DJTheoret - 6/9/23
Heritage Golf Group has held a stake in the Hilton Head Island golf scene for a long time. Since 2005, the company has owned three of the island's oldest and most respected golf courses - Oyster Reef Golf Club, Shipyard Golf Club, and Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club. Now, with the addition of Palmetto Hall, Heritage Golf proudly offers 117 holes of robust, championship golf on Hilton Head Island. No matter which course you play, you’ll enjoy the beauty and character of each, with its many lagoons and ponds. Just beware of the alligators! Here’s a quick look at Port Royal Golf and Racquet Club.

Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club is located in the very pristine Port Royal Plantation and features 36 holes of championship golf. Legendary golf architects such as George Cobb, Pete Dye, and Willard Byrd have left their marks on Port Royal. The club’s golf accolades include a #7 ranking in “The Best 18 – The Greatest Holes of Hilton Head and Bluffton” by Hilton Head Monthly in 2015 and as a “Top 75 U.S. Golf Resorts,” by Golf Digest magazine. In addition to fantastic golf, Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club is also an award-winning tennis destination.

Robbers Row Course was originally designed by George W. Cobb and William C. Byrd. It opened in 1967 and in 1994 it underwent a redesign at the hands of Pete Dye. The course sits atop some Civil War grounds and each hole features historical markers describing events on the Island. Robbers Row is located on the marsh side of the Port Royal Plantation and cuts through beautiful strands of magnolia and live oaks. It’s known for its generous fairways and well-protected greens.

The 6th hole at Robbers Row is a 517-yard (White Tees) dogleg right par 5 that can be reached in two with just the right tee shot. By playing down the right side of the fairway, you can shorten the hole or make it even shorter by hitting your driver over the trees and giving yourself a chance to get on in two! A layup shot up the left side of the fairway will leave the best angle into the green, which is shallow and mostly flat. It’s a good chance to pick up a stroke or two.

The Barony Course is best known for its generous greens and challenging bunkers. Golf course architect George W. Cobb designed The Barony Course in the early 1960s making it one of the first courses on Hilton Head Island. From the tee, you’ll get the idea that many of the holes are relatively open, but as you make your way toward the Bermuda greens, you’ll begin to figure it out. These large greens are protected by thick, rough, and unforgiving bunkers. This places an emphasis on accurate approach shots or a really good sand game! It truly is a course where brains over brawn are necessary.

Port Royal has excellent practice facilities including a full-length driving range, short game area, and practice green. The staff of PGA Professionals at any of these courses can help you get the most out of your game. They offer private lessons, group lessons, camps, and clinics for golfers of all skill levels. There’s no excuse not to play your best when you step up to the first tee.

Heritage Golf Group has partnered with two local resorts: The Westin Resort & Spa and The Sonesta Resort. To get to the Sonesta Resort, you drive right by the Shipyard’s clubhouse, making it easy to get in an extra nine holes in the evening.

The Sonesta Resort is a AAA Four Diamond family-friendly beach resort that recently underwent a $30 million renovation. The renovation included a spectacular new swimming pool complex with a shaded lap pool and Jacuzzi, a zero-entry heated lagoon swimming pool, and a children’s area. The 340 spacious guest rooms and suites offer views of the Shipyard Plantation grounds, lush tropical gardens, swimming pools, and the Atlantic Ocean. The resort offers indoor and al fresco dining at Bayley’s Lobby Bar & Terrace, Seacrest Restaurant and Terrace, and Sweet Cane restaurants.

At the Westin Resort & Spa, coastal splendor meets southern hospitality. The resort sits nestled amid natural dunes and Hilton Head Island’s pristine white sands, The Westin Resort & Spa offers its guests oceanfront resort views from most guest rooms, the Heavenly Spa by Westin, and three outdoor pools. All of Westin’s bright, open rooms include WiFi, a flat-screen cable TV, a small refrigerator, and coffee-making facilities. There’s family-friendly dining in the Carolina Room, poolside dining at Splash, with additional dining at View 32 and Ingredients.

Any or all of these courses can be packaged together through The Heritage Golf Collection with a single phone call

  greggmazz - 5/5/20
Greens were fine. Fairways were worn making me I played the course in 1960.

  RL Adams - 4/10/16
Fairways were cut very low. Greens needed some conditioning. Staff and Starter were great. Maybe revisit in early fall to re-play it again.

  wwelham - 5/31/13
I played two courses: Robbers Row and Planter's Row. I prefered Robbers. They also have a Barony course, but it was reserved for members the week that we were there.

  tim47Yea - 4/9/13
Course was very nice. Some minor leaf problems, but greens, fairways and bunkers were in good shape. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

  dskesq33217 - 9/1/12
Greens were extremely slow. They had recently been sanded and our group was not told of this nor offered and opportunity to play one of their other two courses before teeing off.

  SLU - 4/16/12
This course was seedy; and I'm being generous. That's not to say that in its glory days, Planters Row was not a good course. It has grown long in the ear. I found it monotonous and not a lot of fun. My foursome was constantly in the woods; and it drove the foursome behind us insane. They finally drove into us -- poor etiquette. I doubt if I'd return again. Did, however, see the biggest alligator of the entire trip. I scored a 95 or therabouts. It didn't really matter... Normally I score in the mid-80's.

  proscan81 - 4/15/12
Very Tight, in fact too tight, many narrow tee's .

  pitt panther - 9/17/13

  AHBurningham - 5/21/13