Oyster Reef is the public course inside Hilton Head Plantation, on the island’s north end. Rees Jones designed it, and it opened in 1982. It is the longest of the four Heritage Golf Collection courses at 7,009 yards from the Gold tees, yet it plays as a relaxed, open-to-all round from the forward markers. The reason most people remember it is the par-three sixth, which the club calls its showpiece and the most photographed spot on the property, with a view across Port Royal Sound.
Oyster Reef Golf Club green fees and tee times.
Oyster Reef is part of the Heritage Golf Collection, so booking runs through the group’s online tee sheet at hiltonheadgolf.net. It accepts reservations up to six months ahead and is open 24 hours a day; the group recommends booking at least 30 days out. The local reservations line is 843-681-1750, and the Oyster Reef shop answers on 843-681-1764. Groups of 12 or more should phone rather than book online. A 24-hour cancellation rule applies, and late cancellations or no-shows are charged in full to the card used to book.
INDICATIVE GREEN FEE · CHECKED NOVEMBER 2026From US$67
Low end of the Heritage Golf Collection’s 2026 winter afternoon range ($67–95), shared by all four clubs; spring mornings run $125–205 and live prices show on the tee sheet.
Winter, morning
US$105–120
Spring, morning
US$125–205
Fall, afternoon
US$102–145
Prices change by season and booking route, so confirm the current rate with the operator. Official rates ↗
The round, in perspective.
Jones routed the course through native trees, with tree-lined fairways and lagoons asking you to pick an angle before you swing. Golfbreaks describes several doglegs, elevated tees and multi-tiered greens guarded by bunkers, set on about 190 acres. Par is 72. From the Gold tees the course rates 74.1 with a slope of 133, a proper test, but the Blue at 6,470 and the White at 6,073 bring it well within reach of a mid-handicapper. The sixth is the hole to save a photo for: a par three over the sound, where the breeze off the water makes club choice harder than the yardage suggests.
Know before you go.
Booking window
Up to 6 months ahead online
Cancellation
24 hours; full charge after that
Carts
Required; no walking
Rental clubs
Callaway sets, $69 per 18 holes
Shop phone
843-681-1764
Make the trip work.
Choose the tee that suits the group, not the scorecard: the gap from Gold to Black is almost 1,400 yards, and the Black at 5,642 suits higher handicaps. Carts are compulsory, with two riders per cart and a driving licence required to drive one. Range balls cost $15 for a small bucket and $22 for a large. After the round, the LagerHead Tavern does lunch, dinner and a happy hour, with seafood and Lowcountry dishes.
Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) is only a few miles away at the north end of the island. Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) has more routes and is roughly an hour by road. The clubhouse is at 155 High Bluff Road, inside the Hilton Head Plantation community.
Rental homes and villas inside Hilton Head Plantation put you within walking or cart distance of the clubhouse. The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, on the beach in Port Royal Plantation, is the nearest full-service hotel. Mid-priced hotels such as the Courtyard Hilton Head Island are in the middle of the island along US 278.
Make a trip of it.
Dolphin Head, Gary Player’s course, is on the same High Bluff Road, and Palmetto Hall’s two courses are just outside the plantation, so you can play three clubs in a long weekend with almost no driving. The Heritage group’s three-day packages let you mix Oyster Reef with Port Royal and Shipyard too. For a break, walk the Fish Haul Creek beach on Port Royal Sound or visit the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn.
Find your season.
The club describes Oyster Reef as a year-round course. The group’s 2026 ranges show autumn mornings as the dearest time ($175–195) and winter afternoons the cheapest. Summer brings heat and storms, but long evenings for twilight rounds.
Yes. The club describes an open visitor policy and welcomes tee times from non-members, although it sits inside the Hilton Head Plantation community. It also sells an annual pass for local golfers who play often.
What is the signature hole at Oyster Reef?
The par-three sixth. Golfbreaks lists it at 197 yards from the championship tee, with a shallow green sloping right and a deep bunker in front. The view over Port Royal Sound makes it the most photographed spot on the course.
How far ahead can I book Oyster Reef?
Up to six months ahead on the Heritage Golf Collection’s online booking system. The group recommends booking at least 30 days before you play, especially in spring and autumn, when demand on the island peaks.
Last checked 11 November 2026. This is an independent planning guide, not a first-hand review or a booking service. Check live availability, access, fees and travel details with the operator before booking. Airport suggestions are starting points for route planning.
