SC has 4 of the best golf resorts in the US, Golf Digest says. Here’s why they’re great
South Carolina is home to sandy beaches, historic towns and much more. One of the go-to stops for visitors to the Palmetto State is often a golf course.
Golf Digest recently released a listing of America’s 75 best golf resorts, with four resort courses in South Carolina landing on the list.
To make this ranking, Golf Digest tasked its expert panel of more than 1,500 avid golf travelers to score and rate any resort courses they’ve played in the last five years, scoring them on a 1-to-10 scale. The final ranking is determined by the aggregated scores from panelists.
Here’s a look at the South Carolina resorts that made the list, from lowest to highest rankings, and their scores from Golf Digest panelists:
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club in Pawleys Island
- Ranked #71
- Scored 4.1 out of 5 stars by Golf Digest panelist
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club is nestled among oaks and sand dunes. Not far from Myrtle Beach, panelists noted the course’s creativity and order, as it was Mike Strantz’s first solo design in 1994. Panelists said that a must for visitors is the chowder at the turn and a cocktail on the porch behind the 18th green.
The Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head
- Ranked #28
- Scored 4 out of 5 stars by Golf Digest panelist
Tucked on the south end of Hilton Head Island, the Sea Pines Resort’s Atlantic Dunes course – originally the Ocean Course – features Spanish moss-draped oaks and a few alligators lurking around the green. It’s also home to Harbour Town Golf Links, the site of the RBC Heritage PGA Tour.
May River at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton
- Ranked #17
- Scored 4.2 of 5 stars by Golf Digest panelist
In the heart of Bluffton, the May River golf course offers an intimate, strategic round across its forested and marsh-lined property. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, about 35 years after he collaborated with Pete Dye at nearby Harbour Town, panelists say that May River presents a natural, low-profile layout and flowing experience with large greens and plenty of risk-reward play opportunities.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island
- Ranked #9
- Scored 4.8 of 5 stars by Golf Digest panelist
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island was originally built in a hurry for the 1991 Ryder Cup, which was moved from California to the East Coast. Designed by Pete Dye, Golf Digest panelists said this course is one of his most “diabolical” creations. The course stretches along nearly three miles of oceanfront and presents golfers with constant challenges, from sloping greens, expansive dunes and coastal winds.
Top five golf resorts in America
While South Carolina had a strong showing, here are the top five resorts nationwide, according to this ranking by Golf Digest:
- #1. Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Oregon
- #2. Pebble Beach in Pebble Beach, California
- #3. Four Seasons Resort Lanai in Lanai, Hawaii
- #4. Sand Valley in Nekoosa, Wisconsin
- #5. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
To view Golf Digest’s full listing of the 2025 top 75 golf resorts in America, click here.
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
