Santee National Golf Club

Porter Gibson's 1989 Santee National, the top-rated course in the South Carolina Santee Cooper region, 6,858-yard par-72 on rolling Lowcountry terrain that blends mossy oaks with loblolly pines. The front nine is wide open; the back nine narrows into wooded corridors with five lakes threading the routing. Bermuda fairways, Champion Ultra-Dwarf Bermuda greens, and bunkers filled with crystal-white sand keep conditioning crisp through peak season. The par 3s from the back tees are among the best in the region, not overly long, but well-shaped and exposed to wind. 72.9 rating / 128 slope, honest test without tipping into punitive. The only Golf Digest 4-star rated course in the Santee area and #14 on Golf Advisor's Top Courses in South Carolina (2024). The flagship round on any Santee Cooper golf trip, pair with Lake Marion and Santee Cooper Country Club for 54 in three days.