I have read through a lot of posts about HH, but I thought I would start my own since we just decided to go and need to get the ball rolling as we have 6 weeks until we get there.....

Mainly I would like some suggestions on where to play and how to book golf.... should I book directly at each course over the phone, or does anyone have someone they went through to book a golf package etc?

There are a ton of places to stay so that really is not a problem and it seem's like it will be easier to book accomodations seperate and cheaper, just need to book golf....

Also any suggestions where to eat on the island would be nice!

Thanks all

clint

I've been going to HHI off and on for the last 15 years and I'll be down there next week for a few days and just looked into this recently. Hilton Head really doesn't have a golf tee time booking service that can do any better than you can if you do your homework. Most plantations (Sea Pines, Shipyard, Palmetto Dunes, Port Royal, etc.) offer multi-round packages that are at a fair discount. The best one that I've seen recently is the one Sea pines is offering which is about $350 for 1 round on each of their 3 courses with a round on Harbour Towne included. The rack rate on HT right now is $255 and the other 2 Sea Pines courses are pretty good in their own right. Heron Pointe is the new Pete Dye track there and I haven't played it yet but I've seen some good comments. He re-worked the old Sea Marsh course into a brand new design.

Sea Pines Golf Only Packages

Shipyard Golf Packages

Shipyard is a good option as well, you can pick between courses Shipyard, Port Royal, Palmetto Hall and Hilton Head Plantation. All courses are good except for the Cupp course at Palmetto Hall and Barony at Port Royal.

You can find info on all the Hilton Head courses here Hilton Head Golfers Guide

You can also wait until you get there and usually someone is running a nice special advertised in the local paper.....or sometimes the company you booked your lodging through will have discount coupons. I always like to book ahead but sometimes will see something when I get there that will make me re-work my plans a bit or add an extra round somewhere.

I just booked a tee time for April 13th at the Melrose Course on Daufuskie Island (sp) Island. You catch a short ferry ride over from Hilton head. The courses on the island supposed to be really good. The other two are Haig Point and Bloody Point. Bloddy will be closed when I'm there.

I'm probably going to play twice, and here are the others I'm looking at.

http://www.seapines.com/golf/heron_point_by_pete_dye.cfm

http://www.palmettodunes.com/robert-trent-jones-course.php

this place was also recommended to me as a fun place to eat. http://www.saltydog.com/legend/

I just took my wife down for her birthday (no time for golf), and HT looked really tight (as it should just weeks before a tournament).

Eat at the "Grumpy Grouper" - great local seafood, no gimmicks.

Also great breakfast at the HT clubhouse.

Awesome guys.... keep it comming!

Dafuskie is a nice day. I've played Blooddy Point but not the other 2. The ferry ride over and back is nice but it turns it into an all day thing. Watch the sides of the ferry coming in and going out as dolphins will skirt the sides of the boat. Pretty neat.

Haig Point open and Private

Dafuski is a great day trip. I've played all 3 courses and everytime I've played I never see another group the whole round. The 18 on Melrose is pretty tough if the wind is cooking. Best place to eat on the island is this hole in the wall called the Sea Shack. Best food and prices in town. I will say Heron Point, which is the redone Sea Marsh course in sea Pines is in great shape, but not worth $120 to play in my mind. It's very easy but the condition of the course is amazing.

sorry for the treadjack but im moving down to hilton head to go to school and am wondering if there is any kind of night life down there...i have been there many times but usually with the family and do go too far from the resorts. Shipyard is a nice resort...

and by nightlife i mean good bars with good crowds...for the under 30 crowd...

again...sorry for the threadjack

reilys is hands down, the best sports bar in the area.possibly in the state. best prime rib ever... fridays and saturdays are the days they are the special.

Hilton head Golf in order
Daufuskie Island Melrose course
Harbourtown
Palmetto Hall both Cupp and Hills
Palmetto Dunes Hills, Jones
Crescente
Oyster Creek
Country Club of Hilton head
Hilton head national
Old South

Do not play shipyard or any Port royal courses
Eat at Michael anthony's, CQ's, Red Fish, Sunset Grille
Best wings in entire world Wild Wing don't miss it
Drinking The Lodge and Reailly's right next to each other

hlore,
why do you say dont play at shipyard or port royal...they arent the greatest courses on the island but they arent as bad as you make them seem

Melrose Course was shut down 2 weeks ago. Not sure if they re opened. I heard they filed Chap.11.

The Sea Shack has great food! We eat there last year and loved it, get there early! We also enjoyed The Studio, An Artistic Dining Experience , really good food and great atmosphere. As far as courses go, play Harbourtown!

Shipyard is a great layout, but it is never in good shape and always crowded. Very slow rounds because if you sit at a presentation for timeshare they give you a free round, so lots of choppers and bad conditioning. As far as Port Royal kinda the same but yes Barony is nice, but short. The other courses I listed in my opinion are much better options. I have been going to Hilton Head for over 15 years, stayed at Shipyard for 10 of them. My friend now lives in Long Cove and I play in member guest with him every year, that course is awesome but hard to get on. I really hope Melrose is not done as that place is just a great experience and I have some of favorite golf memories there, probably played there 20 plus times.

I've stayed in Shipyard every year for the last 20 years. The courses there are just boring and in mediocre condition. Same with Port Royal. There are probably at least a dozen other courses in the area that I would recommend before ever playing at these two resorts.

My votes for golf are Melrose on Daufuski and Old South just off of Hilton Head Island (granted I have not played Harbor Town).

The best restaurant on the island by far is the Santa Fe Cafe. They don't advertise and it is often frequented by celebrities. Here is the website:

http://www.santafecafeofhiltonhead.com/

I should have also mentioned Santafe Cafe, it is a local favorite and very good.

The Westin courses are decent and offer some pretty good deals: Barony, ShipYard, Planters Row and Robbers Row all nice tracks that are pretty challenging if you play the back tees. Defuskie is a great day.

Dining: Sante Fe is a must go. (sit outside) Michael Anthony's, Charlie's, Crane's all have great food. Stay away from the heavily advertised seafood restaurants. Aunt Chiladas is a good time and has authentic Mexican grub. Enjoy...awesome, relaxing vacation.

Who has the best beer selection on the island? A friend and I will be there in July and we are micro brew junkies. We don't get to sample a lot of east coast stuff.

Hilton Head Brewing company is a micro and has a decent selection. The cool part is there are 4 bars in same location is is called The Barmuda triangle. Hilton head Brewing, Lodge, Reilly's and Jumping Jacks all pretty cool bars. Don't miss Wild Wing, good booze but great food food, best wings in world if you ask me

^^^ ya, wild wings has tonnsssss of flavors of wings.

Savannah also has a few nice places to play. Crosswinds at the airport has a great par 3 course. It has lights so dusk golf is great. I 18 hole is also very nice. Hutchison Island has a really nice course as well.

Blake, Kudos for Aunt Chiladas!! Nice Wings.