The par-4 13th hole at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, which played host to the Senior PGA Championship in May, is The State's pick as the top public golf course in South Carolina
No. 1: The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island (last year: No. 1) | Anyone needing a reminder how good and tough this Pete Dye-abolical layout is, call the Senior PGA, whose players never figured out the par-3 17th hole. The 50-plus crowd can't wait for 2012, when the PGA Tour gets its shot at the course. www.kiawahresort.com
No. 2: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island (No. 2) No surprise here. So what did you expect? Did someone bring another PGA Tour event to South Carolina (to match the Heritage) while I wasn't looking? This is Dye from his Pre-Inquisition period; it won't beat you up, but it gets your attention. seapines.com
No. 3: Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Myrtle Beach (No. 4) The same trio of Grand Strand courses shows up on this list each year, exchanging spots depending on recent play. This Robert Trent Jones gem, oldest of the three, never goes out of style; have to love a course with a hole called "Waterloo." dunesgolfandbeachclub.com
No. 4: True Blue, Pawleys Island (No. 3) The late Mike Strantz built two terrific courses in the same neighborhood. I haven't played Caledonia but am told it is the better of the two. If so, it's guaranteed a spot in next year's top five -- but True Blue won't be far behind. truebluegolf.com
No. 5: Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club, North Augusta (No. 6) This hilly Tom Jackson design, host of the now-defunct Asahi Ryokuken International, moves up because it's stepping up by adding a third nine holes. That will make this off-the-beaten-path course even more of a find.
mountvintage.com
No. 6: Tidewater Golf Club, North Myrtle Beach (No. 5) To look at this beauty, you never would know it was built by an amateur (Ken Tomlinson). Upon its debut, it immediately went to the top of the competitive Grand Strand market, and all the new courses haven't dislodged it.
tidewatergolf.com
No. 7: Turtle Point, Kiawah Island (No. 10) One of the best things about the Senior PGA at Kiawah was an updated look at the island's other courses. Jack Nicklaus has a number of in-state designs, but few are better than this marsh- and water-bordered beauty/beast. kiawahresort.com
No. 8: Country Club of South Carolina, Florence (No. 9) The S.C. Amateur Championship returns to this traditional Ellis Maples layout, and if the tournament comes down to the final hole, the brutal par-4 18th will demand a worthy champion. The Pee Dee's best, in a walk. countryclubsc.com
No. 9: RiverTowne Country Club, Mount Pleasant (No. 7). The inaugural Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika didn't draw the crowds the LPGA was hoping for, but that wasn't the fault of this Arnold Palmer design. The difficult No. 18 certainly got the women's attention. rivertownecountryclub.com
No. 10 (tie): Wild Dunes Links Course, Isle of Palms (No. 8) and Wyboo Golf Club, Manning (No. 10). It's painful to see Wild Dunes' oceanfront finishing holes threatened by erosion, so play this while you can. Wyboo, also a Tom Jackson design, is a "hidden gem," one of five host courses for U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn's August charity event. wilddunes.com
