Old South Golf Links is regarded as a favorite year after year by local residents and visitors alike. Since the course opened, golfers continue to be attracted to the natural beauty of Lowcountry golf that Old South provides. Just over the bridge from Hilton Head Island, vacationers regularly make the short trip to Bluffton to play golf amid towering oaks and rolling terrain while soaking in magnificent views from the island greens abutting the intracoastal marshes of McKay’s Creek. Golfers are often greeted by the abundant wildlife from wood storks to soaring hawks and grazing deer to alligators inhabiting the lagoons. Designed by Clyde Johnson, Old South Golf Links stretches across the intra-coastal waterway showcasing several spectacular holes along the way. The course features island greens, towering live oaks and an abundance of wildlife, all traits that have become synonymous with golf on Hilton Head. The 370-yard par 4 seventh hole often leaves players walking off the green either loving or hating it. The tee shot is played to an island fairway and the approach shot plays to an island green. Precision is key to navigating the hole successfully. The architect was once quoted as saying, “The variety of the setting from oak forest to open pasture to tidal salt marsh provided an opportunity to vary the design elements and strategy of play.” Old South has been a favorite of locals for years and remains a gem among the public courses in Bluffton.
Signature Holes:
Hole 5: A challenging par-5 that requires strategic shot placement. The hole doglegs left around a large marsh area, with the fairway narrowing as it approaches the green, which is elevated and protected by bunkers.
Hole 6: This par-4 offers a dramatic tee shot over marshland to a narrow fairway. The approach shot is equally challenging, with water protecting the right side of the green and bunkers guarding the left.
Hole 16: A risk-reward par-4 with a sharp dogleg left. Golfers can attempt to cut the corner over the marsh to leave a shorter approach shot, but misjudging the distance can lead to a difficult recovery.
Hole 18: The closing par-5 is a true test of skill, featuring a double dogleg and marshland that comes into play on both the tee shot and approach. The green is perched on a peninsula, making it a dramatic and memorable finish.
