Posted on Sun, Mar. 23, 2008

For the fourth time in as many years, Hilton Head Island’s Harbour Town Golf Links has been selected as the top golf course in South Carolina by the S.C. Golf Course Ratings Panel.

Co-designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus in 1969, Harbour Town beat out Tom Fazio’s Sage Valley Golf Club near Graniteville. No. 3 in the annual ratings is Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course.

Nine courses from last year remained in the top 10, though six moved up or down in the rankings. Beaufort’s Secession Golf Club, No. 9, is the only new entry after being No. 11 last year.

The rest of the top 10: No. 4, Bluffton’s May River Club at Palmetto Bluff; No. 5, Hilton Head’s Long Cove Club; No. 6, Greenville’s Chanticleer Course at Greenville Country Club; No. 7, Myrtle Beach’s Dunes Golf and Beach Club; No. 8, Hanahan’s Yeamans Hall Club; and No. 10, Kiawah Island’s Cassique Course.

Courses in the Midlands making the top 50 were Clinton’s Musgrove Mill (No. 11), Aiken’s Palmetto Golf Club (No. 18), North Augusta’s Mount Vintage Golf Club (No. 31) and Camden Country Club (No. 37).

The S.C. Golf Course Ratings Panel includes 125 members from the golf industry, coaches and players, and media members (the author is a member of the panel).

For a complete list, go to www.scgolfpanel.org/Rankings/50Best_PressRelease2008.htm

Reach Senior Writer Bob Gillespie at (803) 771-8304