Port Royal GC: Robber's Row

Rich in History and Shot Making Required

The Port Royal Plantation lies on the northwest corner of Hilton Head Island and is home to the Westin Hilton Head Resort's luxurious beach front property and three of the Heritage Groups seven Island courses: The Barony, a George Cobb design built in the early 60's was one of the original courses build on the Island, Planter’s Row (born 1984) is the brain child of Willard Bryd and has hosted PGA Seniors events, and Robber’s Row, a 1967 collaboration between Cobb and Byrd with Pete Dye lending his hand during a redesign in 1994.

A round of golf at Robbers Row is also a Civil War history lesson.  Beneath the fairways lie the former grounds of Fort Walker and historical markers throughout the course shed light on events which took place on the Island during the Civil War. While strolling down the 10th and 11th fairways you will be playing on the site of the main street of 1862 Port Royal. The name Robbers Row originated from the business men, suttlers and con men who raised saloons, tattoo parlors and rooming houses with designs on parting the 20,000+ union soldiers from their pay checks. Adjacent to the 13th fairway the remnants of earthworks, built by Gen. Quincy Adam Gilmore to protect Fort Wells from confederate attack, remain little changed except for heavy tree growth.

Robbers Row is ideally suited for the mid-to-higher handicap player but poses a stern challenge to the single digit handicapper from the back tees. Although the fairways offer generous landing areas the approach shots require accuracy to greens sites often protected by water hazards and ample bunkering. Ranging from 4884 to 6657 yards the course routing is carved through wonderful stands of mature live oaks, pines and magnolia trees.

Course Stats:

Par 72, 4884 - 6657 yards, rated 68.2 - 73.0, slope rating 117 -133

Daily fee facility

Stay & Play packages available at Westin Hilton Head Resort and with several other local accommodation partners.

Location:

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Editor's Shot Makers Picks:

Featured Holes Description:

The 9th hole begins a stretch of three really tough par fours playing 420, 441 and 441 yards which can make or break your round. The stretch opener is a relatively straight hole with bunkers left and right ready to capture a wayward drive. The prudent player will take aim at the right centre of the green for a large pond protects the left side of the approach and a fronting bunker will gobble up the less than perfect shot. The 11th is a tree lined dogleg right with a lone bunker at the far corner of the dogleg waiting to catch the dreaded straight shot. Pay heed to the approach for anything left of centre and a tad short will bound left in to one of the deep greenside bunkers. The final hole in this triumvirate may be the sternest test of all. Large live oaks pinch the flight path requiring precise accuracy off the tee. Once again care must be taken to place the approach to the green on the right centre for the putting surface falls off towards a massive bunker left. Three 4’s pencilled on the score card here will definitely earn you bragging rights in Bayley’s 19th Hole Grill after the round.

Contact:

The Heritage Group: Port Royal Golf Club
10 Clubhouse Drive
Hilton Head Island, Sc 29928
(843) 681-1706

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