Staff WriterThe Wild Dunes Harbor Course is about to make one hell of a comeback. After a $9.5 million facelift that would make even Augusta’s greenskeepers raise an eyebrow, the Tom Fazio-designed layout on South Carolina’s Isle of Palms is set to reopen in late October, with a grand reopening event on November 13.
For more than 40 years, the Harbor Course has been the beating heart of the Wild Dunes Resort’s 36-hole offering. But time marches on—and so do modern driving distances. To keep pace, the resort called in the big guns: Fazio Design, Heritage Links Golf Course Construction, and its own agronomy team.
The result? All 18 greens have been rebuilt and expanded to add variety, improve playability, and keep golfers guessing right up to the last putt.
Bunkers have been reshaped and relocated to reflect today’s power game, while playing areas on several holes have been widened to encourage more aggressive lines and sharper strategy.
Every tee box has been rebuilt, levelled, and in some cases expanded, while the entire irrigation system has been replaced to keep the turf in pristine condition.
Even the holes skirting the intercoastal waterway have been raised by several feet to reduce flood risk, and the cart bridges have had a spruce-up too.
“We’re thrilled about the enhancements to the Harbor Course which have elevated the overall experience for our players,” says Director of Golf, Jeff Minton.
“When the Harbor Course reopens in late October, golfers can look forward to newly designed putting surfaces that will challenge their skills, smoother upgraded golf cart paths, and strategically placed bunkers thoughtfully integrated into the existing hole designs.
When you factor in the 2015 renovation of our Links Course (Tom Fazio’s first solo golf course design and, to this day, his only seaside design), Wild Dunes Resort is now a must-play 36-hole coastal golf destination.
This was the first property to bring top-tier resort golf to the Charleston area in 1980, now a whole new generation of golfers is about to fall in love with this captivating golf vacation experience.”
A New Chapter for a Lowcountry Classic
Tee times for the rejuvenated par-70 Wild Dunes Harbor Course resume on October 26, with the grand reopening festivities set for November 13. For the resort, owned by Lowe and Dart Interests, the renovation is more than cosmetic—it’s a signal of intent.
Wild Dunes is doubling down on its reputation as a premier coastal golf destination, blending Fazio’s architectural DNA with modern sustainability and playability.
“We cannot wait for golfers to experience the improved character of the Harbor Course with the expanded and redesigned putting surfaces and a golf course that fits the land beautifully while presenting a playable, approachable design that can test golfers of every skill level in fun and intriguing ways,” said Fazio Design Associate Bryan Bowers.
“Wild Dunes is meaningful because it represents the early era of Tom Fazio’s design career and stands the test of time with an enduring and quintessential Lowcountry golf experience.”
A Resort Raising the Bar
Recognised by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the top 10 resorts in the South, Wild Dunes Resort has poured more than $150 million into property improvements since 2021.
The debut of The Sweetgrass Inn brought a 153-room hotel, a 10,000-square-foot spa, 30,000 square feet of event space, a rooftop bar, and a sprawling pool deck to the property.
Earlier this year, the resort expanded its racquet sports facilities with two new tennis courts and six pickleball courts, meeting the surge in demand for both.
The renovation of the Wild Dunes Harbor Course ties all of this together—a nod to the past, a smart play for the future, and a reminder that great golf is timeless when it’s cared for properly.
For more information, visit www.wilddunesresort.com.
