Twenty-seven holes across three nines, with a green fee range wide enough to accommodate nearly any budget.
Shipyard Golf Club operates 27 holes within Shipyard Plantation, split across three nines: the Clipper and Galleon, both designed by George Cobb and opened in 1970, and the Brigantine, designed by Willard Byrd and added in 1982. Any two nines combine into an 18-hole round, producing three distinct combinations that offer variety for golfers playing multiple days.
The format has practical implications. The Clipper/Galleon pairing plays most like a traditional 18, with Cobb's consistent design voice carrying across both halves. The Brigantine, added 12 years later by a different architect, introduces a slightly different character that creates an interesting contrast when paired with either of the Cobb nines. A combined 18 plays approximately 6,878 yards at par 72, with conditions and difficulty that sit comfortably in the mid-range of Hilton Head courses.
The green fee range of $39 to $160 is the widest on the island, reflecting aggressive time-of-day and seasonal pricing. Off-peak and late-afternoon rates at the low end make Shipyard the most accessible resort golf on Hilton Head. Peak-season morning rates at the upper end bring it closer to its Mid-Range peers. Cart is included in the green fee.
The course is managed by Heritage Golf Group and sits adjacent to the Sonesta Resort, which makes it a natural pairing for guests at that property. The driving range at Sonesta connects directly to the Shipyard complex. Booking is through GolfNow or Heritage Golf's online platform.
Shipyard does not carry the design pedigree of the Sea Pines or Palmetto Dunes courses. Its appeal is practical: accessible pricing, a convenient location within the island's central plantation corridor, and a 27-hole inventory that provides options for groups playing multiple rounds. For golfers assembling a Hilton Head trip that mixes premium courses with value rounds, Shipyard serves the value role without requiring a trip across the bridge.
A complete reconstruction of Hilton Head's first golf course, with water on nearly every hole and Spanish moss overhead.
The only Arnold Palmer design in the area, with six sets of tees and green fees that start at $34.
The lighthouse, the tournament, and a Pete Dye design that has not stopped being relevant for more than fifty years.
Pete Dye returned to Sea Pines nearly four decades after Harbour Town and built a course that plays like a conversation between two eras.
Two distinct design voices on a single routing, with time-of-day pricing that rewards flexible scheduling.
Lowcountry marsh golf at mainland prices, with a slope of 141 that keeps the design honest.
The thinking player's course at Palmetto Dunes, where lagoons wind through ten holes and accuracy matters more than distance.
The only par 70 on the island, built around long par 4s and Diamond Zoysia greens that separate the Palmetto Dunes trio by temperament.
The first course at Palmetto Dunes, and the one that best represents the Jones Sr. philosophy of bold bunkering and strategic risk-reward.
A wooded corridor through towering pines and moss-draped oaks, away from the plantation resort atmosphere.
One of the first courses on the island, where small greens and thick rough reward accuracy over ambition.