The Plantation Golf Club is a superb public golf facility. I absolutely love it…read more
The club is located within The Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island. If you aren't a Sea Pines property owner or have a guest pass, it costs $5 for an all-day pass into the resort.
The Plantation Golf Club is home to two of Sea Pines' three golf courses: Heron Point by Pete Dye and Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III. The club is also affiliated with Sea Pines' most famous course, Harbour Town Golf Links. You can book tee times for all three courses at Plantation Golf Club. In the end, everything is a part of Sea Pines.
The brand new clubhouse was unveiled in March 2014. Along with a completely new clubhouse, both Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes were redesigned and renovated. These courses were formerly known as the Sea Marsh and Ocean Courses, respectively, but have since been renamed. It's part of a comprehensive overhaul, which has happened over the last several years, to all of Sea Pines' golf properties. Harbour Town's new clubhouse opened one year after Plantation's, in April 2015, and Atlantic Dunes opened in October 2016. All the courses, clubhouses, and facilities are first class.
I have or will review the three golf courses separately. This review is more of a brief overview of Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes, the practice range, and the Plantation Golf Club clubhouse and amenities.
Heron Point measures 7,035 yards from the tips with a rating/slope of 74.0/140. Atlantic Dunes measures 7,010 yards from the tips with a rating/slope of 74.3/143. Both are fine courses and you can't go wrong with either one. If I had to pick one, I'd go with Atlantic Dunes. Not only is it newer, but it's more scenic and fun to play. If you play Heron Point, bring bug spray.
During our recent visit, public rates for Heron Point were $175 per golfer before 12pm and $160 for most tee times after 12pm. For Atlantic Dunes, the rates were $190 per golfer before 12pm and $170 for most tee times after 12pm. Sea Pines property owner rates for both courses were $90 per golfer before 11am and $75 after 11am. Of course, rates can vary depending on a variety of factors like day of the week, time, and season, so check online or call the clubhouse for the latest rates. For example, I saw an $80 tee time for Heron Point on a Sunday after 4pm. In the summertime, finishing 18 holes with a 4pm start is very doable.
I think the courses are worth it. They have always been in outstanding shape the times I've played them. When it comes to public course conditioning, this is about as good as it gets. Admittedly, the conditions at Harbour Town are even better, but for most amateur golfers, you're splitting hairs making that comparison. I would venture to guess both Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes are in better shape than a lot, perhaps most, private courses as well.
This is the perfect place to introduce new players to the game of golf. Both Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes have six sets of tees. The sixth set of tees, the orange tees, are designed for beginners and kids. From the orange tees, Heron Point measures only 3,677 yards, with no hole longer than 300 yards, and Atlantic Dunes measures 3,924 yards, with only two holes over 300 yards.
The practice areas are phenomenal. The club has everything you need to work on your game and everything is in excellent condition, from the huge grass driving range to the multiple short game areas and practice putting greens. Bags of Titleist NXT Tour S range balls are included with every round. There are various golf clinics you can sign up for and you can get personal instruction with a PGA professional as well. They have special facilities, technology, and equipment for instructional use. How sweet would it be to live, and not just vacation, in Sea Pines? I'd be here everyday.
The clubhouse is beautiful. You don't see a lot of recently constructed, modern, and elegant clubhouses like this one these days because they simply don't exist. The clubhouse is grand and majestic, but, like Harbour Town's new clubhouse, it's not gaudy nor overdone. The stately and sophisticated architecture and design of the building perfectly complements Sea Pines and surrounding Hilton Head Island.
The clubhouse is home to Live Oak, a contemporary Lowcountry-inspired New American restaurant. I think it's one of the best restaurants on the island and I've reviewed it separately.
The pro shop is big and filled with all sorts of wonderful merchandise including great gift ideas, golf apparel in the latest styles and trends, and Sea Pines logoed accessories. Complimentary day lockers and showers are available. The spotless men's locker room has an attendant, free snacks, and all the toiletries you could ask for.
Customer service is terrific. The staff is great.
Note: Along with discounted tee times, Sea Pines property owners also get 10% off all merchandise in the pro shop and food and drink at the restaurant.