The golf course at Dolphin Head, designed by Gary Player in 1974, was the first course constructed in Hilton Head Plantation. Because of this, Player could utilize some of the best golfing property the Plantation had to offer.
Just minutes from the Hilton Head Airport, Dolphin Head Golf Club features 18 holes of championship golf in the form of a beautiful Gary Player-designed golf course. It boasts two distinctive nine-hole courses. The front nine, meandering through tall trees with Player’s signature bunkers and marshland coming into play on most holes, is the grand opening nine. It plays short but puts a premium on hitting fairways and greens, and is quite typical of many of the top courses on Hilton Head.
The back nine, however, offers a much different look, with open spaces and tall, old-growth trees, giving Dolphin Head two very distinctive looks. Not many other facilities in the area can offer such an experience, making Dolphin Head one of the most unique golf courses in the Lowcountry.
Gary Player’s main goal in building the course was to leave as many natural features as possible and use very little landfill to help create a natural look. The surrounding natural preserves and the local wildlife were not interrupted as Player tried to create harmony between man and nature. The result is a very playable and scenic golf course that has become a local favorite.
Under the direction of local course architect Clyde Johnston, Dolphin Head Golf Club renovated the course’s greens, tees, and fairways in 2010. The tees and fairways comprise Celebration Bermuda due to its denser growth pattern and better shade tolerance. The greens comprise Mini-Verde Bermuda for its tight, upright growth pattern and quicker green speeds. The Club’s capital reserve fully funded the course renovation project.
Specs: 18-hole
Open: Daily, 7 AM–6 PM
