Shipyard Golf Club, Hilton Head Island, SC

Over the years, Shipyard Golf Club has hosted several premier events and is the former home of the Hilton Head Senior International (1982 to 1984). At the time Shipyard was recognized as one of the finest layouts on the CHAMPIONS TOUR. Shipyard has 27 holes, creating three distinctly different 18-hole layouts. Each course offers four sets of tees and can be played by any level of player. Not too long ago, all 27 greens were resurfaced with Diamond Zosia, a grass that stands up well to the Carolina weather. Several holes offer excellent risk/reward opportunities, but you’ll need accuracy off the tee and a good command of your short game to score well here.

The Clipper and Galleon course at Shipyard Golf Club were the first two courses and opened in 1970; nines the Brigantine Course followed in 1982. The George W. Cobb-designed Clipper Course may be the most difficult of the three nines. Most holes have A combination of long fairways lined with towering oak trees and perilous hazards such as sand bunkers and water hazards to keep you on your toes. All three nines require a good long game and soft touch around the greens.

Three holes stand out in my mind at the Shipyard. The 2nd hole on the Galleon Course is a short, 440-yard par 5 that doglegs to the left. To reach the green in two, you’ll need to pound your tee shot over the fairway bunker on the left side at the corner of the dogleg. As you turn the corner, you’ll find water all down the left side. Your 2nd shot plays uphill and is at least an extra club if not two. The elevated green sits behind a pond and is guarded by bunkers on either side.


Shipyard has excellent practice facilities including a full-length driving range, short game area, and practice green. The staff of PGA Professionals at any of these courses can help you get the most out of your game. They offer private lessons, group lessons, camps, and clinics for golfers of all skill levels. There’s no excuse not to play your best when you step up to the first tee.

Heritage Golf Group has partnered with two local resorts: The Westin Resort & Spa and The Sonesta Resort. To get to the Sonesta Resort, you drive right by the Shipyard’s clubhouse, making it easy to get in an extra nine holes in the evening.

The Sonesta Resort is a AAA Four Diamond family-friendly beach resort that recently underwent a $30 million renovation. The renovation included a spectacular new swimming pool complex with a shaded lap pool and Jacuzzi, a zero-entry heated lagoon swimming pool, and a children’s area. The 340 spacious guest rooms and suites offer views of the Shipyard Plantation grounds, lush tropical gardens, swimming pools, and the Atlantic Ocean. The resort offers indoor and al fresco dining at Bayley’s Lobby Bar & Terrace, Seacrest Restaurant and Terrace, and Sweet Cane restaurants.

At the Westin Resort & Spa, coastal splendor meets southern hospitality. The resort sits nestled amid natural dunes and Hilton Head Island’s pristine white sands, The Westin Resort & Spa offers its guests oceanfront resort views from most guest rooms, the Heavenly Spa by Westin, and three outdoor pools. All of Westin’s bright, open rooms include WiFi, a flat-screen cable TV, a small refrigerator, and coffee-making facilities. There’s family-friendly dining in the Carolina Room, poolside dining at Splash, with additional dining at View 32 and Ingredients.

Any or all of these courses can be packaged together through The Heritage Golf Collection with a single phone call

Near-perfect greens and good layout. Lots of tee choices so you can bite off what you want. Lots of gators for a local feel (some are very close to the field of play) and reasonable value at $55. I would play it again.

Played on March 3, 2014. The staff at Ship Watch was pleasant and efficient. We were paired with two other golfers and all four thought the course was in average to good condition for the first week in March.
The tee boxes, fairways and bunkers were all in pretty good condition. The greens were in good condition for the time of the year and rolled pretty true.
There are some challenging holes although the scenery was about average. There are a lot of condos and some houses in close proximity to these nine holes (Galleon).
This is an "OK" course although there are better values on Hilton Head.