Beaufort's best golf course depends on who can get through the gate
Secession Golf Club is our top pure-golf experience north of the Broad River, Cotton Dike at Dataw Island is our favorite private community course, and Ocean Point at Fripp Island is our resort pick. Those are Benji Gecy and Bob Collar's local top three, but only Ocean Point offers a normal resort path for visiting golfers.
If you need a public tee time, start with The Legends at Parris Island or The Landing at Pleasant Point. This updated guide separates public, resort, and private access so you can choose a Beaufort, SC golf course you can actually play.
Watch Benji Gecy and Bob Collar explain what makes Secession, Cotton Dike, and Ocean Point stand out north of the Broad River.
| Course | Access | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secession Golf Club | Private | Traditional walking golf | Member-hosted access; caddie and walking culture |
| Cotton Dike at Dataw | Private | Marsh views and community golf | Members and guests; ownership discovery visits may be available |
| Ocean Point at Fripp | Resort and club | Ocean views and family trips | Confirm resort-guest eligibility before booking |
| The Legends at Parris Island | Public with base access | Public Lowcountry golf | Civilian visitor approval can take up to seven days |
| The Landing at Pleasant Point | Public | Convenient local tee times | Public booking and a 2026 daily rate sheet are available |
Access policies can change. Check with the course before planning a trip, paying for lodging, or inviting a group.
Benji and Bob's top three courses north of the Broad
This ranking is a local opinion, not a claim that every golfer can book every course. Benji Gecy and Golf Hall of Fame director Bob Collar chose the three courses for architecture, setting, course character, and the quality of the golf experience. You can also watch their original Beaufort golf conversation on YouTube.
No. 1: Secession Golf Club
Secession is a private, walking-focused club built around the game itself. Its exposed Lowcountry setting, ground-level greens, pot bunkers, open approaches, and changing wind encourage golfers to play along the ground instead of flying every shot to the flag.
The design history deserves a precise explanation. Pete and P.B. Dye handled the early routing before Bruce Devlin completed the course. Golf Digest lists Devlin as the designer and ranks Secession No. 174 in America's Second 100 Greatest and No. 7 in South Carolina for 2025-26.
No. 2: Cotton Dike at Dataw Island
Tom Fazio's Cotton Dike course runs through live oaks, tidal marsh, and the historic dike system that gives the course its name. The finishing stretch is especially memorable because the marsh, not a row of homes, frames much of the view.
Cotton Dike received meaningful new recognition in 2026. Dataw Island reports that the South Carolina Golf Course Ranking Panel placed it No. 35 among the state's Top 50 courses. The course was also fully renovated in 2011.
No. 3: Ocean Point Golf Links at Fripp Island
Ocean Point combines a George Cobb layout with one of the most scenic golf settings around Beaufort. The par-72 course occupies the northern end of Fripp Island, where coastal wind affects club selection and five holes offer ocean views.
The biggest update since the original design is the course's October 2024 multimillion-dollar renovation. Fripp Island Resort says Dye Designs Group refined every hole, including greens, bunkers, teeing areas, turf, and native features. That work makes Ocean Point more than a preserved George Cobb course; it is now a modernized resort experience built around the original routing.
The best public golf options near Beaufort
The Legends at Parris Island
The Legends is a public par-72 course that winds through salt marsh and deep-water creek scenery on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. It is a strong choice for visitors who want a real Lowcountry course without needing a private-club invitation.
Public does not mean same-day gate access. The official Legends page says civilian one-time visitors should preregister and allow up to seven days for vetting; same-day approval is uncommon. Arrange access first, then confirm the tee time at 843-228-2240.
The Landing at Pleasant Point
The Landing gives golfers a straightforward public option on Lady's Island, a short drive from downtown Beaufort. Russell Breeden designed the 18-hole course in 1972, and its live oaks, palmettos, and wildlife give it a distinctly local setting.
The official Pleasant Point course page provides a tee-time link and a 2026 daily rate sheet. Call 843-986-9432 if you need current conditions, rental-club information, or help booking a group.
How to choose the right Beaufort golf experience
- For a public round: Compare The Legends and The Landing first. Choose The Legends when you can plan ahead for base access and The Landing when simple public booking is the priority.
- For a golf and beach trip: Ocean Point makes the most sense when you are staying through an eligible Fripp Island Resort rental and want golf as part of a family vacation.
- For a private-club experience: Secession requires a member connection. Dataw is also private, but its community visit program can be relevant to serious home and membership shoppers.
- For changing conditions: Call before you drive. Coastal weather, maintenance, events, access rules, and seasonal schedules can all affect availability.
Golf-community buyers should compare more than the course
Dataw Island and Fripp Island can be compelling places to live, but club access, HOA obligations, insurance, flood exposure, and property condition all affect the real monthly cost. Treat membership and community fees separately from the mortgage payment, and verify which amenities transfer with a sale before making an offer.
For local context, Zillow's August 2026 Beaufort data reported a typical home value of $413,383, up 1.3% from a year earlier, with homes going pending in about 51 days. That citywide number is a starting point, not a value estimate for a golf-community home. Use recent comparable sales, current dues, insurance quotes, and the property's condition to build a realistic budget.
Considering a home near one of these courses?
Send us the community, price range, down payment, and how you plan to use the home. We will return a realistic payment range and the financing questions to resolve before you make an offer.
Submit Your ScenarioFrequently asked questions
What is the best public golf course in Beaufort, SC?
The Legends at Parris Island is the strongest public option for golfers who want Lowcountry marsh scenery and can complete the base-access process in advance. The Landing at Pleasant Point is the easier choice when convenient public booking matters more. Course conditions and schedules change, so call before choosing between them.
Can the public play Secession Golf Club?
Secession is a private club and does not offer ordinary public tee times. A golfer generally needs access through a member or an authorized club event. Public search listings that label it as publicly playable should not replace confirmation from the club.
Can visitors play Cotton Dike at Dataw Island?
Cotton Dike is a private course for Dataw members and their guests. Dataw also offers an official community visit for qualified people exploring ownership and membership, and that package may include golf. It is not the same as a public daily-fee tee time.
How far ahead should civilians plan for The Legends at Parris Island?
The official visitor process says approval may take up to seven days and same-day approval is uncommon. Complete the visitor preregistration before the planned round and confirm both gate access and the tee time. Regular local players can also review the DBIDS access process on the official course page.
Why Beaufort Lending is Beaufort's mortgage partner
Benji Gecy has worked in mortgage lending since 1997 and knows the questions that come with Lowcountry property, including insurance, flood exposure, HOA dues, second homes, and military moves. Beaufort Lending is a Top 1% mortgage broker nationally, five years running, with 160+ five-star Google reviews and closings in as little as 12 to 15 days when the loan and file are ready.
We shop multiple lenders and consistently offer mortgage rates below the national average. You can also get an instant rate quote anytime, day or night. Your actual rate and closing timeline depend on your qualifications, property, loan program, and market conditions.
Found the course and community you want?
Build the home budget before you start shopping
Send us the price range, community, down payment, and intended use. We will help you compare the mortgage and total monthly cost.
Benji Gecy, NMLS #302188 · Beaufort Lending, NMLS #1703543 · Equal Housing Lender
Other resources you may find helpful
- Beaufort mortgage guide
- VA loans in Beaufort
- Estimate your mortgage payment
- Browse Beaufort golf course homes with Discover Lowcountry Life
Discover Lowcountry Life is an independent real estate website. You may work with any real estate professional or mortgage provider you choose. Using Discover Lowcountry Life is not required to obtain financing from Beaufort Lending and does not affect your loan terms, costs, or approval.
