Getting To Know: Hilton Head National Golf Club

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with John Ferrebee who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Hilton Head National represents golf in the truest sense of the word. With homes and codons cropping up among every other golf course in the area, Hilton Head National has remained true to it's mission statement of no outside golf course development. Hilton Head National is unique in nature that two architects were responsible for each nine, Hall of Famer, Gary Player, with over 200 international course designs in his portfolio and former PGA Design and National Award winner Bobby Weed. Each nine offers a different flair and utilizes some of the " best South Carolina Bottomland in the Low Country" as quoted by Gary Player. In todays day and age of development courses and designs that truly make golfers cringe, Hilton Head National stands alone as golf the way it should be played

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
With two nines that that have different architectural features, Hilton Head National was designed to be a player friendly course and at the same time present a challenge to the better player. The concept of the designers was for players to enjoy a round of golf , use all the clubs in there bag and enjoy pristine mother nature. With rolling greens and generous fairways on one nine and elevation changes and strategic bunkering on the other, it truly offers golf a variety of looks and challenges. Fox squirrels, indigenous to the area, patrol the fairways and every once a while you will see deer and wild turkey walking the wooded boundaries of the course.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
You don't have to overthink on this course. Just trust your golf instincts. Course management is instrumental in placing yourself in comfortable positions to hit approach shots to the green.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
In 2012, Hilton Head National was honored with the "Readers Choice Awards" for favorite golf course by our local newspapers, The Island Packet and The Bluffton Today. Obviously our local residents consider it, the best of the best.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Number 6 on the Weed Nine is a 298 yard par four that has water flanking it all the way down the right side, A bunker complex sits 50 yards short of the green and a huge elevation change with mounding on the right hand side of the green, riddled with pot bunkers presents even more issues. It offers a multitude of options for players of all calibers and is just fun to play.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
Number 8 on the Weed Nine is Par 5, measuring 575 from the back tees. Unless you are exceptional long, it truly is a three shot hole. The Green is extremely undulating and positioning yourself for your third shot is critical. The green is relatively narrow and slightly elevated with some shaved run off areas. In most cases if your third shot is not right on the money, you probably are going to struggle to make par.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Miss Mary's famous southern cooking and the aroma's coming from the Player's Pub almost have to make you go in and get something to eat after your round. Our bartenders will fix your favorite drink and seasonal beers are always on tap.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Lanny Watlkins shot 62 in a dogfight with Scratch Golf President Bill Palmer

Back Tee Stats
Par: 71
Yardage: 6730
Slope: 133
Rating: 72.8

More Information
Hilton Head National Golf Club
60 Hilton Head National Drive
Bluffton, SC, 29910
843-842-5900
www.golfhiltonheadnational.com