Montage Palmetto Bluff

The property

Montage Palmetto Bluff sits in Bluffton on its own 20,000-acre Lowcountry preserve along the May River, roughly 30 minutes from the Hilton Head courses. It is not on the island and does not pretend to be. The pitch is the opposite: a self-contained luxury destination that happens to be within reach of Harbour Town Golf Links and the Palmetto Dunes layouts when you want them.

What to expect

The May River Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature design, sits inside the gates and stays reserved for resort guests and Palmetto Bluff property owners. That access alone is the strongest golf-specific reason to book. Around it you get three pools, five restaurants, a full-service spa, a marina, and equestrian facilities. You can fill a week without leaving, and many guests do.

Rates and booking

$514 to $1,200 nightly, which puts Montage in a price bracket few Hilton Head visitors will consider. The 30-minute drive to the island's public courses is the trade-off; the on-site Nicklaus access is what makes it tolerable. Book direct through the resort or check rates via the link on this page.