South Carolina is one of the most popular golf destinations in the country, with top layouts stacked alongs the Atlantic coast. From major-championship sites to PGA Tour venues to elite private clubs, the Palmetto State’s golf offerings are a gift that just keeps giving. Keep scrolling to see the best of them.
Golfweek’s Best offers many lists of course rankings, with that of top public-access courses in each state among the most popular. All the courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time.
Also popular are the Golfweek’s Best rankings of top private courses in each state, and that list for South Carolina’s private offerings is likewise included below.
MORE: Best Modern | Best Classic | Top 200 Resort | Top 200 Residential | Top 100 Best You Can Play
(m): Modern course, built in or after 1960
(c): Classic course, built before 1960
Note: If there is a number in the parenthesis with the m or c, that indicates where that course ranks among Golfweek’s Best top 200 modern or classic courses.
* New to or returning to list
Best public-access courses in South Carolina in 2022
1. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean)
Kiawah Island (13m)
2. Sea Pines Resort (Harbour Town GL)
Hilton Head Island (54m)
3. Palmetto Bluff (May River)
Bluffton (T140m)
4. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
Myrtle Beach (143c)
5. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
Pawleys Island (T176m)
6. True Blue
Pawleys Island (m)
7. Tidewater
North Myrtle Beach (m)
8. Sea Pines Resort (Atlantic Dunes)
Hilton Head Island (m)
9. Sea Pines Resort (Heron Point)
Hilton Head Island (m)
10. Legends Golf Resort (Moorland)
Myrtle Beach (m)
11. Myrtle Beach National (King’s North)
Myrtle Beach (m)
12. TPC Myrtle Beach
Murrells Inlet (m)
13. Heritage Club
Pawleys Island (m)
14. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Osprey Point)*
Kiawah Island (m)
15. Barefoot Resort & Golf (Dye)
North Myrtle Beach (m)
Best private courses in South Carolina in 2022
1. Yeaman’s Hall
Charleston (35c)
2. Congaree
Ridgeland (T22m)
3. Cherokee Plantation
Yemassee (m)
4. Long Cove
Hilton Head Island (T58m)
5. Secession
Gibbes Island (T81m)
6. Sage Valley
Graniteville (T85m)
7. Colleton River (Pete Dye)
Bluffton (T92m)
8. Spring Island (Old Tabby Links)
Okatie (T110m)
9. Kiawah Island Club (Cassique)
Kiawah Island (T116m)
10. Cliffs at Mountain Park
Travelers Rest (T121m)
11. Kiawah Island Club (River)
Kiawah Island (T124m)
12. Palmetto
Aiken (123c)
T13. Chechesee Creek
Okatie (167m)
T13. CC of Charleston*
Charleston (T136c)
15. Greenville CC (Chanticleer)
Greenville (m)
