Tee Times at Hilton Head - how good is last minute tee times?

[atlanta golfer]

Going to Hilton Head next week, which is around peak season. Rack rate prices in the morning are looking very expensive. Staying at Palmetto Dunes Plantation. Have been to Hilton Head several times in recent years so am somewhat familiar with the area. Have played the three Palmetto Dunes courses and also Oyster Reef. There is a local service called Last Minute Tee Times that you can call the evening before. Anyone have any experience with this service? They supposedly get access to the tee sheets and all the left over times, for a discount, for the courses listed in the link below. My wife and kids don't play, so I'll be going on as a single two or three times during the week. I'm flexible on where I can play, my main criteria is I want to get out early to mid morning, get my round in, and then get back to the family and beach. Any advice is welcome! Thanks.

 

http://www.lmteetimes.com/cgi-bin/shop/sc_searchz.cgi?user_id=id&database=dbase_rates.exm&template=rates_all.html&0=1

[texagjosh]

We didn't have any issues just walking on at twilight (2-ish) for a decent rate last July.

Last Minute Tee Times works well, but be prepared to call and call and call to get through. It's a solid deal though.

[tallgolfnut]

as previous post stated "be prepared to call and call" they have good rates but not always on the best courses. I have used them numerous times and never had a problem, however, if you are a single golfer, most likely you can show up and get on fairly quick at most courses. I'm leaving Wednesday for Hilton Head (my parents live there) and will take in the Verizon Heritage as well as a couple of rounds. Enjoy...I know I will.

[NCSergio]

Would love to hear your report(s) from down there - I'll be heading that way the last week of July.

[atlanta golfer]

Thanks for the responses so far. Just to clarify, the problem isn't getting a tee time, or just showing up and getting on, or even the rates at mid afternoon or later. The problem is getting a decent rate early to mid morning. I just have a problem paying beyond about $90 even in a location like Hilton Head.

[wolfgame]

I have used them several times...you can usually get Hilton Head National for a decent price....and check out Palmetto Hall...they usually have at least one of those courses.

[generalpatton]

Used them once last year around mid March. No problems getting through or getting a decent time. As I recall most of the offering was off island courses but I think the service is a good one.

[atlanta golfer]

These are the courses currently offered. Do any stand out as very good, and are there any to avoid?

[b]Arthur Hills at Palmetto Hall[/b]$80.00[b]Barony Course[/b]$70.00[b]Country Club of Hilton Head[/b]$92.00[b]Crescent Pointe Golf Club[/b]$55.00[b]Eagles Pointe Golf Club[/b]$52.00[b]Golden Bear Golf Club[/b]$65.00[b]Hidden Cypress[/b]$00.00[b]Hilton Head National[/b]$70.00[b]Island West Golf Club[/b]$52.00[b]Okatie Creek Golf Club[/b]$00.00[b]Old Carolina Golf Club[/b]$00.00[b]Old South Golf Links[/b]$70.00[b]Oyster Reef Golf Club[/b]$80.00[b]Planters Row[/b]$70.00[b]Robbers Row[/b]$70.00[b]Robert Cupp Course[/b]$80.00[b]Rose Hill Country Club[/b]$30.00[b]Shipyard Golf Club[/b]$70.00

[tallgolfnut]

I have played most of those. HH National is always in great shape, Crescent Pointe is a nice little track off island. I would venture away from Island West, Okatie, Old Carolina and Rose Hill, nothing really exciting about those courses. Hills at Palmetto Hall and Oyster Reef were fun as I recall. My parents live on Hidden Cypress so I play there usually every trip down. Not a bad course at all IMO

[generalpatton]

Heard a couple years ago Old Carolina was being turned into an executive course. I played Eagles Landing last year and was quite impressed for the price - a nice Davis Love design that was in better shape than many other more well known courses. Rose Hill is nothing special and last year was in rough shape-it was completely closed for several years until a new owner took it over and renovated it. Oyster Reef is a favorite and you can't go wrong with HH National or Old South.

[atlanta golfer]

Thanks for the comments, this gives me what I was looking for - a few courses to look for, and a few to avoid.

[wolfgame]

[quote name='atlanta golfer' date='12 April 2010 - 09:11 PM' timestamp='1271124668' post='2376422']
These are the courses currently offered. Do any stand out as very good, and are there any to avoid?

[b]Arthur Hills at Palmetto Hall[/b]$80.00[b]Barony Course[/b]$70.00[b]Country Club of Hilton Head[/b]$92.00[b]Crescent Pointe Golf Club[/b]$55.00[b]Eagles Pointe Golf Club[/b]$52.00[b]Golden Bear Golf Club[/b]$65.00[b]Hidden Cypress[/b]$00.00[b]Hilton Head National[/b]$70.00[b]Island West Golf Club[/b]$52.00[b]Okatie Creek Golf Club[/b]$00.00[b]Old Carolina Golf Club[/b]$00.00[b]Old South Golf Links[/b]$70.00[b]Oyster Reef Golf Club[/b]$80.00[b]Planters Row[/b]$70.00[b]Robbers Row[/b]$70.00[b]Robert Cupp Course[/b]$80.00[b]Rose Hill Country Club[/b]$30.00[b]Shipyard Golf Club[/b]$70.00
[/quote]

IMO....stay away from Barony,Planters and Robbers...they are all part of Port Royal (usually reserve these to a second 18...great clubhouse to eat lunch...and a great second 18 to drink beer and take it easy). I would go with Arthur Hills at Plametto Hall...or Robert Cupp (Watch out for cops around the place...the rent a cops are ridiculous...stop at every stop sign and do not speed at all), HH National, Oyster Reef....and Old South. Old South will play very slow unless you go off early.

I would do:
#1) HH National
#2) Palmetto Hall....Robert Cupp and then Arthur Hills
#3) Oyster Reef

Of course...call for aeration schedules ahead of time.

Enjoy...HH is awesome and I love driving down there for the slower pace of life.

[HMB91]

I will tell you not to play Hilton Head Country Club rates are high and course is in very bad shape the greens are worse than some of the goat ranch golf courses back in Texas. Not even worth playing even if they were just to charge you a trail fee. However the cold beer and good friends helps a little, you should need about 10 cold ones a side to have fun.
Played Hilton Head National Friday that course is in great shape would highly recommend that one.
Played Palmetto Hall on Thursday can't remember which 2 but they were listed in one of the posts above those courses are in great shape as well.
We are playing again in the morning but I cant remember where I will post that tomorrow. Hope this helps.

[DLiver]

[quote name='HMB91' date='17 April 2010 - 11:15 PM' timestamp='1271560524' post='2385760']
I will tell you not to play Hilton Head Country Club rates are high and course is in very bad shape the greens are worse than some of the goat ranch golf courses back in Texas. Not even worth playing even if they were just to charge you a trail fee. However the cold beer and good friends helps a little, you should need about 10 cold ones a side to have fun.
Played Hilton Head National Friday that course is in great shape would highly recommend that one.
Played Palmetto Hall on Thursday can't remember which 2 but they were listed in one of the posts above those courses are in great shape as well.
We are playing again in the morning but I cant remember where I will post that tomorrow. Hope this helps.
[/quote]


Agreed. CC of Hilton Head is a must miss. Avoid that place at all costs.

[suwdawg]

[quote name='DLiver' date='18 April 2010 - 06:29 AM' timestamp='1271590148' post='2385998']
[quote name='HMB91' date='17 April 2010 - 11:15 PM' timestamp='1271560524' post='2385760']
I will tell you not to play Hilton Head Country Club rates are high and course is in very bad shape the greens are worse than some of the goat ranch golf courses back in Texas. Not even worth playing even if they were just to charge you a trail fee. However the cold beer and good friends helps a little, you should need about 10 cold ones a side to have fun.
Played Hilton Head National Friday that course is in great shape would highly recommend that one.
Played Palmetto Hall on Thursday can't remember which 2 but they were listed in one of the posts above those courses are in great shape as well.
We are playing again in the morning but I cant remember where I will post that tomorrow. Hope this helps.
[/quote]


Agreed. CC of Hilton Head is a must miss. Avoid that place at all costs.


[/quote]

Agree as well don't know much about HH but was there a few years back and this place was the bomb in a bad way.

[atlanta golfer]

Well, I had a great experience with last minute tee times in HH the past two days. Played Robert Cupp at Palmetto Hall on Monday and Arthur Hills at Palmetto Hall on Tuesday. Both early morning tee times for $80 tax incl when the early morning rate this time of year at those places is $140+. Got a couple busy signals but not for long. The benefit, imho is that you can figure out what the family is doing the next day, check out the weather, and then call in and say you want early, late, etc. If playing late, the standard rates are already pretty good, but to play early, some type of discount is a must, at least for me.

btw Palmetto Hall is outstanding. Great conditions, great greens, well organized. The greens at Robert Cupp in particular are very cool, with dramatic "drop shelf" sections on about 4 of the greens - if you go over that edge, you are off the green and down the hill about 10 yards. The amount of bunkering on that course is also unbelieveable, some of those traps must be in the range of 1000 up to maybe 2000 square feet, and they are well maintained. Also, the short game practice area is the best I have seen with a couple of green / bunker complexes, different elevations, and plenty of room to hit up to about a 60 yard wedge.

Doing a walk on at Palmetto Dunes today - probably Arthur Hills which I have played several times before - Golfer's Guide has a half price walk on singles coupon. Also a two for one for a twosome.

[suwdawg]

Great to hear you had a good time and lmtt is a hit. Have to remember next time I am down there.