Can you play golf or swim? Coronavirus rules vary in Beaufort Co. private communities
This story has been updated that Wexford Plantation has closed its tennis courts.
If you live in Wexford Plantation and wanted to play tennis on Thursday, you would have been in luck.
Tennis courts at the gated community on Hilton Head Island’s south end were open to residents.
But if you lived one mile north, next door in Long Cove Club, you wouldn’t have been so lucky. The community closed its private sports complex due to the coronavirus.
If you want to play golf, you won’t be playing at Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines — that course is closed. But you can hit Palmetto Hall or Spanish Wells for a round if you’re OK with sitting alone in your golf cart.
Many courses are allowing only single riders in golf carts. In others, it’s push-cart only.
Communities with amenities — a sure-fire selling point for homebuyers in Beaufort County — are dealing with the coronavirus outbreak differently. While neighborhoods are fielding questions and suggestions from their residents, many are trying to strike the balance of safety and the good, old-fashioned recreation that Hilton Head especially is known for (and that many doctors are suggesting in a time of pandemic).
Some recreation options like golf courses appear to have been forgotten in S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s latest executive order, which closed all nonessential businesses.
But the golf pros on Hilton Head will tell you: No one’s lining up to play during a pandemic.
“Our golf courses are still open,” Palmetto Dunes CEO Andrew Schumacher told The Island Packet. “But there’s certainly not a demand for all three (courses), so we may start rotating which ones are open and which are closed.”
Here’s the status of private, gated community amenities on Hilton Head and in Bluffton, Okatie and Beaufort:
This list is subject to change as coronavirus precautions change daily.
Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Plantation: The community’s three golf courses — Bear Creek, Oyster Reef and Dolphin Head — are still operating.
Tennis courts are open to singles play only.
Spring Lake Pool, which was supposed to open April 1, is closed. General Manager Peter Kristian said he hopes to be able to open it May 1.
Nature paths, bike paths and the community’s bluff are still open.
Kristian said residents appear to be doing lots of home improvement in their free time, because Hilton Head Plantation’s landscape debris drop-off center “is going gangbusters.”
Indigo Run did not return a call for information
Long Cove Club: The community’s Pete Dye golf course is still open, push-cart only.
The sports complex, which includes tennis, pickleball, bocce ball and basketball courts, is closed.
The community’s pool and playground are also closed.
Palmetto Dunes: The community’s three golf courses — George Fazio, Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront and Arthur Hills — are all open now but may switch to rotating closures to address a smaller number of golfers, Schumacher said.
The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort and Disney’s Hilton Head Resort are both closed.
Pickleball and tennis courts are closed. Bike rental and community’s general store are both open.
Palmetto Dunes does not have any community-wide pools.
Palmetto Hall did not return a call for information, but its website says the golf course is open.
Port Royal Plantation: The community’s golf club is open, as well as its tennis courts.
To comply with social-distancing recommendations, only small groups can use the four tennis courts at a time.
Port Royal Plantation’s pool is closed.
Sea Pines: Two of the community’s golf courses, Atlantic Dunes and Heron Point, are rotating so one course is open each day. Harbour Town Golf Links and the driving range are closed until further notice, the Sea Pines Resort website says.
Sea Pines Country Club is open.
The Sea Pines Racquet Club is closed until further notice, the website says. South Beach Racquet Club is operating on a limited basis for private lessons.
Shipyard: The Shipyard Golf Club has been open this week, general manager Sally Warren said.
She said tennis facilities were also open this week.
All of those amenities had “very minimal activity” this week, she said.
Spanish Wells: Spanish Wells Golf Club is open but is allowing only single riders in golf carts.
The pool is closed, and tennis courts are open to singles play only.
Wexford: The tennis facilities and Arnold Palmer golf course were open to residents only.
Residents can use only their own golf carts on the course.
Following the original publication of this article, Wexford closed its tennis facilities.
Windmill Harbour: The community’s pool and dog park, both managed by the POA, are closed.
The marina is still operating, but the tennis courts and boating program are closed.
Bluffton
Belfair: The community’s golf course is open only to members.
Both its indoor and outdoor pools are closed. The tennis courts are open for private lessons only.
Berkeley Hall: The community’s golf course and tennis/pickleball courts are open.
The pool and fitness center are closed.
Colleton River Plantation did not return a call for information.
Eagle’s Pointe: The community’s golf course is open.
Hampton Hall: The community’s golf course and tennis courts are open to members only.
The pool is closed.
Hampton Lake: The tennis, pickleball, bocce ball and basketball courts are closed. The swimming pool and playgrounds are also closed.
Nature trails and the community’s lake are still open.
Island West: The golf course is open.
Moss Creek did not return a call for information.
Palmetto Bluff closed all hotel operations March 20.
Rose Hill Plantation: The community’s public golf course is open.
The clubhouse restaurant is closed.
On April 7, the club closed its tennis courts.
“Yesterday our neighboring communities took down their nets as there was too much activity. Our Members have been amazing and we have watched you come out with your family, go directly to a court, hit some balls and get some exercise, and then go home,” Rose Hill said in an email to its members.
“We deeply regret taking this away from you but feel that current circumstances dictate that it is time. So, it is back to driveway tennis for the near future!!” the message said.
Sun City Hilton Head: Most indoor and outdoor amenities have been closed except for the community’s three golf courses, Argent Lakes, Hidden Cypress and Okatie Creek.
Restrooms on the courses and driving ranges are closed.
The Crescent: The community’s golf course is closed but may re-open after April 5, a reservation agent said when reached by phone.
Okatie/ 170 corridor area
Callawassie Island: The community’s golf course is open for members and single riders only on golf carts.
The two pools and tennis courts are not open.
Spring Island did not return a call for information.
Beaufort area
Bray’s Island Plantation did not return a call for information.
Fripp Island: The community’s two golf courses, Ocean Point and Ocean Creek, and the tennis courts are open.
The pools are closed, a receptionist said.
Dataw Island: The community’s golf course is open as long as golfers ride alone in their own golf carts. The tennis courts are also open.
The indoor pool is open for lap swimming, but marketing director Laura McCarthy said members must sign up for 30-minute increments, and the locker room is being disinfected after every use.
The community also removed furniture from the outdoor pool so it’s “not as easy or convenient to congregate,” she said.
“Everything is more separated and less social,” McCarthy said.
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
