
Harbour Town Golf Links is a public golf course located in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It is considered one of the most revered golf courses in the world and has been ranked highly by several golf publications. The course is known for its challenging design, which emphasises finesse and shot-making rather than strength. It has hosted the RBC Heritage tournament, presented by Boeing, on the PGA Tour since 1969. The course is currently closed for restoration but is expected to reopen in November 2025.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Public Access | Yes, Harbour Town Golf Links is a public golf course |
| Green Fees | $195 to $470, depending on the season |
| Course Designer | Pete Dye, with design consultant Jack Nicklaus |
| Course Type | Par 71 course, 7,099 yards (6,491 m) from the back tees |
| Course Difficulty | Emphasizes finesse, imagination, and shot-making rather than strength |
| Notable Holes | 18th hole is one of golf's most recognizable finishes with the Harbour Town Lighthouse as a backdrop |
| Tournaments | RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, Lighthouse Invitational |
| Course Maintenance | Overseeded with rye grass in October to maintain green during winter |
| Course Rating | Ranked #21 public course in America by Golf Digest in 2011-2012 |
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What You'll Learn

Harbour Town Golf Links is open to the public all year
The course is known for prioritising finesse, imagination, and shot-making over strength. It features a mix of tight fairways, bunkers, and water hazards that challenge golfers' precision and strategy. The 18th hole is particularly iconic, with the Harbour Town Lighthouse standing behind the green.
The Harbour Town Clubhouse offers a museum-like exhibit celebrating the life and work of Pete Dye. It also includes a pro shop, the Pete Dye Room, and Links, an American Grill, offering dining and hospitality services.
While the course is typically open all year, there is a planned temporary closure for restoration from May 5 to November 10, 2025. During this time, the Clubhouse will remain open for visitors to enjoy its facilities and exhibits.
Green fees for public play at Harbour Town Golf Links range from $195 to $470, depending on the season. The course accommodates approximately 38,000 rounds of golf annually and features seven different types of grass to withstand varying weather conditions.
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Green fees range from $195 to $470, depending on the season
Harbour Town Golf Links is a public golf course located in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It is one of the most revered and celebrated courses in the world, known for its unique design and emphasis on finesse, imagination, and shot-making rather than strength. The course is the creation of famed designer Pete Dye, with input from design consultant Jack Nicklaus.
The green fees at Harbour Town Golf Links range from $195 to $470, depending on the season. This fee allows golfers access to a course that is both challenging and picturesque. The 18th hole, with the Harbour Town Lighthouse standing behind the green, is one of the most recognisable finishes in golf. The course also features a mix of seven different types of grass, carefully maintained by course superintendent Jonathan Wright, to ensure optimal playing conditions throughout the year.
The fees at Harbour Town Golf Links represent a wide range, catering to golfers with different budgets and preferences. The higher fees are typically associated with peak golfing seasons, such as spring and autumn, when the weather is milder and the course is in high demand. During these times, golfers can expect the course to be in prime condition, with lush greens and well-maintained fairways. The fees also grant access to the premier clubhouses, which offer elevated golf course views, complimentary full-service locker rooms, and restaurants with exceptional dining experiences.
The lower fees, on the other hand, are likely to be offered during the off-peak seasons, such as winter and early spring. While the course may not be as busy during these periods, golfers can still enjoy the unique challenges presented by Dye's design. The off-peak season also provides an opportunity to experience the course in a different light, with the chance to admire the beauty of Hilton Head Island across the seasons. Additionally, golfers can take advantage of the lower fees to practice their game and refine their skills on a world-class course.
The green fees at Harbour Town Golf Links reflect the prestige and quality of the course. Golfers of all skill levels and ages are welcomed, with junior golfers under 17 receiving a 50% discount. The fees contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of the course, ensuring that it remains in impeccable condition for both recreational golfers and professional tournaments. Harbour Town Golf Links has hosted the RBC Heritage tournament, presented by Boeing, since its inauguration in 1969, attracting top golfers from around the world to compete on this renowned course.
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The course is one of the most revered in the world
Harbour Town Golf Links is one of the most revered golf courses in the world. It is the crowning achievement of famed designer Pete Dye, with design input from Jack Nicklaus, who was working on one of his first architectural projects. The course is located in Hilton Head Island, and it put the island on the map over 40 years ago.
The course is known for its unique design, which prioritises finesse, imagination, and shot-making over strength. It features a variety of challenges, including tight fairways, well-placed bunkers, and water hazards. The 18th hole is particularly notable, with the iconic red-and-white-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse standing behind the green, creating a recognisable backdrop for golfers.
Every year, Harbour Town hosts the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, South Carolina's only PGA TOUR event. This tournament has attracted some of the top golfers in the world and boasts an impressive list of winners, including Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Jordan Spieth, and Scottie Scheffler.
The course is also recognised for its diverse grass composition, with seven different types of grass, including Bermuda grass and rye grass, which are carefully maintained by course superintendent Jonathan Wright to ensure optimal playing conditions throughout the year.
The Sea Pines Resort, where Harbour Town Golf Links is located, offers a premier golf experience with luxurious accommodations and amenities, including elevated golf course views, complimentary full-service locker rooms, and fine dining options.
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It is home to the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing
Harbour Town Golf Links is home to the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, a renowned golf tournament that attracts some of the top golfers and over 100,000 spectators from around the world. The tournament is South Carolina's only PGA TOUR event and is considered a favourite among PGA TOUR players. It was founded in 1969 by Sea Pines founder Charles E. Fraser and has since raised millions for charity.
The Harbour Town Golf Links course is considered one of the most revered courses in the world, known for its emphasis on finesse, imagination, and shot-making rather than strength. It is the crowning achievement of famed designer Pete Dye, celebrating the life and work of the preeminent course designer of the modern era. The course features a collection of challenging par threes and a recognisable par-four 18th hole with the Harbour Town Lighthouse standing behind the green.
The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing is an annual event that offers a unique golfing experience. The tournament is held at the legendary Harbour Town Golf Links, located within The Sea Pines Resort. The resort offers premier clubhouses with elevated golf course views, complimentary full-service locker rooms, and restaurants serving delicious fare. The Harbour Town Clubhouse features an exhibit celebrating the work of Pete Dye and provides access to the Harbour Town pro shop, the Pete Dye Room, and Links, an American Grill.
The Sea Pines Resort also offers various packages for guests attending the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. These include the Love-Dye Package, which offers rounds on Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III and Heron Point by Pete Dye, and the Inn Golf Package, providing guests with luxurious accommodations at the Inn & Club at Harbour Town, the only Forbes Four-Star hotel on Hilton Head Island. The resort also offers a villa golf package for guests seeking a comfortable and convenient living space during their stay.
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The course was designed by Pete Dye, with design consultant Jack Nicklaus
Harbour Town Golf Links is a public golf course located in South Carolina, in Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island. It is considered one of the most revered courses in the world and is known for its challenging design, which prioritises finesse, imagination, and shot-making over strength. The course is the brainchild of renowned golf course architect Pete Dye, who crafted it with the assistance of design consultant and professional golfer Jack Nicklaus.
The course first opened in 1967, with the inaugural Heritage Golf Classic tournament taking place in 1969. Since then, it has become a staple of the PGA Tour, hosting the annual RBC Heritage tournament, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada. Harbour Town is unique, with narrow fairways, overhanging oaks, pines, palmettos, and dark lagoons. It is known for its small greens, averaging 3,700 square feet in area, compared to the tour average of 6,600 square feet.
Pete Dye's signature risk-and-reward design philosophy is evident throughout the course. Golfers are presented with challenging decisions, such as aiming for the right of the left fairway bunker and then calculating their chances of reaching the green in two. The course is notorious for its bunkers, with a massive strategic bunker on the right and a greenside bunker on the left. The deep but narrow green adds further complexity, with pin placement influencing club selection.
The 18th hole is particularly iconic, featuring the Harbour Town Lighthouse standing behind the green. This hole, along with the 4th, 8th, 14th, and 17th, presents a delicate challenge with a small margin of error between greens and water hazards. The finishing holes along Calibogue Sound offer a dynamic element as golfers must consider the changing tides and their impact on the water line.
The Harbour Town Clubhouse celebrates the life and work of Pete Dye, showcasing his impact on the sport and the legacy he has left at Harbour Town Golf Links. The course is currently closed for restoration, with plans to reopen in November 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Harbour Town Golf Links is open to the public. Green fees for public play range from $195 to $470, depending on the season.
Harbour Town Golf Links opened in 1969.
Harbour Town Golf Links was designed by Pete Dye, with his wife Alice and design consultant Jack Nicklaus.
The 18th hole is the signature hole at Harbour Town Golf Links, with the Harbour Town Lighthouse standing behind the green.
Harbour Town Golf Links is a par 71 course.












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