I kicked off my trip to Hilton Head on Tuesday with a travel round in coastal Georgia. I have played a few courses in this area – King & Prince and Sanctuary Cove – and wanted to continue exploring the local golf scene. The courses in coastal Georgia seem to pack a lot of punch for the price.

I booked a noonish tee time at Sapelo Hammock Golf Club which is about 20 minutes from I-95. The course is in Shellman Bluff, which is a sleepy little town next to the rivers and marshes that border the Atlantic Ocean. I was in need of some sunscreen and the only place I could find was a dollar store, so it would be a good idea to bring everything you need!

I am always on the hunt for a hidden gem golf course and think it is safe to say that Sapelo Hammock fits that definition. Of course, hidden gem criteria can vary from one golfer to the next so your experience may vary. But, for the deal I found ($25), the layout, scenery, and conditioning cannot be beat.

Sapelo Hammock was designed by Rusty Simmons and opened in 1999. It appears Simmons only has two courses associated with his name, but this one felt like a design that could have been put together by a big-name architect. The holes are laid out through all the oak trees and around the marshes in a way that creates interest and excitement. The final two holes on each side are memorable.

The course isn’t long, 6,589 yards from the black tees, but it can be quite the test for those who don’t have their “A” game. The rating is 72.8 while the slope is 134. Trees guard many corners of holes that dogleg and the marsh holes require playing to targets. Plus, there is some visual trickery to the course. I never felt confident picking a good line and distance. There is also a lot of out of bounds, probably my least favorite thing about the course.

The holes near the tidal marsh areas are the signature holes and the main reason you’ll want to golf here. The 8th, 9th, 17th, and 18th holes play along/over the marsh. The 8th (216 yards) and 17th (186 yards) are long par-3’s with forced carries over the water. The 8th was into wind when I played and even though I thought I hit a good shot I still came up short, in the junk. The 17th is a fun par-3 with the green complex on a small island. It looks intimidating from the tee, but there is more space than it seems.

The 9th, a 542 yard par-5, is one of the course’s quirky holes with a long carry to the fairway and then an awkward layup. The fairway narrows with the marsh and oak trees pinching where you want to land the layup. The 18th is a reachable par-5 with another carry over the marsh.

The conditions were pretty good throughout the course. I think this area got a lot of rain from Hurricane Ian so that made it tough to catch the ball cleanly from the semi-dormant, damp bermuda. The ball sat up in the fairways and the rough was cut down. The greens were a medium pace and smooth. A few areas – some back tee boxes and edges of the greens – were sanded.

Overall, I thought Sapelo Hammock was a great course. I would like to see it more playable in spots, though. Still, it has that charming Lowcountry feel to it and some incredible holes – especially the 17th. If you are visiting the region’s premier courses, I’d mix in a round at Sapelo Hammock if your travel schedule allows.

Course Pictures (click any picture to scroll through the gallery):