Palmetto Hall Golf & Country Club, Hilton Head Island, SC

Heritage Golf Group – the fastest-growing golf course ownership company in the country – acquired Palmetto Hall Golf and Country Club on Hilton Head Island in 2022. For Heritage Golf Group’s President and CEO Mark Burnett, the decision to purchase Palmetto Hall was easy. “With the resurgence in golf travel and the number of choices golfers have for golf getaways, it’s crucial that we promote our region’s amazing golf, lodging, and culinary assets,” Burnett said. He added, “We are thrilled with the recent addition of Palmetto Hall Golf and Country Club to our portfolio and excited for its inclusion in Hilton Head Golf Island alongside Oyster Reef, Port Royal, and Shipyard.”

Immediately after the acquisition, Heritage Golf Group committed to a multi-million-dollar golf course improvement project. A complete renovation of the Arthur Hills course was completed in the fall. The renovation included new Tiff Eagle Bermuda greens, renovation of all the bunkers and installation of the Better Billy Bunker system, the best drainage system in golf, and extensive tree work.


Palmetto Hall features two golf courses designed by two iconic golf course architects: Arthur Hills and Robert Cupp. Together, these courses have long been considered among the best layouts in the Lowcountry; Heritage Golf Group’s goal is to return them to their former glory. The courses present a compelling contrast – the computer-designed Robert Cupp Course with its ultra-modern shaping and geometric bunkers and the Arthur Hills Course with its traditional look and feel.

The Cupp Course is unique because it was one of the first courses to be designed using a computer and a CAD program. As a result, you’ll find a lot of geometric shapes throughout the course. Some of these geometric figures have dissipated over time, but many are still noticeable. Straight lines and defined angles are the norms for many of the hazards; perfectly round greens, rectangular greens, square bunkers, and mounds that look like pyramids can be seen as you make your way around the layout. As a result, the Robert Cupp Course has shown up on its fair share of “Unusual Golf Course” lists, yet it will test low handicappers and is extremely playable for novices.

When the course opened in 1993 it had a 152 slope rating - the highest slope rating of any course in the state at the time. The course has mellowed slightly and now carries a slope rating of 149. Move up to the White Tees which play 6,042 yards and the slope drops to 124, a little on the high side but still manageable. The Forward (Green) Tees play 5,230 yards and offer only a slight reprieve in difficulty with a course rating of 70.6 and a slope of 123. Pick the tees that best suit your game and you’re sure to have an enjoyable round.

Even with this difficult rating from the tips, the course still draws high praise for its impeccable year-round conditioning, sound shot values, and flexibility. The course will challenge you as you wind your way through and around vast sawgrass marshes and dense forests of oak and pine.

The 11th hole may be your best shot at birdie. It’s a short par 4 and plays 290 yards from the White Tees. Hit’s advisable to hit something less than a driver off the tee, short of the triangular bunker. That will leave a short pitch shot into a green where the pin is probably blocked out by a large mound. The green’s not very deep so distance control is at a premium. A good pitch shot can result in a good score!

Palmetto Hall Golf and Country Club offers a variety of membership categories. It is a bundled community, so if you live in the Palmetto Hall community you must purchase at least a social membership.

Palmetto Hall Golf and Country Club has joined three other classic golf courses on Hilton Head Island - Port Royal, Oyster Reef, and Shipyard Golf Club -and is now part of Heritage Golf Group’s Hilton Head Collection. Visit them online to book your next round or golf vacation package.