Destination: Hilton Head

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Ernie Els hits a tee shot at the Verizon Heritage in 2009.

Apr. 11, 2010
By LINKS Magazine

While crowds flock for the cocktail-party atmosphere of the Verizon Heritage, the island is a welcome destination year-round for visitors, who are lured by the natural setting and stress-free atmosphere.

Where to Play

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Harbour Town Golf Links: Harbour Town Golf Links: On the East Coast, there are few finishes as memorable as Harbour Town's last three holes, which emerge from the forest to Calibogue Sound -- a distinctive Lowcountry setting.

Palmetto Dunes Resort: There are three courses, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., George Fazio and Arthur Hills. The Hills course once confounded Tiger Woods, who made a quadruple bogey on the difficult 17th in a college event.

Palmetto Hall Plantation: There are two courses, one by Hills and the other by Robert Cupp. The latter has greens and bunkers with straight lines and angular shapes, but the features offer strategic options.

Where to Stay

Inn at Harbour Town: The intimate 61-room property is just steps from the eponymous golf course, shops, restaurants and the iconic lighthouse that has come to symbolize the island.

Inn at Palmetto Bluff: Although located on the mainland, Palmetto Bluff offers more luxury than any property on the island. A stay offers access to May River Golf Club, one of Jack Nicklaus' best designs.

Hilton Head Marriott Resort: Besides golf, the beach is the primary reason to visit Hilton Head, and this hotel offers the ocean at its doorstep. If guests get tired of the sand, they can sit by the large outdoor pool overlooking the beach.

Where to Eat

C.Q's: After a round at Harbour Town, there is no better place to recounts shots like the soaring drive on the 18th hole. One of the oldest restaurants on the island features an eclectic menu and a wine list to match.

Old Fort Pub: Located on the northern end of the island and overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, this fine-dining establishment is a pub in name only. The full experience includes a sunset that complements the new Southern cuisine.

Santa Fe Cafe: This restaurant captures the tastes and atmosphere of the American Southwest with dishes like lamb chops authentically grilled over mesquite hardwood. Try for a table in the intimate rooftop cantina.