Golf

With fewer golfers than Hilton Head, the courses in the Charleston area have more prime tee times available. Even if you’re not a guest, you can arrange to play at private island resorts, such as Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, and Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms. There you will find breathtaking ocean views within a pristine setting. Don't be surprised to find a white-tailed deer grazing on a green or an alligator floating in a water hole. For top courses like Kiawah's Ocean Course, expect to pay in the $200 to $300 range during peak season in spring and early fall.

Municipal golf courses are a bargain, often costing around $25 for 18 holes. Somewhere in between are well-regarded courses at Shadowmoss Plantation Golf Club in West Ashley and the Links at Stono Ferry in Hollywood.

Charleston Golf Guide. For everything from greens fees to course statistics and vacation packages in the area, contact the Charleston Golf Guide. South Carolina. 800/774–4444; www.charlestongolfguide.com.

Charleston Municipal Golf Course. Affectionately called "The Muni," this walker-friendly public course is bisected by the Maybank Highway, but it does have views across the Stono River, plenty of shade trees, and the price is right. About 6 miles from downtown and 20 miles from the resort islands of Kiawah and Seabrook, the course has a simple snack bar serving breakfast and lunch, as well as beer and wine. 2110 Maybank Hwy., James Island, South Carolina, 29412. 843/795–6517; www.charleston-sc.gov/golf. From $17.

Charleston National Golf Club. The best nonresort golf course in Charleston tends to be quiet on weekdays, which translates into lower prices. The setting is captivating, carved along the intracoastal waterway and traversing wetlands, lagoons, and pine and oak forests. Finishing holes are set along golden marshland. Diminutive wooden bridges and a handsome clubhouse add to the natural beauty of this well-maintained course. 1360 National Dr., Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 29466. 843/203–9994; www.charlestonnationalgolf.com. From $66.

Dunes West Golf Club. Designed by Arthur Hill, this championship course has great marsh and river views and lots of modulation on the Bermuda-covered greens shaded by centuries-old oaks. The generous fairways have greens that may be considered small by today's standards, making approach shots very important. Located about 15 miles from downtown Charleston, it's in a gated residential community with an attractive traditional clubhouse. 3535 Wando Plantation Way, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 29466. 843/856–9000; www.duneswestgolfclub.com. From $52.

Links at Stono Ferry. Built atop a Revolutionary War battlefield, the reasonably priced Links at Stono Ferry is 30 minutes from downtown Charleston or from Kiawah, off of Highway 17 south toward Savannah. It has been selected as the S.C. Golf Course of the Year by the state's Golf Course Owners Association, and it's home to the College of Charleston's men's and women's golf teams. Set in a rural area with three holes along the intracoastal waterway, the course is in an upscale residential community with a focus on golf and horses. Its clubhouse has Southern style, including the menu at the on-site Stono Ferry Grill. There's also a top-notch instructional facility, including private lessons and club fittings. 4812 Stono Links Dr., Hollywood, South Carolina, 29449. 843/763–1817; www.stonoferrygolf.com. From $65.

Patriots Point Links. A partly covered driving range and spectacular harbor views of downtown Charleston and Fort Sumter make this golf course feel special. In addition to driving here across the Ravenel Bridge, you can also take the water taxi from downtown and arrange for a staffer to pick you up. Four pros offer one-on-one instruction, as well as lessons and clinics. There's a junior camp during the summer. 1 Patriots Point Rd., Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 29464. 843/881–0042; www.patriotspointlinks.com. From $57.

Seabrook Island Golf Resort. On this island with acres of untamed maritime forests you'll find two championship courses: Crooked Oaks, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and Ocean Winds, by Willard Byrd. Crooked Oaks, which follows an inland path, is the more player friendly of the two. Ocean Winds is aptly named for three holes that run along the Atlantic; when the wind is up, those ocean breezes make it challenging. Both courses are run out of the same pro shop and have the same greens fee, and each is a certified member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses—expect to see birds and wildlife. A first-class practice facility includes five target greens, two putting greens, and a short game fairway. This is a private island, but visitors not staying on Seabrook can play if their hometown golf pro calls to make a reservation for them. 3772 Seabrook Island Rd., Seabrook Island, South Carolina, 29455. 843/768–2529; www.seabrookisland.com/golf. From $125.

Shadowmoss Golf and Country Club. This forgiving course has one of the best finishing holes in the area. It's just off Highway 61, about 17 miles from downtown and 20 miles from the resort islands of Kiawah and Seabrook. A seasoned, well-conditioned course, it meanders through the residential enclave that grew up around it. It's a good value for the money. 20 Dunvegan Dr., Charleston, South Carolina, 29414. 843/212–7316; www.shadowmossgolf.com. From $40.

Isle of Palms

Wild Dunes Resort is a 1,600-acre oceanfront resort on the tip of the Isle of Palms some 30 minutes from downtown Charleston. It has two nationally renowned, Tom Fazio–designed courses, the Links and the Harbor courses.

Wild Dunes Resort Harbor Course. Tom Fazio designed this course, shaping millions of dollars' worth of dirt into an unforgettable landscape that blends into the surrounding marsh. The dunes are adorned with greens, and hazards can be found around every bend. Nine holes are situated along the Intracoastal Waterway, several of which require shots across water. Wild Dunes Resort, 5757 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms, South Carolina, 29451. 855/998–5351; www.wilddunes.com. $55–$115.

Wild Dunes Resort Links Course. With prevailing ocean breezes, undulating dunes, and natural water hazards, this course has been called a seaside masterpiece. It's architect Tom Fazio's first Lowcountry layout, and is still considered one of his best. The Links Course is consistently ranked among the top 100 courses in the country, and is challenging enough for the most avid golfer. Players are permitted to walk the length of the course, regardless of time of day. The clubhouse features a laid-back cafe with breakfast and lunch fare, Huey's Southern Eats, and a welcoming patio for after-golf drinks. There's a driving range and putting green just across the street from the clubhouse. Wild Dunes Resort, 10001 Back Bay Dr., Isle of Palms, South Carolina, 29451. 855/998–5351; www.wilddunes.com. From $99.

Kiawah Island

Kiawah Island Golf Resort is home to five championship courses: the world-famous Ocean Course, designed by Pete Dye; the Jack Nicklaus–designed Turtle Point; Osprey Point, designed by Tom Fazio; Cougar Point, designed by Gary Player; and Oak Point, redesigned by Clyde Johnston. Kiawah is also home to the Tommy Cuthbert Golf Learning Center, featuring computerized swing analysis, private instruction in covered hitting bays (a good option on rainy days), and Titleist and Callaway personalized club fitting.

Cougar Point Golf Course. Gary Player designed this challenging but popular course that follows the outline of tidal marshes and offers panoramic views of golden spans of spartina grass and the shimmering Kiawah River. The driving range and putting green are conveniently located directly beside the first tee box and a full-service clubhouse with a pro shop and restaurant. Reservations are essential. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, 12 Kiawah Beach Dr., Kiawah Island, South Carolina, 29455. 843/266–4020; www.kiawahresort.com. Resort guest from $137; nonresort guest from $160.

The Ocean Course. Considered one of Pete Dye's most superb designs, this seaside course is famous for hosting the Ryder Cup in 1991 and both the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships. The course, which offers spectacular views along 2½ miles of beachfront, also starred in Robert Redford's film The Legend of Bagger Vance. Superbly manicured fairways and greens challenge amateurs and professionals alike. Caddies are included in the greens fee (but not their gratuities, which are recommended at $100/bag for caddies and $50/bag for forecaddies). This is a walking-only course, with the exception of after 10 am from June through August. At the clubhouse, the Atlantic Room seafood restaurant and lauded Ryder Cup bar at the clubhouse are exceptional. Reservations are essential. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, 1000 Ocean Course Dr., Kiawah Island, South Carolina, 29455. 843/266–4670; www.kiawahresort.com. Resort guest from $265; nonresort guest from $291.

Osprey Point Golf Course. This Tom Fazio–designed course offers some of the best views the Lowcountry has to offer: maritime forests, pristine lagoons, natural lakes, and saltwater marshes. Every hole has picturesque vistas. It's a favorite of residents and resort guests alike. The impressive clubhouse has a 14,000-square-foot pro shop selling high-quality apparel; fully staffed locker rooms; and a semiprivate dining room at the popular on-site restaurant, Cherrywood BBQ & Ale House. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, 700 Governors Dr., Kiawah Island, South Carolina, 29455. 843/266–4640; www.kiawahresort.com. Resort guest from $137; nonresort guest from $160.

Turtle Point Golf Course. With three spectacular oceanfront holes, this famed Jack Nicklaus–designed course has hosted many amateur and professional tournaments over the years. The undulating course flows seamlessly through interior forests of hardwoods and palmettos and along backwater lagoons. The $7.5 million clubhouse is built in a classic Lowcountry style and features Tomasso at Turtle Point, an upscale Italian restaurant, and a casual bar and grill with patio seating overlooking the 18th green. Reservations are essential. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, 1 Turtle Point Dr., Kiawah Island, South Carolina, 29455. 843/266–4050; www.kiawahresort.com. Resort guest from $137; nonresort guest from $160.