Top 10 Most Beautiful Golf Courses to Photograph in South Carolina

South Carolina is a golfer's paradise, but for the photographer, it is a visual cornucopia. The state's dense coastal wetlands, moss-draped oak trees, untouched beaches, and tidal marshes offer spectacular backdrops to some of the most scenic golf courses in the country. Below is a select list of the Top 10 most photogenic golf courses in South Carolina, each offering its own visual charm and tale.

1. Kiawah Island Golf Resort – The Ocean Course (Kiawah Island)

Why it's photogenic:

Perhaps the state's most storied course, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is photographers' nirvana. With 10 holes on the Atlantic coast, windswept sand ridges, and expansive oceanfront vistas, every hole offers opportunity for a shot worthy of National Geographic. Mornings here are particularly stunning, with the sunrise casting the waves and fairways in golden hues.

Best shot: Hole 17 from behind the green at sunrise or sunset, with ocean waves in the background.

2. Harbour Town Golf Links (Hilton Head Island)

Why it's photogenic:

This is not just a PGA Tour event but a photographer's haven. The world-famous red-and-white-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse behind the 18th green is one of the most photographed golf shots on the planet. The Lowcountry landscape of the course, framed by live oaks and marshes, offers dramatic lighting and rich textures.

Best shot: The 18th hole with the lighthouse and Calibogue Sound as a backdrop.

3. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club (Pawleys Island)

Why it's photogenic:

Stepping through the gates to Caledonia is like walking into a Southern fable. That entrance avenue of live oaks dripping in Spanish moss alone makes it an unforgettable trip. Flowers beds, marshland, and crumbling old plantation structures blended with what occurs on the ground during a game is peaceful while eye-grabbing at the same time.

Best shot: The entrance road or the par-4 18th hole with the clubhouse and marsh in view.

4. Sage Valley Golf Club (Graniteville)

Why it's photogenic:

While ultra-secluded and relatively new, Sage Valley is comparable to Augusta National in terms of beauty and devotion to conditioning. Pine woods, rolling greens, and azalea clumps create visual contrast and depth for any photographer. Autumn here is particularly dramatic with color-shifting foliage.

Best shot: Any hole during the golden hour, capturing the light play through tall pines and blooming flowers.

5. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club (Myrtle Beach)

Why it's photogenic:

The Dunes is a marriage of classic course design and Mother Nature's shoreline splendor. Its most famous hole, "Waterloo" (No. 13), winds around Lake Singleton and is a photographer's favorite for its dramatic golf holes. The Atlantic Ocean also comes into sight from parts of the course, giving it a combination of green and beach that's hard to beat.

Best shot: The sweeping arc of the 13th hole at sunset with reflection on the water.

6. True Blue Golf Club (Pawleys Island)

Why it's photogenic:

True Blue is the sibling course of Caledonia, and it boasts bold-looking images — wide fairways, gigantic bunkers, tall trees, and marsh scenery. Its tough, modern look offers a new kind of beauty, with bold sand against deep green grass and rich blue skies.

Best shot: Elevated tee shots or drone shots down from above over the bunker complexes and wetlands.

7. Yeamans Hall Club (Hanahan/Charleston)

Why it's photogenic:

This exclusive Seth Raynor treasure is full of tradition and Southern charm. The unadorned, vintage style of the course is perfectly attuned to the Lowcountry terrain that lies around it — tidal creeks, palmettos, and moss-draped oaks. The understated beauty of the course presents classic, moody photo ops.

Best shot: Dappled sunlight filtering through the pines with morning dew on the hills.

8. Palmetto Golf Club (Aiken)

Why it's photogenic:

Founded in 1892, this is one of the country's oldest courses with a golden-age layout set on rolling hills and towering pines. Its old-world beauty consists of the vintage character of its clubhouse, narrow fairways, and traditional green complexes. It's especially beautiful in early spring when azaleas are in bloom.

Best shot: Back scenery of the 16th green, where the ground gently slopes and trees form lined-up fairways.

9. TPC Myrtle Beach (Murrells Inlet)

Why it's photogenic:

As former home of the Senior PGA Tour Championship, TPC Myrtle Beach combines championship-quality architecture with nature's majesty of seacoast Carolina. Expansive water features, expansive bunkers, and wetland refuges make for a course at once demanding yet pleasing to look at.

Best shot: The par-3 17th over water, with natural light and reflections adding drama.

10. Secession Golf Club (Beaufort)

Why it's photogenic:

Its title was named after the history of South Carolina in America, Secession is a golf-only walk with old-school commitment. It's set on Intracoastal Waterway tidal marshes where water and wildlife ring nearly every hole. With fluctuating tides and varied light, every game is a photo safari.

Best shot: The fairway view from the 18th hole and the marsh and dramatic Lowcountry skies.

Honorable Mentions

Bulls Bay Golf Club (Awendaw): Tacky elevation changes and dramatic marsh views.

Old Tabby Links (Spring Island): Remote, serene, and visually pristine.

Barefoot Resort – Love Course (North Myrtle Beach):** Renowned for its faux plantation ruins and creative bunkering.

South Carolina Golf Course Photography Tips

- Golden Hours: Shoot at sunrise or sunset for soft light and long shadows.

- Use a Drone: Aerial drama is an option with many of these courses. Make sure that drones are permitted.

- Emphasize Contrast: Blue skies, white sand, and bright green fairways are natural visual contrasts.

- Get the Wildlife: Herons, egrets, and even alligators are likely to inhabit South Carolina courses — adding local character.

- Respect the Game: Always make sure you have permission to photograph a course. Watch out for golfers and follow course etiquette. Take your shots between groups or off times.

South Carolina is richly endowed with photogenic golf courses that are as much fun to photograph as they are to play. If you're looking for dramatic ocean scenery, peaceful marshland, or good old-fashioned Southern ambience, there's a course that has just the look you're looking for. With good lighting, quality equipment, and a little patience, you can take some simply stunning pictures that capture the very spirit of Southern golf.

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