Atlantic Dunes at Sea Pines Resort is the former Ocean Course, the first course built on Hilton Head, reworked by Davis Love III into a modern test that still feels properly Lowcountry. Love is a 21-time PGA Tour winner, with five of those titles coming just down the road at Harbour Town, so he knows exactly what makes golf on this island tick.
The redesign is not just a new set of tees and tidier bunkers either. The team rebuilt the site's signature sand dunes and planted over 10,000 native plants to boost the coastal ecosystem. Right, if you like courses that look a bit more rugged and natural than picture-perfect resort golf, you'll appreciate what they've done here. The dune work is genuinely impressive, and native grasses, palmetto and live oak frame the holes in a way that feels more Carolina coast than manicured parkland.
In playing terms, it suits the modern game. There are holes where you can let driver go and take on carries, but you still need a plan because the greens are well protected. Miss in the wrong spot and you'll be dealing with bunkers, water or both. That said, you can't just lash driver all day and expect to score. Accuracy into the putting surfaces matters just as much as length from the tee, especially when the breeze gets up.
If you're staying in Sea Pines, it's a no-brainer to pair Atlantic Dunes with Harbour Town for a brilliant two-course combo.
Who is this for? Golfers visiting Hilton Head who want a redesigned classic with real ties to the island's golf history at Sea Pines Resort.
Who is it best for? Mid to low handicappers who enjoy a strategic layout where distance helps, but accuracy into the greens really matters. Higher handicappers can still enjoy it from the forward tees if they're happy to scramble a bit.
