Patriots Point Links on Charleston Harbor

Patriots Point Links sits on Charleston Harbor in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, at the foot of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, the only public course in the Charleston area with waterfront holes directly on the harbor. Willard Byrd designed the links-style layout in 1979, and the setting is unlike anything else in South Carolina golf: the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier docks as a visible landmark from several holes, Fort Sumter and downtown Charleston form the skyline, and ships from around the world pass by the course during a round. The signature is the par-3 17th, an island green set in the harbor with magnificent views of Fort Sumter, Shem Creek, and the historic Charleston cityscape. The hole has been voted 'Best Par 3 in the Lowcountry' year after year. Wind sweeping across the harbor changes the course's playing character day to day; it's part of the Patriots Point experience rather than a seasonal complaint. The course was named South Carolina Course of the Year in 2001 by the National Golf Course Owners Association. At 5,100 to 7,000 yards across four sets of tees, it's friendly to every handicap; five minutes from downtown Charleston makes it the convenient round for groups staying in the city itself. Pair with Wild Dunes' Fazio courses on Isle of Palms for a full Charleston itinerary.