PALMETTO HALL PLANTATION Cupp Course (843-689-9205
Hilton Head Golf Course Review
General Information
Palmetto Hall Plantation features two of the most scenic and photogenic courses on Hilton Head Island. The Cupp Course opened in 2003 and has drawn high praise for its variety, natural beauty and shot values. The Hills Course opened in 1991 and was immediately nominated as one of the Top Ten New Public Courses to Play, and also has garnered 4 out of 5 stars by Golf Digest Places to Play.
The two layouts at Palmetto Hall are serviced by one clubhouse facility that features a well stocked pro shop plus locker rooms with showers. The restaurant/lounge features breakfast sandwiches and lunch items and is generally open from about 7am to 6pm. On property is a targeted grass range, short game area with sand bunker, plus putting green. Each golf cart comes equipped with coolers and rear weather covers to protect clubs during inclement weather.
The on course yardage marking system includes 150 yard stakes and sprinkler heads that are measured to the center of the green on all par fours and fives, plus permanent markers on the cart paths at 100, 150 and 200 yards (plus 250 on par fives). Color coded flags indicate the day's front, middle or back hole locations on these wonderfully manicured and landscaped golf courses.
Cupp Course
Robert Cupp designed an enticing layout that is pleasing to the eye and demanding on the skill level. There are 4 sets of tee areas that play to distances and slopes measuring 7056 yards with a 152 slope, 6504 yards/133 slope, 6025 yards/127 slope and 5182 yards with a slope of 128 for women playing from the forward tees. 14 holes feature water hazards in play in some shape or form, and approximately 40 sand bunkers are strategically situated near the landing zones or greenside. The rolling, mounded fairways are tree lined and wind through a secluded residential community. There is a great variety in hole design, but a constant is the dramatic mounding that will funnel shots towards or away from targets, and also create some interesting lies.
The swales and collection areas greenside help protect the raised putting surfaces - miss the green and you are often left with challenging recovery opportunities...a good short game is necessary to score well here! The smaller size greens are sometimes sloping and other times undulating - and require a good deal of skill to read and manipulate. There are some rather tight fairways mixed in with those providing plenty of room, and natural marsh areas often come into play either alongside or dissecting landing zones. There are several forced carries that golfers will have to navigate as well - making this quite a challenging experience for the novice golfer.
Easy on the eyes - tough on the scorecard - The Cupp Course is renowned for its beauty and is daunting in its challenge. Former Golf/World Architech of the Year Robert Cupp planned the original course design on a computer, with the finished product characterized by straight lines, sharp angles and unusual slopes. Restored in 2005, this layout is a stunner. Our recommendation - if you enjoy challenge and are at least an average player - this is a MUST PLAY while in the region! For more info, visit our page for the course, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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