Crescent Pointe Golf Club

Guest (cart included), played on Tuesday, July 2017 at 9:50 AM

Crescent Pointe - An Arnold Palmer Signature Course Accessible to the Public.

Located three miles west of the bridge to Hilton Head, the Arnold Palmer Design Group has created a Lowcountry masterpiece in Crescent Pointe. This Arnold Palmer signature course sits on a beautiful piece of property and highlights the beauty of its surroundings. The championship golf course plays 6,773 yards from the back/Palmer tees with a course rating of 73.8 and a slope of 144 (four sets of tees total) Most golfers will have all they can handle while still maintaining some dignity from the White Tees (6,027/70.2/132).

As with most Palmer courses, Crescent Pointe offers generous fairways, yet challenging approaches to elevated, undulating greens. As you make your way around the course and through the rolling terrain Mr. Palmer created, you’ll pass strands of centuries-old oaks, pines and magnolias. Journey through the wetlands and you’re privy to some amazing views of the area. But enough of this, it’s time to focus on golf!

Water is present but not necessarily in play on 16 of the 18 holes with the par 4 18th being the lone exception. In addition to the water that dots the landscape, you’ll find a lot of sand; in fact, in areas where grass was hard to grow, they simply replaced it with sand. You’ll find a number of massive waste bunkers and beach bunkers, which butt up against the water and while they create great aesthetics, they can wreak havoc on your scorecard. Where the water or trees do not form the border of a hole the sand does.

When you head to the pro shop to check in, look around at the great selection of golf equipment and logoed golf apparel Crescent Point has to offer. You’ll also find a wide assortment of polos, gloves, hats, shorts, and socks for both men and women. Remember, if you can’t dazzle them with your game, you may as well look the part!

Before your round, be sure to warm up on Crescent Pointe’s full-length driving range, where you can hit every club in the bag. You’ll need to, because odds are you’ll use every one of them. More on that later. There’s also a nice short game area and practice putting green.

When I think back on my round at Crescent Pointe, several holes come to mind. The first hole is a fairly straight forward par 4, that is if you don’t pay attention to the large waste bunker on the left off the tee or the pond you must fly on the left side on approach. The hole plays 363 yards from the White Tees and is best played with a drive up the right side of the fairway. This takes the water next to the green somewhat out of play, especially with a right pin placement. The green is large, two-tiered and features a lot of undulation. Number 1 is a fair but challenging starting hole and sets the stage for the rest of your round.

Number 3 is a fairly short par 5 of 471 yards. There’s a marsh area that crosses the fairway about 300 yards out, so bombs away! A good tee shot will leave you with a decision to make; I say go for it because there isn’t a lot of trouble up near the green other than sand short of the green. This is a hole where you can easily gain a stroke on your playing partners.

Number 6 was my favorite hole, a par 5 that plays 465 yards from the White Tees to an island green. For long ball hitters who can hit a long drive up the right side and avoid the waste bunker and marsh, they can have a go at the green in two. The rest of us will find solace in the left side of the fairway. A short layup shot followed by a pitch shot over water to the island, two putts, par. Simple!

Although Number 18 has the distinction of being the only hole with no water; it makes up for that with sand. It’s everywhere off the tee and definitely in play if you don’t hit the narrow fairway. From the White Tees, it plays 387 yards and the bunker on the right can easily be cleared with a good drive. From there you’re looking at an approach shot into a long, narrow green framed by bunkers on either side and behind. Now it’s time to head inside to One Hot Mamas!

One Hot Mamas American Grille is a family-friendly Hilton Head restaurant specializing in baby-back ribs, pit-to-plate BBQ, hand-cut steaks, char-grilled chicken, the world’s best wings, salads and more. In addition to all of your BBQ favorites, they also offer several draft beers and all of your favorite libations. You won’t be disappointed in the food.

Last Word: Rarely does a daily fee golfer have the opportunity to experience expansive marsh views and, in this case unprecedented views of scenic Colleton River; that is something usually reserved for members of private clubs. Holes 17 and 18 offer up such views. As for the golf course, you’ll need to think your way around. While many fairways offer the opportunity to go for broke off the tee, you’ll need to think through the layup and pitch shots if you want to play well here. More than likely, you’ll hit every club in the bag. That said the course is very player-friendly and challenging. Something else I found interesting were the elevated greens, something you don’t often see on a course that sits at just above sea level.

If you live in the Hilton Head area and are thinking of joining a golf course, Brown Golf Management offers the best membership opportunities in the area. For one monthly membership fee, you’ll have access to 7 Bluffton/Hilton Head area courses and enjoy unlimited golf, range balls and golf lessons from a PGA professional. I spoke with several members that take advantage of this perk and they said this alone is worth the membership fee! You’ll also have reciprocal privileges at all other Brown Golf-managed facilities in FL, GA, PA and NC.

For more membership information or to book a tee time at Crescent Point, give them a call at (843) 706-2600 or Click Here.

(cart included), played on Wednesday, August 2013 at 2pm

The course was acquired by Brown Golf. They now own Eagles Pointe, Crescent Pointe, Island West & Pinecrest. They are making inpprovements to each facility and the $35 per round is an exceptional value.

$36 (cart included), played on Sunday, June 2011 at noon

A nice course for the money

$36 (cart included), played on Sunday, July 2010 at 2pm

This is a sister course with Eagles Pointe Golf Club (also in Bluffton, SC). Frequently they have deals, play both courses for a bargain price. The only course in the area with elevation changes. Some tough holes, #3, #8 (impossible), #9. I never make any puts on the front nine. Back nine is fairer and a beautiful layout, marsh views etc. A tough course overall, but one you'll want to play again. Local rate is $39.

Guest (cart included), played on Thursday, August 2010 at noon

Playing from the blue tees, this course beats my butt- as it did again last week- but I love playing here. GREAT fast greens. Front 9 is a bit tricked up and artificial, though I love #9. Back 9 is a beautiful Lowcountry track that fits well in its natural setting, winding among and through marshes and finishing strong along an estuary of the Broad River.

$41 (cart included), played on Saturday, May 2010 at 10am

I'd like to play again, but I'd play the white tees instead of the blues. The course is difficult, water is everywhere, difficult tee shots and the greens have many undulations that make it hard to read putts. That being said, they charge a fair price for the round (I paid $41) and the scenery is nice on several holes. That being said, novices and high handicappers would be better served playing elsewhere unless they like pain and hardship!

$36 (cart included), played on Friday, July 2009 at 8am

$51 (cart included), played on Tuesday, April 2009 at 10am

Beware!!! Arnold Palmer didn't design this course for the novice. Requires distance off the tees, ability to place your shots and backspin to get over the traps and stop them on the greens. This course will beat you up and you can't wait to try again.

Guest (cart included), played on Thursday, January 2008 at 10am

Nice course; a little rough considering it's dead of winter; probably very nice in season.