Patriots Point Golf Links

$46 (cart included), played on Friday, October 2016 at 10:00 AM

With today's environmental red tape, Patriot's Point Links would never have been built. Thankfully for golfers, when the course was built in the late 70's, not as much priority was given to saving what might someday be an endangered species of insect, reptile or flora.

From an aesthetic standpoint, Patriot's Point is on a par (pun intended) with some of the greatest golf courses in the US. Far and away, the most scenic hole on the course is number 17, but much more on that later. The course sits on the edge of Charleston Harbor and offers clear views of the city, Fort Sumter and ships arriving and departing for destinations around the world. And, if you look out across the harbor from the 18th green, you can see the USS Yorktown, an aircraft carrier named after the Battle of Yorktown of the American Revolutionary War.

The golf course has been winning over the hearts of local golfers and visitors since 1979 when renowned golf course architect Willard Byrd undertook the task of creating this masterpiece. In 2001, the National Golf Course Owners Association voted Patriots Point Links South Carolina's Course of the Year, and number 17 is a perennial favorite for "Best Par-3 in the Lowcountry." Patriots Point Links offers four sets of tees, making the course both playable and enjoyable for golfers of all abilities.

The course is built on land reclaimed by the dredging efforts that once opened shipping channels in the Harbor. Because of the settling that has occurred over the years, the fairways can be a little bumpy but are no less playable. In fact, they can add an extra challenge by not always leaving you with a flat, easy to play lie. The fairways are in good shape and well maintained and the greens are some of the best in the area.

Most Memorable Hole

Number 17: Par 3, 130 yards (White Tees). Sorry other 17 holes, this one is a no-brainer. Number 17 has been voted the "Best Par 3 in the Lowcountry" year after year and it is easy to see why. If you're into naming holes, you could call this one: "Hit the Green or Lose a Ball!" You're playing to a small, fairly flat green surrounded by marsh and water. Add in the wind that can come howling in from just about any direction and you're in for a real treat. Once you get on the green -regardless of the number of shots it took you to get there - do a 360 and take in all the views. You'll forget your score.

By definition, Patriots Point Links lacks several key elements to make it a links-style golf course, but it is about as close as you can get in the US. What it does have in common with some of the world's most famous links courses is the wind. No matter what time of day you play, the ever-changing winds are going to play a factor. They typically sweep across the harbor and give the course a different look and feel from day to day. This course has more of a parkland feel, with several holes running parallel to each other and no homes along the fairway. There's also a lot of water out here, however, most it is lateral and doesn't - or at least shouldn't - come into play. Bunkers have been strategically placed along the fairways and around the sides of the greens, but in most cases, the fronts are wide open, leaving the seniors favorite par saver, the bump and run, in play.

Something else that makes it a favorite for both local golfers and resort guests is that this it's not unusual to get around this track in four hours or less. It's also not uncommon to find temperatures on the point 10 degrees cooler than the inland areas during the summer. Because of this and the proximity of greens to tees, you'll find a lot of walkers out here in the summer. And they still maintain a 4-hour pace of play.

If you're looking to play somewhere that is not only visually appealing but is also a shotmaker's haven, then consider playing your next round here.

$46 (cart included), played on Saturday, May 2012 at 2pm

I played when a tropical storm was spinning off the coast, so winds were up a good bit. This made the front nine very challenging as it is super flat with no wind breaks from the Cooper River. The back nine was a little more tame thanks to more trees blocking the wind. The final three holes really are quite pretty. They are the only holes that it really shows on their website and video. The course was in perfect condition with well kept fairways and true rolling greens. On a normal day, this course would be a picnic. The area is so flat that there are rarely any breaks on the greens more than a ball or two outside.