Dolphin Head Golf Club
Dolphin Head Golf Course Tee Times and Course Details
The island’s oldest course still in play, opened in 1974 as Hilton Head Plantation’s first course.
- Designer:
- Gary Player / Ron Kirby (greens rebuilt 1993 by Clyde Johnston)
- Phone:
- (843) 681-5550
Dolphin Head Course Handicap Calculator
Enter your Handicap Index and pick a tee to see your Course Handicap at Dolphin Head Golf Club, the number of strokes you get here.
See your strokes at every Hilton Head course →
How this is calculated
Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded to a whole number. For example, a 14.2 index on the Black tees (72.9 / 135, par 72) is 14.2 × 135 ÷ 113 + (72.9 − 72) = 17.9, which rounds to 18. Some formats and events apply a percentage allowance on top of this number, so check your event’s rules.
The Dolphin Head Golf Club Scorecard: Par, Yardage & Course Ratings
View Score Card| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handicap | 11 | 9 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 4 | |||
| Par | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Black | 513 | 344 | 359 | 173 | 364 | 432 | 204 | 395 | 515 | 3,299 | 371 | 382 | 211 | 523 | 341 | 444 | 360 | 181 | 494 | 3,307 | 6,606 |
| Blue | 500 | 338 | 350 | 167 | 359 | 411 | 194 | 385 | 507 | 3,211 | 353 | 373 | 200 | 513 | 336 | 423 | 351 | 172 | 489 | 3,210 | 6,421 |
| White | 465 | 332 | 328 | 154 | 349 | 401 | 176 | 375 | 486 | 3,066 | 343 | 365 | 190 | 504 | 331 | 399 | 341 | 160 | 470 | 3,103 | 6,169 |
| Member | 465 | 332 | 328 | 135 | 276 | 348 | 147 | 345 | 486 | 2,862 | 288 | 334 | 153 | 504 | 331 | 325 | 341 | 143 | 470 | 2,889 | 5,751 |
| Gold | 436 | 325 | 315 | 135 | 276 | 348 | 147 | 345 | 457 | 2,784 | 288 | 334 | 153 | 463 | 276 | 325 | 315 | 143 | 428 | 2,725 | 5,509 |
| Red | 435 | 297 | 295 | 117 | 273 | 342 | 143 | 339 | 453 | 2,694 | 285 | 332 | 145 | 460 | 272 | 320 | 300 | 131 | 421 | 2,666 | 5,360 |
| Green | 385 | 267 | 280 | 117 | 260 | 280 | 125 | 286 | 380 | 2,380 | 280 | 285 | 145 | 385 | 250 | 280 | 290 | 110 | 355 | 2,380 | 4,760 |
| Tee | Par | Yards | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 6,606 | 72.9 | 135 |
| Blue | 72 | 6,421 | 72.1 | 133 |
| White | 72 | 6,169 | 71 | 130 |
| Member | 72 | 5,751 | 68.7 | 122 |
| Gold | 72 | 5,509 | 67.1 | 119 |
| Red | 72 | 5,360 | 66.3 | 118 |
| Green | 72 | 4,760 | 65 | 116 |
Yardage, par, handicap, course rating and slope by tee. Tees and yardages can change, so confirm with the club before you play.
Hole-by-Hole Yardages
Hole 1
Par 5Course Overview
Dolphin Head Golf Club is the island’s oldest course still in play and its most affordable round — a semi-private Gary Player design that’s taken public tee times since 1974, tucked inside Hilton Head Plantation. It plays short by resort standards, but tight, tree-lined fairways and marsh carries mean it rewards accuracy over length. For the island’s other eighteen courses, see the full Hilton Head golf courses directory.
Signature Holes (9 Videos)
Hole 4, Par 3, 173 Yards
Dolphin Head Golf, Hilton Head Island’s Oldest Course
Gary Player and Ron Kirby opened Dolphin Head in 1974 as Hilton Head Plantation’s first golf course, and it’s still the oldest course on the island in continuous play. The greens were rebuilt in 1993 by Clyde Johnston, but the routing keeps Player’s original character — a front nine that winds through tall pines with his signature bunkering, and marshland coming into play on most holes. It plays short and puts a premium on hitting fairways and greens rather than raw length.
Unlike the resort courses at Sea Pines or Palmetto Dunes, Dolphin Head is a semi-private club that sells public, daily-fee tee times — no resort stay or membership required — and generally the least expensive round on Hilton Head Island.
Where Is Dolphin Head Golf Club?
Dolphin Head Golf Club is on High Bluff Road inside Hilton Head Plantation, on the northern end of Hilton Head Island, SC. Some booking sites list the Dolphin Head golf course HHI, SC address as 56 High Bluff Rd — Hilton Head Plantation is a gated community, but the course itself is open to the public, so check in at the community gate as a golf guest on your way to the clubhouse.
Part of Hilton Head Plantation golf, which has four courses inside the gates.
Dolphin Head Golf Club Reviews
Greens and fairways are the most praised part of the course, the layout is repeatedly called fun rather than punishing, and the newer electric carts with GPS get mentioned often enough to count as a draw in their own right. Staff are described as friendly and accommodating, and the pricing as reasonable. The recurring complaint is pace: rounds here can run slow.
Praised
- Well-maintained greens and fairways
- A fun layout
- New electric carts with GPS
- Friendly, accommodating staff
- Reasonable prices
Common complaints
- Pace of play can be slow
Our summary of 576 reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dolphin Head Golf Club?
Dolphin Head Golf Club is at 56 High Bluff Rd, inside Hilton Head Plantation on the north end of Hilton Head Island, SC.
Who designed Dolphin Head Golf Club?
Gary Player and Ron Kirby designed Dolphin Head, which opened in 1974 as Hilton Head Plantation’s first course. Its greens were rebuilt in 1993 by Clyde Johnston.
Is Dolphin Head Golf Club open to the public?
Yes — Dolphin Head is a semi-private club that sells public, daily-fee tee times, with no resort stay or membership required, generally the least expensive round on Hilton Head Island.
Your beach week starts here
Compare villa and beach home prices from local rental companies side by side, and catch last-minute deals before they’re gone.
Property manager? Partner with us