Long Cove Club
Pete Dye opened Long Cove in 1981, a private par 71 of about 7,000 yards routed through marsh, lagoons and live oaks on Hilton Head Island. Widely regarded as one of Dye's finest designs and one of the very best courses in South Carolina.
Photo via Google, Long Cove Club.
The verdict
Long Cove is the connoisseur's course on Hilton Head. Pete Dye built it in 1981 on a quiet stretch of marsh and maritime forest, and it has been a fixture among the best courses in South Carolina ever since. The build crew alone tells you something: it included Bobby Weed and a young Tom Doak, both of whom went on to become significant architects in their own right. The result is Dye at his most refined, strategic rather than tricked up, with the variety and shot demands that mark his very best work.
Our verdict: for those lucky enough to gain access, this is the finest round on the island, a beautifully conditioned members course that rewards thought and precision over raw power. It is the private counterpoint to Hilton Head's famous resort golf. For the wider region, see our guide to golf in South Carolina.
Long Cove Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1981
- Designer
- Pete Dye
- Type
- Private members club
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 7,000 yds
- Access
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Long Cove Club and leading course databases: Pete Dye, opened 1981, par 71, about 7,000 yards from the back tees. Long Cove is a private members club and does not offer public daily fee play, so there is no published visitor green fee; access is by member invitation. Always confirm access arrangements directly before planning a visit.
The holes worth the trip
Long Cove is a study in restraint by Pete Dye's standards. Rather than railroad ties and visual intimidation, the defense here is strategic: angles off the tee that set up the ideal approach, green complexes that demand the right shape of shot, and the ever present marsh and lagoons that punish the careless line. The course flows through three distinct landscapes, from lowcountry marsh to pine and oak forest, and each green site feels purpose built for its hole.
Conditioning has long been a Long Cove hallmark, and the membership's care shows in firm, true greens and immaculate surrounds. The variety of par 3s and the demanding, beautifully judged par 4s are the highlights, and the course has hosted USGA championships, a measure of the respect it commands. It is a course that gets better the more you play it.
On a Hilton Head trip Long Cove is the private prize, and it complements the island's great resort golf, above all the bold Davis Love III rebuild at Atlantic Dunes in Sea Pines, while a drive toward Charleston brings the classic template golf of Yeamans Hall into range.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members club; there is no public daily fee play, and the practical route for a visitor is to play as the guest of a member |
| Green fee | No published visitor green fee; guest play is arranged through a member, so confirm any fee and policy directly |
| Handicap and dress | A traditional members club dress code applies; check with your host on dress, handicap expectations and guest policy in advance |
| On the day | Play the angles Dye built in, respect the marsh and lagoons, and trust the conditioning on firm, true greens |
| Getting there | On the south side of Hilton Head Island, about an hour from Savannah and 45 minutes from Hilton Head Airport |
| Best months | Spring and fall are prime on Hilton Head, with mild winter golf and warm, humid summers |
Access details verified June 2026 from Long Cove Club and leading databases. As a private club, policies are set by the membership and can change; always confirm access arrangements directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Visitors playing Long Cove as a member's guest typically base themselves elsewhere on Hilton Head, where the lodging runs from beachfront resorts to villas and rental homes across the island. The Sea Pines area and the island's main resorts put you within a short drive of the club and of Hilton Head's excellent resort golf.
Hilton Head rewards an unhurried itinerary, so anchor a few nights on the island and let Long Cove be the highlight if you can arrange access, then add the resort variety of Atlantic Dunes at Sea Pines.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Hilton Head Island.
Build a South Carolina golf trip
Long Cove is the private Pete Dye prize we love to build a Hilton Head trip around when access can be arranged, and we plan the rest of the week to match, with tee times and lodging booked for you. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Long Cove Club questions
Who designed Long Cove Club and when did it open?
Long Cove Club was designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1981 on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with a build crew that included future architects Bobby Weed and Tom Doak.
What is the par and length of Long Cove Club?
Long Cove plays as a par 71 of about 7,000 yards, a Pete Dye layout routed through marsh, lagoons and live oaks with his trademark angles and green sites.
Can the public play Long Cove Club?
No. Long Cove Club is a private members club and is not open to public daily fee play. Access is by member invitation, so the most practical route for a visitor is golf with a member.
Why is Long Cove Club so highly regarded?
Long Cove is considered one of Pete Dye's finest designs, a strategic, beautifully maintained course that consistently ranks among the best in South Carolina and has hosted USGA championships.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; Long Cove is a private members club and access policies are to be confirmed with the club. Last reviewed June 2026.