South Carolina’s Reinvented Coastal Golf Getaway

Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, has been a quintessential Lowcountry escape for generations. The property and surrounding coastal community are set just off the Atlantic Ocean on a barrier island that’s home to wide sandy beaches, ever-present breezes, palmetto trees and a relaxed pace of life.

For golfers, the retreat just outside Charleston has long had added appeal: 36 holes of golf designed by Tom Fazio, including the Hall of Fame architect’s first-ever solo design. Now, thanks to a transformative $9.5 million renovation to its Harbor Course, the golf experience at Wild Dunes isn’t just refreshed, it’s better than ever.

The recent re-opening of the Harbor Course follows a broader industry trend of reinvestment – existing golf facilities striking while the game is thriving and financial health is strong – but also bucks a trend in South Carolina, where the revitalized layout open to the public stands out amid the recent rash of development in the high-end private club space. While Palmetto State projects like Old Barnwell, 21 Golf Club, Broomsedge, Kawonu, Palmetto Bluff, and The Tree Farm have grabbed attention in the golf world, it’s resorts like Wild Dunes and Harbour Town Golf Links (which recently re-opened its Hilton Head course after a six-month restoration effort) that are strengthening their position as true golfer getaways.

And with its Harbor and Links courses and Fazio pedigree, Wild Dunes is unquestionably a tough-to-beat 36-hole coastal combo.

“It just needed to be modernized,” Wild Dunes Director of Golf Jeff Minton said of the eight-month renovation of the Harbor Course that replaced the original irrigation system, expanded the greens to nearly double their previous size, rebuilt tees, made strategic additions of new bunkers, and resurfaced and rerouted cart paths.

“We were struggling for years spending a lot of time repairing our irrigation system, more than we were actually mowing the golf course at times,” Minton added prior to the course’s recent official re-opening. “The game has changed so we needed to make the greens bigger. Over many years, greens tend to shrink a little bit and get contaminated with other types of grasses, so it’s definitely something that needed to happen. We were fortunate we were able to do it now.”

Elevated Destination

Recognized as a top resort in the South by Condé Nast Traveler, Wild Dunes and its ownership partners have poured more than $150 million into enhancements across the oceanfront property since 2021, the new 153-room Sweetgrass Inn included. While year-round golf has always been one of the pillars of Wild Dunes, the resurgence of the sport in recent years — combined with the significant investments into the resort — continues to elevate the destination further.

The comprehensive revitalization of the Harbor Course was led by the Fazio Design team in conjunction with Heritage Links Golf Course Construction and the Wild Dunes’ agronomy staff. The tight corridors and strategic demands of the course are still there – 17 of the 18 holes have either a water feature or on the marsh as the layout winds through a quaint residential community – but the return comes with a modern take on its classic Lowcountry character.

The expansion of the greens actually makes the course itself look wider from tee to green, although numerous bunkers have been reshaped or repositioned to ensure the strategic edge remains a key component alongside the improved playability.

“The improvements fit the land beautifully while presenting a playable, approachable design that can test golfers of every skill level in fun and intriguing ways,” said longtime Fazio Design Associate Bryan Bowers. “It’s a quintessential Lowcountry golf experience that still stands the test of time.”

Bowers has spent considerable time at Wild Dunes over the years, including assisting on the 2015 renovation at the Links Course – Fazio’s only seaside creation – that enhanced the greens, resurfaced fairways, and restored the coastal contours that give the layout its distinct feel. The last several holes of the Links play to and along the oceanfront dunes, including the par-3 finisher that replaced the original par-5 18^th, a hole that years ago lost its battle against Mother Nature and beachfront erosion.

Together, the two courses at Wild Dunes offer visitors a diverse, fully modernized golf experience. The Links has wider fairways and builds to a coastal finish, while the Harbor has the tighter, more intricate routing along marshland and the Intracoastal waterway.

More Than Golf

There’s far more than just golf across the 1,600-acre property, with the newer Sweetgrass Inn home to a 10,000-square-foot spa, expansive meeting spaces, a rooftop bar, and a pool area (and pool-side restaurant) that’s just a short walk from the beach. The resort has also expanded its sports offerings, including a racquet center that features 12 clay tennis courts – night-lit options among them – and five pickleball courts. Rental offerings range from bikes to kayaks and paddleboards.

Guests have their pick of a variety of accommodations.

In addition to the Sweetgrass, there’s the 93-room Boardwalk Inn, which is also part of Destination by Hyatt. The Residences at Sweetgrass offer a collection of studios to three-bedroom suites that overlook the “boardwalk” shops and main village area, while private vacation homes and condos are tucked into quiet pockets near the beach and fairways. Dining options range from casual coastal fare to elevated cuisine.

On top of it all, Wild Dunes sits only about 30 minutes from the history, charm, and incredible eats found in downtown Charleston, making the property a rare blend of secluded beachfront resort and culturally rich getaway.

And with two distinct – and refined – Fazio courses anchoring the golf experience, Wild Dunes is well positioned for the next era of Lowcountry golf vacations and a new generation of guests.