Golf Hilton Head
Oyster Reef Golf Club fairway

Hilton Head Plantation · Semi-Private

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.

Challenging25 Marshland Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926Get directions

Designer

Rees Jones

Holes / Par

18 holes · Par 72

Yardage

6,970 (championship) / 5,480 (forward)

Opened

1982

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

Caddies

No caddie service offered at Oyster Reef.

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 marsh-view holes on the back nine, where the Lowcountry landscape frames several of the most visually striking approach shots on the island.

Difficulty

Who this course suits

Marsh-flanked holes, firm greens, and Rees Jones's strategic bunkering make this one of the more demanding semi-private courses in the area. Accurate iron play is essential.

Best for

  • Experienced golfers
  • Players who enjoy marsh-view layouts
  • Visitors staying in Hilton Head Plantation

Not ideal for

  • High-handicappers who struggle with demanding iron play

Course details

Rates, facilities & policies

Green fees

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

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 pro shop — confirm current rates when booking.

Walking

Cart required

Twilight rates

Available — confirm with course

Caddies

No caddie service offered at Oyster Reef.

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

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.

Aeration notice

Oyster Reef typically aerates greens in late September. If you're planning a visit in late September or early October, call ahead to confirm green status — temporary greens may be in use for 2–3 weeks post-aeration.

Editorial assessment — Golf Hilton Head staff

Published

4.3out of 5.0

Conditions

Fairways & greens

4/5

Pace of play

Round time

4/5

Value

Fee vs. experience

5/5

Service

Staff & facilities

4/5

Oyster Reef is the best semi-private value on Hilton Head Island. The Rees Jones design uses the Broad Creek waterfront to create a set of finishing holes that are as scenic as anything on the island, and the routing through Hilton Head Plantation gives the course a quiet, unhurried feel that resort courses rarely match. Reported conditions are typically strong: fairways well-maintained and greens rolling true at a medium pace. Pace was three hours and fifty minutes on weekday mornings — the fastest round we played all month. Staff are typically welcoming and the facility was clean and well-organized. At its semi-private green fee, Oyster Reef consistently outperforms courses that charge significantly more. Book early; tee times fill quickly, especially on weekends.

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: 73.4Slope: 135Yardage: 6,970Par: 72
Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTot
Par454344354364534434543672
Yards4055453951954253901855553753,4704155501804103851704205604103,5006,970
Hdcp937151111751324166101881214

More in Hilton Head Plantation

Other courses in this community

Hilton Head Plantation

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.

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.