Harbour Town Golf Links

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Home of the RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour, Harbour Town is one of the most iconic courses in America. Pete Dye's tight, tree-lined layout demands precision over power, and the lighthouse finish at the 18th green on Calibogue Sound is one of golf's most recognizable images.

History & Heritage

Harbour Town Golf Links was designed by Pete Dye with consultation from a young Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1969 at Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island. The first Heritage Classic was held that same year, won by Arnold Palmer, establishing the tournament that continues today as the RBC Heritage.

The course challenged conventional wisdom that Tour courses needed to be over 7,000 yards. Harbour Town remains one of the shortest on the PGA Tour schedule, yet its tight live-oak corridors, small greens, and Calibogue Sound winds make it one of the most demanding. The iconic red-and-white lighthouse behind the 18th green is one of the most recognizable landmarks in golf.

Signature Holes

Hole 18 Par 4 · 472 yards

One of the most iconic finishing holes in golf. The fairway runs along Calibogue Sound with the approach playing to a green at the base of the famous striped lighthouse.

Hole 17 Par 3 · 192 yards

A beautiful par 3 over a marshy waste area to a green guarded by Calibogue Sound on the left. Wind off the water makes club selection tricky.

Hole 9 Par 4 · 338 yards

A short but devious par 4 with a narrow fairway pinched by towering live oaks and a tiny, heavily bunkered green.

Hole 15 Par 5 · 541 yards

The longest and most difficult hole on the course. A tight, tree-lined par 5 with a well-defended green that makes birdie hard-earned.

What to Expect

Harbour Town is a shotmaker's course where accuracy trumps distance. The fairways are narrow corridors through ancient live oaks draped in Spanish moss, with overhanging branches that restrict trajectory. The greens are among the smallest on the PGA Tour.

The final holes along Calibogue Sound bring wind and water into play, and the iconic lighthouse at 18 provides a memorable finish.

Playing Tips

Leave the driver in the bag on many holes. Accuracy off the tee is far more important than distance. A 3-wood or hybrid will keep you in play and set up better angles into the small greens.

Wind off Calibogue Sound intensifies on the back nine, particularly on holes 17 and 18. Take extra club and aim for green centers.

Highlights

✓ RBC Heritage PGA Tour host
✓ Iconic lighthouse at 18th green
✓ Pete Dye & Jack Nicklaus collaboration

Frequently Asked Questions

Can non-resort guests play Harbour Town?

Yes, though Sea Pines Resort guests receive preferred tee times. Green fees range from $200 to $400 depending on season.

Why is Harbour Town so short compared to other Tour courses?

At approximately 7,200 yards for Tour events, it is one of the shortest on the schedule. But tight fairways, small greens, overhanging trees, and coastal winds make it play much harder than the yardage suggests.

When is the RBC Heritage played?

The RBC Heritage is typically held in April, the week after the Masters.

Can I see the lighthouse up close?

Yes. The Harbour Town Lighthouse is open to the public with panoramic views of Calibogue Sound and the 18th hole.

More Courses in Hilton Head

Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III resort

$100–$200

Haig Point Club private

Members Only

Palmetto Dunes - Robert Trent Jones Course resort

$80–$170

Colleton River Club - Nicklaus Course private

Members Only

Palmetto Hall - Arthur Hills Course semi-private

$65–$120

Explore This Destination

All courses in Hilton Head Public courses in Hilton Head Golf in South Carolina

Stay in the Loop

Get weekly rankings updates, destination guides, and insider tips delivered to your inbox.