Sea Pines — Where Hilton Head Began
The original planned community on Hilton Head Island, spanning 5,200 acres at the island's southern tip — world-class golf, five miles of private beach, iconic Harbour Town, and a way of life people fall in love with and never want to leave.
"No lie, there is no better place if you enjoy the outdoors: miles of coastline and bike paths, the best golf courses and beaches on the island — fishing, kayaking, paddle board, wave riding, nature walks, historic ruins, tennis, pickleball, swimming, boating, horseback riding."
— Verified VRBO Guest, Sea PinesAbout Sea Pines
Sea Pines was founded in 1956 by visionary developer Charles Fraser, who pioneered the concept of building a resort community in harmony with its natural surroundings. No building rises above the tallest trees, and over 1,300 acres are permanently dedicated to parks, forests, and natural preserves. Fraser has been called the inventor of the modern American resort — Sea Pines remains the standard by which all others are measured.
The community's approximately 3,800 single-family homes and 2,000 villas span 40 distinct neighborhoods, from oceanfront estates to golf-view villas. Sea Pines is predominantly a second-home and vacation rental community with a small full-time resident population — the lifestyle centers on the outdoors, the water, and a pace of life that feels removed from the everyday.
Sea Pines is gated with two entries — Greenwood Drive (main gate) and South Beach. Property owners receive owner ID cards for unrestricted access. Day visitors pay a $9 gate fee.
Golf
Sea Pines is one of the most celebrated golf destinations in the country with four courses on-site. Three are open to the public; one is a private invitation-only club.
Harbour Town Golf Links
Designed by Pete Dye with input from Jack Nicklaus. Home of the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing since 1969 — South Carolina's only PGA Tour event. Open to the public 48 weeks per year. Cart-path only; forecaddies included.
Heron Point by Pete Dye
Scenic modern layout with wide fairways and dramatic water features. Also designed by Pete Dye. Ranked among Golfweek's Top 200 Resort Courses in the U.S. Shares the Plantation Golf Club clubhouse with Atlantic Dunes.
Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III
2016 redesign by Davis Love III featuring rolling dunes and ocean views. A more forgiving complement to the precision demands of Harbour Town. Open to the public.
Sea Pines Country Club Course
Original Arnold Palmer design updated by Clyde Johnston in 2001. Water on 16 of 18 holes. Membership by invitation — a private lifestyle club with recently reimagined dining, pool, and fitness facilities.
Property owners may purchase annual sports packages from The Sea Pines Resort for preferred tee times, multi-round packages, 15% dining discounts, and 15% retail discounts at the pro shops.
Tennis & Pickleball
The Sea Pines Racquet Club is one of the finest tennis facilities in the Southeast, directed for years by former U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion Stan Smith. Features 23 Har-Tru clay courts, an 1,800-seat stadium court, a full pro shop, and a year-round schedule of clinics, round robins, and mixers led by USPTA-certified instructors. Pickleball courts available with reduced rates for owners holding sports packages. Tennis membership is open to Sea Pines property owners.
Beach Access
Sea Pines has two distinct beach access points — an important distinction for buyers to understand.
Sea Pines Beach Club
Available to property owners AND guests staying in resort or rental accommodations within Sea Pines. Beach chairs, umbrellas, showers, and restrooms on-site. Parking is limited and managed seasonally — priority to property owners, overnight rental guests, Harbour Town Yacht Club members, and Sea Pines Resort guests. A seasonal Beach Shuttle (late March through early September, 9am–5pm) serves resort and weekly rental guests.
Tower Beach Club
Exclusively reserved for Sea Pines property owners — not available to resort guests or vacation renters. A guard on-site requires a property owner ID card for entry. This is the quieter, more private option and one of the benefits owners value most about owning versus renting in Sea Pines.
Water Activities
- Parasailing over Calibogue Sound
- Kayak and paddleboard rentals
- Fishing charters from South Beach Marina
- Jet ski and boat rentals
- Dolphin watching tours
- Sailing charters
- Crabbing and surf fishing
- Guided eco-tours and kayak excursions
Harbour Town & South Beach
Harbour Town
The social heart of Sea Pines — a waterfront town center surrounding the iconic red-and-white Harbour Town Lighthouse. Over 20 boutique shops, waterfront restaurants, a full-service yacht basin, boat charters, live entertainment, and the famous 18th green of Harbour Town Golf Links. Climb the lighthouse for panoramic views of Calibogue Sound and Daufuskie Island.
South Beach Marina Village
Lively waterfront village with a casual Lowcountry character. Home to the legendary Salty Dog Cafe — an island institution since 1987 — plus boutique shops, waterfront dining, watersport rentals, and fishing charters. Accessible by bike path or Sea Pines Trolley (Green Route).
Sea Pines Trolley
A free, seasonal trolley service runs from late spring through early fall and select holiday weekends. Three color-coded routes cover the major destinations. All three routes share a stop at The Shops at Sea Pines Center.
Greenwood Gate → Harbour Town
Stops at Lawton Stables and Sea Pines Center. Every ~20 min, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Harbour Town → South Beach Marina Village
Stops at Sea Pines Center. Every 20–30 min, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
Harbour Town → Sea Pines Beach Club
Stops at Racquet Club Villas, Heritage Pad, Sea Pines Center, Plantation Club Villas, Plantation Golf Club. Every 30 min, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
Nature, Trails & Outdoor Life
Over 1,300 of Sea Pines' 5,200 acres are permanently protected open space. Note that electric bikes (e-bikes and pedal-assist bikes) are not permitted on Sea Pines leisure trails.
- 605-acre Forest Preserve — 8 miles of walking trails
- 17-mile paved leisure path network
- Lawton Stables — horseback riding, pony rides & petting zoo
- Stoney-Baynard Ruins — National Register of Historic Places
- ~350 bird species in the Forest Preserve
- Alligators, deer, herons, osprey and more throughout
- Guided eco-tours, stargazing, hay rides & beach walks
- Freshwater fishing ponds and lagoons throughout
Deer on Deer Island near Harbour Town are famously approachable — visitors regularly feed them by hand. One of those Sea Pines moments that never gets old.
Clubs & Memberships
Sea Pines Country Club
The island's premier private lifestyle club. Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, recently reimagined multimillion-dollar clubhouse, dining 6 days a week, pool, fitness, tennis, and active social calendar. Resident and non-resident membership options. Contact the club directly for membership inquiry.
Sea Pines Racquet Club Membership
Tennis membership open to Sea Pines property owners. Provides complimentary court access, advanced booking, and reduced rates for lessons and clinics on 23 Har-Tru clay courts directed by Grand Slam champion Stan Smith.
Harbour Town Yacht Club
Membership provides access privileges at the Sea Pines Beach Club plus marina-related benefits. The Harbour Town Yacht Basin accommodates vessels up to 115 feet and is the social center of Sea Pines' boating community.
Sea Pines Resort Owner Sports Packages
Annual packages for property owners — multi-round golf on Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes, preferred tee times, 15% dining discounts at resort restaurants, 15% retail discounts at pro shops. Multiple tiers available.
What Visitors Say About Sea Pines
Many Sea Pines buyers started as repeat vacation renters. What visitors say speaks directly to why so many eventually make it their own.
"We consider it the best location on the island for its gorgeous landscape, beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and seemingly endless paved bike paths. Though you can go elsewhere, it's also possible to stay within the community, avoid the outside traffic, and have a wonderful time."
— TripAdvisor Guest Review"Waking up to see dolphins every morning was a bonus! Quiet and private but convenient to all of our favorite places."
— VRBO Guest, South Beach Area"The beaches are far less crowded than other areas of the island. The screened porch allows you to enjoy breakfast and happy hour free from mosquitoes and close enough to hear the waves!"
— Airbnb Guest, Sea Pines"We have been visiting HHI for over 40 years. The location is perfect for our family — after 40 years we are still discovering new things about Sea Pines."
— VRBO Guest, Lands EndDining & Shopping
Sea Pines is a fully self-contained destination. Harbour Town offers upscale waterfront dining, fresh seafood, and boutique shopping around the yacht basin. South Beach Marina Village provides casual waterfront dining, the iconic Salty Dog Cafe, and local boutiques. The Sea Pines Center, centrally located in the community, is the year-round everyday hub for residents — dining, shopping, and services all in one walkable village. The trolley serves all three centers.
Ownership Overview
The most common questions we hear from buyers considering Sea Pines. Individual condo and villa complexes carry their own separate regime fees in addition to the community-wide POA fee below.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual POA Fee | ~$1,957/year for improved properties · ~$1,169/year for vacant homesites. Covers roadways, guard gate, community leisure paths, common pools, lagoons, and landscaping. |
| South Beach Additional POA | Some South Beach area properties carry an additional $20/year fee for the Sea Pines South Beach Owners Association. |
| Hilton Head Island Transfer Fee | 0.25% of the purchase price at closing — funds the island's land conservation and parks reserve program. No transfer fee payable to the Sea Pines POA at closing. |
| Gate Access | Two gated entries — Greenwood Drive (main) and South Beach. Property owners receive owner ID cards. Day visitors pay a $9 gate fee. |
| Short-Term Rentals | Sea Pines broadly permits STRs with one of the island's strongest rental markets. Some individual condo complexes and neighborhoods have their own restrictions — always verify per-property before purchasing for rental investment. Owners must register annually with Sea Pines CSA (fee per bedroom) and obtain a Town of Hilton Head STR permit ($150/bedroom/year as of 2026) plus a business license. |
| STR — Know Before You Buy | There is no single reliable public map showing STR restrictions at the complex or neighborhood level within Sea Pines. Restrictions vary property by property. Before purchasing with rental income as a goal, contact us — we can tell you exactly what is and is not permitted for the specific property you are considering. |
| Full-Time vs. Second Home | Sea Pines has a very small full-time resident population. The vast majority of owners are second homeowners or investment property owners, creating an active, social, outdoor-oriented community atmosphere. Many owners use their property part of the year and rent it the remainder. |
| Owner Sports Packages | Annual packages from The Sea Pines Resort — golf access, tennis membership, 15% dining discounts, 15% merchandise discounts. Multiple tiers available. |
Fee information is a general guide and subject to change. Always verify current fees with the community association and individual complex management prior to closing.
We Know Sea Pines
Deb and I have worked Sea Pines for years and know every neighborhood, complex, and street. Whether you are exploring your first purchase or adding to your portfolio, we are here to help you find the right property and understand everything that comes with it.
Southern Coast Realty · Beaufort & Hilton Head Island, SC · southerncoastrealty.com