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You'll have heard of George Fazio, of course? He laid out a beauty at Palmetto Dunes, one that has a regular place in America's leading 100. This is for those who like their golf with mustard, a par-70 with a string of long par-4s and only two three shotters. Birdies here are as rare as hen's teeth.
It starts benevolently and becomes progressively tighter, as it should. Neck hair has been known to rise on the run-in and some say this is the toughest test hereabouts.
And then there's Oyster Reef, on the Hilton Head Plantation: it was rated one of the top 25 new courses in America in 1983 and, being semi-private, it gets lots of tender loving care and is not over-played.
Make every effort to play this gem designed by Rees Jones but be happy off the forward tees (6,071 yards, par-72). Lots of elevated tees and dog-legs make this sufficiently demanding for anyone who doesn't breakfast on raw meat. It has everything a well-designed course should have and its signature hole, the 192 yards 6th, is as good as they come.
Some say that the Rees Jones' course at the Country Club of Hilton Head is at least the equal of his Oyster Reef. It, too, has dog-legs galore, freshwater ponds, marshland and constant changes of elevation. Boring it's not. With pulpit tees stretching the card and and raised, often tiered, greens surrounded by pot bunkers it's every bit as demanding as it sounds.
Oh, yes; and a couple of par-5s run to 575 yards or more. The tiger tees reach to 6,919 yards, par-72, but don't even think about it! The front tees of 6,162 yards will do nicely, believe me.
We've come so far without a mention of the name Nicklaus but you must have been expecting it.
For my money his work at Indigo Run ranks with his Reynolds Plantation course in Georgia as among his finest. And that, as the man said, is some statement.
Actually there are two Nicklaus courses at Indigo Run: one, The Golf Club, is private (although not inaccessible); the other, The Golden Bear, is public. I played the private: it is memorable. Then I walked the public. It is comparable.
Jack's design philosophy has mellowed since he cut his teeth as sidekick to Pete Dye at Harbour Town all those years ago. His newer designs are a joy to behold, and for the average joe to play.
He adheres to tried and trusted principles and traditions, with options there for those with the nouse to recognise them. A natural elegance is the style for the most part, simply giving Mother Nature a helping hand where necessary, all in a setting that defies description. A chap could wax lyrical...
So play your cards right; call or drop a note to the golf director when you arrive and you could be invited to play The Golf Club as a prelude to lunch and a round over the Golden Bear. It will be the high point of your stay.
There's much, much more. I've barely scratched the surface. You'll doubtless compile your own list of favourite courses because nothing you find on Hilton Head will disappoint. The golf is simply outstanding.
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