Founders Club at Pawleys Island

Founders Club at Pawleys Island sits on the Hammock Coast of South Carolina, part of the Hammock Coast Golf Trail. The course traces its roots to the original Sea Gull Golf Club, designed by Gene Hamm and opened in 1966. Between 2006 and 2008, the property underwent a complete reconstruction led by Thomas Walker of the Gary Player Design group, with a reported $7 million investment that involved moving more than 250,000 cubic yards of dirt. The redesigned layout stretches to 7,007 yards, playing to a par of 72 across 18 holes. The renovation drew on sandy waste areas and subtle mounding as primary design elements, a combination frequently compared to the character of Pinehurst No. 2. In 2024, GolfPass ranked Founders Club the number-one public course in South Carolina. It is open to the public and sits in the mid-range price tier ($$).