Fripp Island

Will be going to Fripp Island, SC next month and was wondering how the golf is on the island and what there is to do on the island and in the region?

We went down two years ago for Christmas. Both courses are nice, very tight! I enjoyed the golf, but the price was steep for what you get. There is plenty to see and do on the Island, make sure you rent a bike or golf cart. We stopped by the produce store just off the island, great fish selection at great prices.

There are many golf options just off the Island and at far lower rates (though non have holes on the ocean). I would recommend a trip down to Savannah, not for golf but for sight seeing.

Both courses on the island are good, but very tight. Bring a lot of balls! I prefer the Ocean Point course. They've always been well-conditioned when I played (always summer). But be warned, they will probably be crowded.

If you're willing to drive off the island (and keep in mind that it's a hike to get anywhere once you're all the way out at Fripp), Sanctuary at Cat Island is a decent course and I have always liked the course on Parris Island. Both of those are good deals.

Also, be sure to get a fried shrimp basket at the Shrimp Shack before you get onto Fripp.

I used to go there on family vacations as a kid. I'm not sure if they have anything for adults, but I had an unlimited golf card for the week and just played from sun up to sun down while my mom and sisters were at the pool. I remember liking Ocean Point alot more than Ocean Creek, but thought it was cool the Forest Gump bench was on Ocean Creek.

I liked both courses... Actually preferred Ocean Creek except for the 4 or 5 holes of ocean point that are on the Ocean.

You can go play in Beaufort as well (as mentioned the Paris Island course is affordable and nice) but it is a haul.

The fripp courses are more expensive but are never THAT crowded because only people staying on the island can play them.

I shot 76-79 my 3 days and maybe played my 3 best rounds of the summer (that is around my normal score) and still lost some balls, so the tracks are pretty tough and can claim some balls if you aren't hitting it well.

Bring some bug spray as well... Ocean creek especially has some bad mosquito spots if you are on the course early or late

Bumping this thread to ask questions. How expensive are the courses? How are they compared to the Palmetto Dunes courses? How is the island compared to Hilton Head with crowds, food and family entertainment?

Less crowded, fewer food options, not sure what's meant by family entertainment but probably less of that as well.

Fripp is a more low-key, laid-back, small-scale environment than Hilton Head. I mean it's going to be crowded and touristy in prime season but nowhere near the scale of HHI.

It's been quite a while since I was there but golf prices are typical of coastal resorts, fairly steep. No cheap options like Myrtle Beach. FWIW, I slightly prefer Creek to Point but liked them both. The off-island alternative of Cat Island is a course I like a lot.

Thanks for the info. I should have said family activities. I was mainly wondering about golf prices. It doesn't look like many options for groceries on the island. Can you just drive there and look around? I'll be at Hilton Head in a few weeks.

When I last visited (quite a few years ago now) there was no gate or anything at the entrance to the island. I'm sure you're welcome to go drive around and check things out.

And yeah, I doubt there's much beyond convenience-store type groceries there. Don't recall there being an actual grocery store on the island.

On Fripp? There's been a security gate since at least the mid-90's. I'm sure you can call to ask to see the island. It's a slower pace than HHI. No high rises. Middle of the island has condos, so that's where the beaches tend to be the most crowded. I prefer Ocean Point to Ocean Creek. There are some solid holes especially those near the water. If you head out there, stop by Shrimp Shack on the way and get a shrimp burger. And you can go across the street from there to Gay Fishing Co. and pick up some fresh shrimp or fish. Hard to beat the shrimp they pull out right there on the spot.

Fripp is a great spot for families and those who want a slower pace. Grocery store wise, there's a small general store type spot on the island, but you are best off stopping by Publix on Lady Island on the way in. Hoping to get there this summer. Growing up, we were there two weeks every summer. Now, we get there every couple of years.

I was at Fripp Island for the 1st time May 2-5 for a golf trip (24 guys). I really enjoyed the experience. Both courses are in great condition but I'd say I preferred the Ocean View course. Creek course has some nice views of the salt marsh though. Wildlife is abundant and the deer will eat right out of your hand. Guys that had been there before warned against searching near ponds because of the gators and I did see a few big ones. Amenities wise, it's pretty sparse. There is a pool and tiki bar that overlooks the ocean and there is a restaurant in the marina. The Ocean View course has a decent grill room where you can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner but the Creek course only has a small snack stand. Groceries are scarce on the island so we took all the dinner foods and beverages we'd need for the weekend so we wouldn't have to leave the island. We ate dinner in the marina restaurant Thursday and then cooked for the group Fri and Sat. Everyone was on their own for breakfast and lunch. I ate breakfast at the Ocean View grill room each morning and it was really good (eggs, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches...etc.) There is a guard station when you come onto the island and they will ask what your purpose on the island is. To me, most people are there golf and sit on the beach. There are also walking and biking trails. There is a cabana at the south end of the island but I never made it down there to check it out. I'd definitely go back though. OH - pack some bug spray and maybe some long golf pants to ward off the no-see-ums. They are worse on the Creek course but I never really had a problem because I wore pants and used Off. Courses are fair but kind of tight in places. I'm a 12-handicap that drives it pretty well. Think I may have lost 6-8 balls over 81 holes. Also, there is plenty of water in play throughout both courses. Have fun!