Golf Travel Guide To Hilton Head Island

Looking to plan the perfect golf trip to Hilton Head Island? Planning a buddies trip or a romantic golf getaway can be a full time job not to mention pressure-filled to deliver a memorable experience. Below is some insider information about golfing and traveling to Hilton Head Island, must play courses, a sample itinerary and where you can go for more planning tools.

Give our readers an overview of your destination and why they should consider it for their next golf trip?
The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton area of South Carolina is home to more than 40 championship-caliber golf courses, world-class beaches and an unparalleled variety of vacation accommodations, amenities and activities. Conveniently accessible by car or by plane into the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Hilton Head shines as one of the world's premier golf vacation destinations without all the neon lights and high rises.

Golf rules year-round in the Hilton Head-Bluffton area, with 15 on-island courses, including the famous Harbour Town Golf Links at The Sea Pines Resort, and 13 off-island layouts. Some of the world's best golf architects have left their mark on the sand here...Robert Trent Jones, Davis Love III, Rees Jones, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, George Fazio...just to name a few. Hilton Head is also home to the PGA TOUR's RBC Heritage, an area tradition where golfers are encouraged to "get their plaid on" for this star-studded event. With more than 6,000 villas, condos and homes on the rental market and two dozen hotels and inns...six of them AAA Four Diamond award-winners...golf packages can be custom built to your specifications and are surprisingly affordable year-round.

Off the golf courses, you will find activities for all ages, all close by. Play tennis on a championship court. Bike more than 50 miles of public pathways that cross the Island. Play in the ocean with the kids or just relax on sugar-white sand beaches. We invite you to experience the uniqueness of a Hilton Head-Bluffton golf vacation. One trip and you will agree that it is a truly amazing place with incredible amenities on and off the course, perfect for individuals, groups and families. It will exceed your expectations...guaranteed.

What are the must play courses in Hilton Head Island?
The Sea Pines Resort Harbour Town Golf Links It is the course that literally put Hilton Head Island on the map and more than 40 years later remains one of the most revered courses in the world. Architect: Pete Dye / Design Consultant: Jack Nicklaus - 7,101 yards / par 71

A complete list of courses can be found on http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/

After golf, what are the "must do" things or attractions to see?
From fancy to no frills, the diverse Hilton Head Island dining scene offers something for everyone. One of the great pleasures of vacationing on the Island is the opportunity to dine at a casual seafood house one night and at one of the elegant four-star Hilton Head restaurants the next. The myriad Hilton Head restaurants, at a variety of price points, are sure to please even the pickiest palate.

You will find some of the most fun things to do in South Carolina right here in the Lowcountry, where folks flock to the water for recreation and relaxation. Early fall and winter bring those highly prized bottom-dwellers - oysters - prepared any way you please at local Hilton Head restaurants.

In celebration of the seafood harvests, locals and visitors gather for traditional South Carolina events - the oyster roast, the shrimp boil and fish fry. The Southern staples - rice, corn and don't forget grits - are combined with crab, clams and shrimp to create flavorful dishes influenced by area traditions. For the freshest local foods, check out the Bluffton Farms Market on Thursdays.

A visit to the Lowcountry is an experience for al the senses. Pull up a chair and enjoy the Island's bounty!

What is the best time to travel?
While just about picture-perfect year-round in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton area, the very best times for golf vacations are in the spring and fall. You just can't beat the weather and there are no summer beach crowds! Check out these amazing average temperatures...

Spring
March 48-68 F
April 56-76 F
May 64-83 F
June 70-87 F

Fall
September 69-85 F
October 59-77 F
November 49-69 F

Anything else you would like to share about the Hilton Head Island?
The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton area is the only golf destination to received 7 of the 8 available honors awarded by Golf Digest in 2012:

America's Top 10 Best Buddies-Trip Destinations Top 10 Best Courses Top 10 Best Value Top 10 Best Lodging Top 10 Best Couples Trips Top 10 Best Weather Top 10 Best Food & Drink

Recent accommodation upgrades and awards, make Hilton Head Island even more golfer friendly!

How's this for a scorecard?

$74 million being spent on a new Shelter Cove Towne Center
$30 million already spent on upgrading Sea Pines amenities, with another $50 million committed to new projects
$30 million in renovations at the Westin Hilton head Island Resort and Spa
$30 million in a complete restoration of the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head
$17 million spent in a rejuvenation of the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort
$5 million spent to update The Beach House, a Holiday Inn Resort

Add it up and you have more than $200 million in upgrades already finished, or under construction, that are transforming Hilton Head Island into the freshest golf destination in America, yet still under the canopy of century-old moss-draped oaks beside 12 miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beachfront.

Where can golfers go for more information to research and plan their trip?
Step 1: Visit www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com and click on the "Request a Quote" button.
Step 2: Complete the easy online registration form concerning the details of your trip.
Step 3: Once your request has been submitted expect numerous quotes back from area golf vacation and resort planners.
Step 4: See a quote you like? Simply respond back to the golf vacation or resort partner and they will take care of the rest.