Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Golf Course

Reviews

• BK

  Bob Kirchner

  6 days ago
  5.0
  What a terrific experience! We played the Robert Trent Jones course and it was fantastic. Very picturesque with a great layout and the condition was outstanding. The real stars however were the staff … the starter Ron, the guys on the bags, Bob and Kevin, and the pro shop staff, Mike and Roger all made this a very memorable experience for us. As first-time visitors to Hilton Head they made us feel very welcome and gave us great advice on various things to see and do on the island. We will most certainly be coming back to Palmetto Dunes!
• SB

  Shawn Bickel

  Apr 21, 2026
  1.0
  EDIT 4/29/2026: After my original review, the team reached out to us very quickly and went above and beyond to make things right. They were genuinely apologetic about our experience, especially given how important the weekend was for us (engagement weekend), and made it clear they truly care about their guests. They offered to do whatever they could to make up for it, including inviting us back for a full 5-star experience. Since we’re not local, we weren’t able to take them up on that—but they still issued us a full refund without hesitation, which we really appreciated. While our initial visit didn’t meet expectations, their response absolutely did. It says a lot about their character and commitment to customer service. We’re grateful for how seriously they took our feedback, were going to share with their staff, and how gracious they were in resolving the situation. ORIGINAL REVIEW For the price, this was one of the most disappointing golf experiences I’ve ever had. My fiancé and I paid $520 for 18 holes expecting a premium, relaxing round, but the experience fell short from the start. We found out when we got there that the driving range at the course was closed, and we were told to drive about five minutes to their sister course just to warm up. By the time we got there and back, we only had enough time to hit about 10 balls before our tee time—hardly enough to get loose. We didn’t even get a chance to hit any woods. What’s especially frustrating is that we made this reservation months in advance, and the course had apparently known for some time that the range would be closed.That kind of last-minute communication doesn’t give guests a fair opportunity to plan ahead or adjust, especially when paying for a premium experience. The check-in experience didn’t help either. The staff member in the pro shop was rude and unwelcoming, which immediately set a negative tone for what was supposed to be a special day. When we got to the bag drop area, there were no staff members available to assist. I ended up unloading and handling the bags myself despite having a bad back, which is not what you expect at a course charging these kinds of prices. Because we didn’t have time to properly warm up, we started the round already feeling rushed and out of rhythm. Unfortunately, that feeling never went away. Course rangers were constantly on us—every couple of holes—telling us we were behind pace and needed to hurry up. It made the entire round stressful instead of enjoyable. At one point, we couldn’t even take a moment to appreciate the ocean view on the 10th hole because we felt watched and pressured to keep moving. For a course that markets itself as a premium resort experience, this felt anything but. Between the lack of basic amenities, poor service, and constant pressure, it’s hard to justify the price. I wouldn’t return, and I wouldn’t recommend it to others looking for a relaxed and enjoyable round. We would appreciate it if a manager could reach out to us directly to address these concerns.
• ES

  Evan S

  Apr 21, 2026
  3.0
  We had a 2:20pm TT. Very slow play and very (very) slow bumpy greens made for a difficult afternoon. 2:50 to play 10 holes was enough. We pulled the plug and headed in having to make dinner rez at 730. The pro shop manager was very understanding and a true gentleman who treated us well offering a 50% credit which we spent on clothing. Overall, busy busy course with very slow greens.
• SS

  stillapparent

  Apr 13, 2026
  5.0
  As a combination birthday/Christmas present, I received an opportunity to receive golf lessons to be taken at a place of my choice. I investigated various places and decided to select the program at the Arthur Hills Golf Academy at Palmetto Dunes, under the direction of PGA professional Doug Weaver. It was easy getting and setting the days and times that were convenient for me. I dealt directly with Doug. I found Doug to be easy going and comfortable over the phone and looked forward to meeting him in person. I shared with Doug that I needed to work on all parts of my game as I had been going on golf outings for years making little progress. Before my lessons (three, two hour lessons over the course of three days) I was given a bucket of balls to hit on the driving range, near where the lessons would be held. I later learned that in doing so, it provided Doug with an opportunity to see what he would be working with. He was always calm, yet clear in showing me proper techniques and remained calm as I worked to replicate those same techniques. He took many photos/videos of me when I wasn’t using the proper techniques to point out what I was improperly doing and many when I did the particular action correctly so I would know what it should look like. We also took videos of him demonstrating how it should be done. He used my phone to capture those photos so I could study them once away from the lessons. He employed many amusing analogies and sayings to complement and punctuate the teaching. I was able to work with Doug on days 1 and 3. I worked with a different instructor on day 2 because of scheduling and I found him to be competent and easy to work with as well. Overall, my lessons and subsequent results and experiences exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend Arthur Hills Golf Academy at Palmetto Dunes in Hilton Head South Carolina to anyone seeking to improve their golf game. I look forward to returning there sometime in the future.
• MG

  Matt Gross

  Apr 11, 2026
  5.0
  Murphy the starter—ah now, there’s a lad who sets the tone afore ye’ve even had a proper swing, aye. Roll up to the course and there he is, cool as a breeze off the Highlands, greetin’ ye like he’s known ye since ye were knee-high. None o’ that stiff, uptight nonsense—nah, Murphy’s got the whole thing runnin’ smoother than a well-poured dram. Tee times movin’ along nice and easy, but ye never feel like he’s chasin’ ye down the fairway with a stick. And I swear by the old gods, the man’s got a sixth sense for the game. Spaces the groups just right, keeps the pace from turnin’ into a right mess, and slips in a bit o’ advice like he’s lettin’ ye in on a secret. Busy day? Handled. Quiet mornin’? Even better—feels like ye’ve got the whole blessed course to yerself. Proper professional too, but without the airs. Need help? He’s there. Got a question? Answered before ye finish askin’. All with a grin that says he’s enjoyin’ himself just as much as the rest o’ us. By the time ye step up to the first tee, ye’re already thinkin’, “Aye, this is gonna be a grand round.” And truth be told, a good bit o’ that’s down to Murphy. Slàinte to the man.

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