May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff – Played August 2020
- Rankings: Golf Digest Public #27, Golf Magazine Public #51
- Location: 350 Mt Pelia Road, Bluffton, South Carolina
- Year: 2004
- Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Oak: 7,171 yards, Par 72, 74.8 Rating/141 Slope
- Cedar: 6,513 yards, Par 72, 71.8 Rating/134 Slope
- Hickory: 6,065 yards, Par 72, 70.0 Rating/130 Slope (Men’s), 75.3 Rating/135 Slope (Women’s)
- Magnolia: 5,168 yards, Par 72, 65.9 Rating/114 Slope (Men’s), 70.2 Rating/123 Slope (Women’s)
The May River Golf Club sits inside the Palmetto Bluff resort in Bluffton, between Savannah and Hilton Head. To say this is a posh resort would be an understatement. The 20,000 acres property has a nature preserve, two villages with eight dining options, and a riverfront marina in addition to the golf course.
The accommodations range from rooms to full houses. There is a spa and many other activities. The resort is so sought after that Justin Bieber got married here.
I didn’t see the Biebs on the property when I was there. Instead, I enjoyed the 10-minute drive from the entry gate to the course. You meander through old coastal trees until you get to the entry and clubhouse below.
The course is routed through the May River forest and has plenty of vegetation. The club gets its logo from a 250-year-old live oak that sits next to the 18th green (see below).
Other than that, I don’t have much history or information on this Jack Nicklaus course. I didn’t tool around the practice facilities and got right to the course. Let’s get into the tour. Note that all yardages are from the Cedar tee markers.
Hole 1 – 404 yards – Par 4
Funny enough for a Nicklaus course there aren’t many dogleg rights, but the first hole fits the bill. Bust the driver left of the bunker and you’ll be sitting pretty.
For the approach, you want to keep it between the bunkers since the green is quite narrow.
Hole 2 – 185 yards – Par 3
Thankfully the hazard doesn’t extend all the way, forcing a carry from the tee. The green angles to the right with some major slope.
Hole 3 – 381 yards – Par 4
Overall the fairways are generous at May River Golf Club and this one is no different. The main trouble from the tee is the hazard and trees to the right.
From the fairway, you should be able to attack this green with a short iron.
Hole 4 – 535 yards – Par 5
This hole bends slightly to the right but with this yardage, most will be laying up. A good line is between the bunkers on the right and the one on the left.
Sand abounds on this hole. The second shot is a bit awkward if you are laying up. Your ball needs to end past the tree on the right, so the options are over or around it.
Hole 5 – 421 yards – Par 4
This longer par four demands a good drive and approach to set you up for par. I didn’t accomplish that and was messing around in the trees on the left.
The green is pretty shallow necessitating precise distance control.
Hole 6 – 154 yards – Par 3
Depending on the tee placement, you can have varying looks at this green (see photos below). Once you hit the green, the slopes are huge. There is a bit of a ridge in the green that my caddy helped me read.
Hole 7 – 309 yards – Par 4
I liked this short four. When you see the yardage on the card it’s possible to get lulled into a false sense of security. In reality, you have to be very targeted on each full shot. The green is quite small and long is dead.
As I mentioned, the green is small. However, it is interesting in its dimensions.
Hole 8 – 509 yards – Par 5
Good drives on this dogleg left will definitely provide an opportunity to get home in two. Try to fit one in between the centerline bunker and the sand on the left.
There is plenty of sand but most of it is easily avoided. Just make sure to consult the yardage book to know where you’re going.
Hole 9 – 447 yards – Par 4
This is no cupcake to finish up the front side. Let the driver rip!
If you flirt with the right side this large tree blocks you out from the green.
In my continued quest to show you what not to do, I visited this bunker. The green runs away from you on this side and it’s nearly impossible to get it close to the hole.
Hole 10 – 503 yards – Par 5
Jack really wants you to send it here! The fairway is massive and accommodates either shot shape.
The main concern on the second shot is the crossing hazard. Once you negotiate that, only a small pot bunker guards the left side of the green.
Hole 11 – 146 yards – Par 3
The further to the right the pin sits, the more it’s for suckers. A fade works best here most of the time but with this pin, anything in the middle of the green is more than satisfactory.
Hole 12 – 362 yards – Par 4
There has been a lot of centerline bunkers on this course. I think they help focus you on alignment.
When the pin is in the front, as it is here, it can seem like such a small target.
Here is the view from behind the green, showing all the contours.
Hole 13 – 412 yards – Par 4
I hopped from bunker to bunker on this hole, which I don’t recommend. Aside from the distance, it isn’t that hard of a hole.
Below is the view as the hole turns a bit left.
Hole 14 – 167 yards – Par 3
This is the “signature hole” at May River Golf Club. It sits on the club’s namesake river and can play a wide variety of distances. The wind can kick up as well, adding to the difficulty.
This view shows you the river out to the right.
As you approach the green you can see all the undulation.
Hole 15 – 462 yards – Par 5
This short par five is very gettable. Finding the fairway is the first objective.
The bunkers in the distance are your aiming point. An upslope sits between them ahead of the green, so you must carry them or run something over them.
Any chips to this green are difficult because it slopes hard away from you.
Hole 16 – 399 yards – Par 4
With the tree on the left, a fade is a tough sell on this tee. You can see the green in the distance past the right tree line.
Kiss your shot at a par goodbye if you find this bunker!
Hole 17 – 190 yards – Par 3
All I can say here is that you need to step up. The challenge is evident when you combine a long shot, smallish green, and surrounding bunkers.
Hole 18 – 527 yards – Par 5
The final hole provides a legit chance at birdie. Keep it out of the water left and let it fly.
Water cuts in from the right and protects the green. Keep this in mind on your second shot.
This left pin is the most gettable since the water shouldn’t come into play.
I played May River Golf Club on a stifling day of heat and humidity. Despite that, I had a great time. The conditioning was excellent and the holes were super fun. I didn’t feel the need to fade a bunch of shots I usually do on Nicklaus courses. The holes require a lot of different shots and make you think throughout the round. I enjoyed the course immensely.