from Jack Nicklaus, Harbour Town is the defining precision test of Hilton Head golf — tight pine-corridor fairways, small crowned greens, and marsh edges that punish anything offline. At par 71 and under 7,000 yards, the course rewards shot-shaping and course management over raw distance, making it a genuine thinking-person's layout. It hosts the RBC Heritage each April, so golfers play the same setup the PGA Tour uses, including the iconic lighthouse-framed 18th on Calibogue Sound. No other public-access course on the island combines that level of pedigree, strategic depth, and visual drama.

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Davis Love III's 2016 restoration transformed the old Sea Pines Country Club layout into a wide-open, dune-land character unlike anything else on the island. Sweeping sandy waste areas replace traditional rough, giving the course a links-influenced feel that plays differently in the wind and rewards creative shot-making over mechanical precision. It is the most approachable of the three Sea Pines courses — generous landing zones and a more forgiving green complex — yet the coastal exposure and sandy hazards keep it interesting for experienced players. For visitors who want a Sea Pines round without the intensity of Harbour Town, Atlantic Dunes is the natural choice.

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George W. Cobb's 1962 design is the original golf course within Sea Pines — predating Harbour Town by seven years. This is the private member club, entirely separate from the resort's public-access courses. The layout reflects Cobb's classic Lowcountry sensibility: tree-lined corridors, measured bunkering, and a traditional routing that rewards course management over power. It is a quieter, more intimate experience than the resort courses next door, with a members-first atmosphere that keeps the pace unhurried. For those fortunate enough to receive an invitation, it offers a glimpse of Sea Pines as it was before the resort era.

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.