Heron Point at Sea Pines Resort – Played June 2021
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 100 N Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Year: 1961
- Original Architect: George Cobb
- Additional Work By: Clyde Johnston, Brad Bartell, & Pete Dye
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Dye: 7,035 yards, Par 72, 74.8 Rating/140 Slope
- Blue: 6,523 yards, Par 72, 72.3 Rating/132 Slope
- White: 6,020 yards, Par 72, 70.2 Rating/124 Slope (Men’s), 75.5 Rating/138 Slope (Women’s)
- Gold: 5,569 yards, Par 72, 67.8 Rating/119 Slope (Men’s), 72.7 Rating/131 Slope (Women’s)
- Green: 5,151 yards, Par 72, 66.3 Rating/110 Slope (Men’s), 70.7 Rating/127 Slope (Women’s)
- Orange: 3,677 yards, Par 72, Not Rated
The second course in my recent Hilton Head double is Heron Point, situated in the Sea Pines Resort. This was a two minute drive from the condo we were sharing, so it scores points for convenience.
I found it difficult to nail down the history of this course. It seems it was built in the 1960s by George Cobb, but Pete Dye must have redesigned it completely. Pete’s name is all over the scorecard and website. Playing the course definitely felt like I was experiencing a Pete Dye course.
Like my day at Old South, I wish I could’ve seen this place without aerated greens, but such is life. I bet it’s a real stunner in peak conditions.
One other plus, there are junior tees for every hole. I love to see that.
My friend Brandon joined me again for this quick round before we made the long drive home. We chose the Blue tees so all listed yardages are from those markers.
Hole 1 – 376 yards – Par 4
Heron Point starts you off with a stunner of a first hole. The water is a pretty easy carry to a wide fairway. It’s visually stunning but not too demanding. My kind of start.
Hole 2 – 286 yards – Par 4
It’s decision time early in the round for longer players. To go or not to go? I played a 180-yard shot to the fairway to leave myself a short approach.
Hole 3 – 363 yards – Par 4
This is a pretty run of the mill hole. Keep it in play and it should be uneventful.
Hole 4 – 208 yards – Par 3
Water looms as the main obstacle here. There is plenty of bailout room left.
Hole 5 – 380 yards – Par 4
Sand along the inside of this dogleg right is just waiting for you. The fairway is generous and the green is an easy target from the short grass.
Hole 6 – 539 yards – Par 5
The toughest part of this long par five is the water sitting left of the green.
I loved the look of this old tree sitting next to the green. You can get the scale of it from the cart.
Hole 7 – 164 yards – Par 3
Pete Dye and railroad ties are a match made in heaven. I love the look of them on this hole. The sand trap is massive and I visited it.
Hole 8 – 412 yards – Par 4
The daring shot attempts to cut the right corner to shorten the approach shot. Most of us will just have to hit longer clubs.
Hole 9 – 514 yards – Par 5
I got a little greedy and ended up in the bunker up the left side. A good drive up the left side, that avoids the bunkers, leaves you in a great position for your second shot.
Hole 10 – 348 yards – Par 4
A drive up the right side provides the best angle into this short par four.
Hole 11 – 550 yards – Par 5
This is another dogleg left par five, but it will be hard to get home in two. Plot your way along to the green.
Hole 12 – 403 yards – Par 4
The water is more for show on this dogleg right. The sand is much more in play. A longer second shot is likely on this hole.
Hole 13 – 141 yards – Par 3
Pete Dye loves a watery par three and Heron Point is no exception. Any misses to the left are going to result in a penalty stroke. Luckily, there is room to bailout right.
Hole 14 – 350 yards – Par 4
You need to know that the bunker up the right changes to water. It’s smart to play to the left side of the fairway to cut off more of the water on the approach shot.
Hole 15 – 440 yards – Par 4
You need to pound two shots on this brutish hole. The fairway is a big target and begs you to hit the driver.
Hole 16 – 196 yards – Par 3
Time to step up and hit a good long iron.
Hole 17 – 476 yards – Par 5
Another dogleg par five here, but it’s on the shorter end. If you execute a couple shots, there is a good chance at birdie.
Hole 18 – 377 yards – Par 4
What hole do you think of standing on this tee? It’s a kinder, gentler version of TPC Sawgrass’s finisher. There is more room on the right and the left bunker can prevent water balls.
Heron Point was a really fun course. I think it’s a wonderful complement to Harbour Town. I preferred to see it without aerated greens, but they rolled ok considering all the sand. If you find yourself in Hilton Head and want to have a nice warmup or cool down from Harbour Town, check out Heron Point.