Features events at venues in the US, as well as tournaments in Canada, Scotland, and Bermuda. Includes schedule, results and membership information. Get the latest downloads for Links 2001 and Links 2003 including courses, wallpaper and player animations. Jan 30, 2017 Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus and home to the PGA. Harbour Town Golf Links is a public golf course located in Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Harbour Town Golf Links.
The Civil War brought an end to the era of large plantations on Hilton Head, and slaves who had served on the island were given a mule and a parcel of land to help them make a new start. A unique culture, known as Gullah or Geechee, complete with its own language, traditions and superstitions, developed among the close-knit community of former slaves on Hilton Head and on other coastal islands as well. Hilton Head’s period of calm and isolation following the Civil War lasted through the Great Depression.
Then, in the 1940s, three families purchased large tracts of land covering much of the island and formed a lumber cutting consortium called The Hilton Head Company. As the island was being used for hunting, farming, and lumbering, the population still remained low. This started to change when the James F. Byrnes Bridge, a two-lane toll swing bridge, was constructed in 1956. With the island now accessible to the general population, Charles Fraser purchased his father’s interest in The Hilton Head Company nurturing a vision to create an environmentally friendly residential resort community.
As part of Fraser’s plan, no building would be taller than the tallest tree, every structure would be painted in natural earth-tone colors, and the oceanfront would be open to as many as possible. Streets were laid out to avoid the largest trees, and historic artifacts, such as the tabby ruins of the Baynard Plantation and the Gullah cemetery on Braddocks Point, were delicately preserved.
At the heart of his development, Fraser envisioned an “intimate harbor village with low-country ambience seasoned by the influence of the small distinctive ports along the coast of southern France and Italy.” To achieve this affect, Fraser flew his design team over dozens of small Mediterranean harbors so they could capture the unique coastal charm of places like Portofino, Italy. The result is Harbour Town with its marina, shops, restaurants, and striped lighthouse.
Construction on the octagonal Harbour Town Lighthouse began in 1969 and was completed in the spring of 1970. Those who questioned the effectiveness of building such a structure to attract boaters from the Intracoastal Waterway called the tower “Fraser’s Folly.” Within a decade, however, the lighthouse was acclaimed a “stroke of genius.” Positioned as the backdrop for the final hole of the, the tower has made many an appearance on golf telecasts. The red and white lighthouse, seen by millions of tourists, boaters, and golfers, has become a widely recognized landmark and a symbol for all of Hilton Head Island.
As visitors climb the tower, they can read information panels on each of the nine landings while they pause to catch their breath. Displays on the lower landings describe the history of Hilton Head Island. Topics that are treated include early inhabitants, colonial history, plantation life on the island, and the Civil War.
The middle landings house historical information on the construction of the bridge linking the island to the mainland and details of Fraser’s plan for Sea Pines Resort. Items listed on these placards include several places to visit on the resort grounds, such as Baynard Ruins, the Oyster Shell Ring, and the Liberty Oak. Information on six lighthouses located in the area is provided on the upper landings. Interspersed with all the historical information on the island are several ghost stories attached to lighthouses and sites on the island. Upon completing their history-lesson ascent of the tower, visitors will find the Top of the Lighthouse Shoppe along with panoramic views of Calibogue Sound, the Harbour Town Golf Links, and Haig Point Lighthouse on the northern end of Dafuskie Island. A webcam displays images from the top of the lighthouse on the website. During 2001-2002, roughly $200,000 was spent on renovating the structure.
Since that time, a small admission fee has been charged to help pay for the improvements and offset maintenance costs. As the lighthouse was built as more of an aid to commercialization than an aid to navigation, purists might not consider this modern building an authentic lighthouse. However, it is listed on navigational charts, and its white flash with a period of two-and-a-half seconds can be seen at a distance of fifteen miles. This fact, coupled with the historical lighthouse accounts found in the tower, links this modern lighthouse to its more aged siblings. Photo Gallery: References • Lighthouses of the Carolinas: A Short History and Guide, Terrance Zepke, 1998. • Bansemer’s Book of Carolina and Georgia Lighthouses, Roger Bansemer, 2000. Take Highway 278 to Hilton Head Island.
Once on the Island, take the Cross Island Parkway until you arrive at the traffic circle and then turn onto Greenwood Drive. Greenwood Drive will become Plantation Drive. Follow Plantation Drive to Lighthouse Road and then turn right on Lighthouse Road, which will lead to the lighthouse in the marina at Harbour Town. I have been informed that RVs and motorcycles are not allowed inside Sea Pines Resort. A small fee is required to climb the, which opens daily at 10 a.m. And closes at sunset.
The lighthouse is owned by the. Grounds/tower open.
If you have the overwhelming need to be able to watch the Heritage and be able to say 'I was there' then by all means, play Harbour Town. Otherwise, save the $$$. Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice course but only the last three holes live up to the Harbour town 'mystique.'
And if you are not a property owner or a member, you have to shell out for a fore caddy too. I could name 6 courses on HH Hthat are jsut as nice and 1/2 the price. If you are staying in Sea Pines, just play the Ocean course. If you are off Sea Pines, try Palmetto Hall or Palmetto Dunes. If you can somehow finagle your way onto Colleton River go for it.
That course is rediculous!!! I played this course in mid October, 2010 while in town for my cousin's wedding. First, let me tell you the good. The last 3 holes are absolutely breathtaking and pretty special.
There are a couple more holes as well that we all really liked. However, for the most part, the other holes were not overly exciting nor memorable. We were well aware of the fees and decided to play in the afternoon when the rates dropped a bit. Upon our arrival, we were told we would have fore caddies with a 'recommended' fee of $25 per bag. We requested to bypass this service but were firmly told that it was mandatory (as is cart path only). Although I admit that I probably did not do as much homework as I should have prior to our round, there was nothing on the website's fee page stating a mandatory fore caddie program.
I do understand why they require the fore caddies, especially being a cart path only course. They were very helpful and helped speed up the round. My beef is that it was thrown on us and in our eyes, seemed like a hidden charge. My other complaint is that the greens had been over seeded and top rolled with sand. They were not in horrible shape, but certainly not in good shape. This was never communicated to me when I booked the tee time and there was no discount given.
Sorry, but when I pay over $215 for a round of golf on a premier course, I want to know when the greens have been treated, aerated, or whatever. I also think a reduced rate should be given in these circumstances. It was not, and it ruined our round. We played Hilton Head National the next day for $60 and it was by far in much better condition AND, the holes were ALL memorable. Heck, had the prices on these two courses been reversed, they both would have been priced more appropriately. I'm not saying not to ever play Harbour Town. Just make sure you ask about the conditions before you shell out the money for it and accept the fact that the place is a money pit.
I think a lot of people have a misunderstanding of what to expect from HTGL in the summer. They see the course on TV in early April when it is overseeded for winter conditions with rye grass (same as augusta national) and expect the same in July/August. In the summer the entire course is bermuda.
Rye grass dies off when the weather gets hot. We played on August 11th and it was in great shape.
We had great lies in the fairway and rough all day. They do an amazing job considering the course sees over 38000 rounds per year. If you love golf and you are a fan of the game you must play here. It is unique to most courses I have played and can be extremely difficult.
There are few places left on Tour that have held a PGA event as long as this one and when you play it you will see why. Many of the new tracks are bomb/gouge type tracks - not this one. This is a true ball strikers/shot makers golf course. Listen to your caddie!
He/she will tell you where to put the ball and why. Make sure you have lunch in the grill. They have oil paintings of all the past champions.
The history here is inspiring. Great golf shop too. Four years ago my husband and I played Harbour Town and hated every minute of it. We were paired with 2 single golfers to make a foursome, which was great, but the ranger whipped us to keep up with the 2-some in front of us that consisted of the teaching pro and a player. As any golfer knows, that is impossible. Especially since the course is cart path only. Completely ruined the experience.
I swore I'd never go back until I read about the forecaddie program. We tried it again in May 2010 and loved every minute of it. The forecaddie makes the experience excellant. Before you get out of your cart he tells you what your yardage is so you have exactly the right club before you hike across the fairway.
Our forecaddie cleaned our clubs, got us drinks, took fun pictures of us, told stories about the course and the pros who have played in the Heritage, and generally made the day great. This course is very expensive to play but was totally worth it. If the forecaddie program is still in place next year we'll play Harbour Town again. Of course the experience is dependant on the personality of the forecaddie but we got matched with just the right one which made for a very fun and memorable trip around that track.
Description Not only is Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort a Hilton Head favorite, it is consistently ranked among the best in the world. Jack Nicklaus, Pete and Alice Dye designed the course collaboratively. They incorporated various elements, including some of the smallest greens of any tournament course in the country, that force golfers to rely more heavily on strategy and accuracy rather than strength.
The course is known for its challenging par 3s and its signature candy-cane striped lighthouse. The most difficult hole on the course is the par-4 18th, which is made even trickier when the wind is blowing off the Calibogue Sound.