Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort: Coastal Golf and Relaxing Escapes

Choosing what to do after your final putt at Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort presents delightful options: a seafood dinner with marsh views, or trading golf shoes for sandals on an oceanfront lounge chair. Perhaps a sunset cruise along the Lowcountry coast? Fripp Island offers a compelling vacation for golfers seeking continued enjoyment beyond the scorecard.

Located on a private, gated barrier island in South Carolina, between Charleston and Hilton Head Island, and near historic Beaufort, Fripp Island combines two 18-hole golf courses with beaches, abundant wildlife, and a slower pace of life. The resort's luxury emphasizes space for reconnection, with vacation homes, villas, golf carts as a daily necessity, and over three miles of beach. This is a place of "hushpitality"—offering privacy, natural immersion, and unhurried time.

Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort Offers Two Distinct Golf Experiences

A memorable golf trip requires variety, and Fripp delivers with two contrasting coastal golf designs.

Ocean Point Golf Links integrates the Atlantic into its play. Originally designed by George Cobb, this par-72 course sits at the island's north end, where ocean and inlet vistas meet the challenge of sea winds. Five tee sets, including Wee-Links tees, cater to various skill levels. A significant renovation by Dye Designs Group, completed in October 2024, provides a fresh draw for returning visitors. The project reshaped and rebuilt 53 bunkers, added 5.5 acres of waste areas, and incorporated over 13,000 native plants. Limestone cart paths and natural dunes enhance the seaside atmosphere. Strategically framed by this coastal landscape, golfers face appealing choices.

Ocean Point's renovation is part of a larger investment in Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort. Following Seascape Hospitality Group's acquisition in early 2023, an initial $7 million renovation included a $2 million allocation for the course. The work reopened ocean views and restored sightlines, drawing inspiration from the island's wind-swept dunes and native grasses. For golfers, these enhancements make the coastal setting an even more integral part of their round.

Ocean Creek offers a different ambiance. Designed by Davis Love III and Paul Cowley and opened in 1995, this par-71 course winds through salt marshes, freshwater lagoons, and rolling dune ridges. While broad fairways and large greens appear inviting, wetlands demand accuracy. Holes six and seven overlook Old House Creek and the surrounding marsh, with five holes bordering marshland and six incorporating interior wetlands across the course.

Playing both courses creates a satisfying rhythm: ocean exposure one day, marshland strategy the next. Ample practice facilities are also available. Ocean Creek features a driving range, putting green, and practice bunker, while Ocean Point provides an irons-only range and putting green. Families can enjoy the Kids Play Free program, allowing children 12 and under to play free after 3 p.m. with a paying adult.

Dining with Lowcountry Views

The best post-round dining spot invites leisurely stays.

Bonito Boathouse at the marina offers casual dining with marsh views and sunsets. Fried shrimp, loaded island nachos, and a double smash burger satisfy appetites honed by golf or a day on the water. It's suitable for family meals or quiet dinners for two, with the Lowcountry scenery encouraging lingering.

OP Bar & Grille serves golfers throughout the day and offers dinner on select evenings. For poolside relaxation, Cabana Club Grille and Willie’s Wet Bar provide easy access to lunch and refreshing drinks. Island Bites, the Marina Deli, and Springtide Market, Liquor & Deli offer quick snacks and provisions.

Casual outdoor dining is also available. The High Tide Pizza Truck, Surfside Sizzle Burger Truck, and Fripp Dipper Ice Cream Truck serve popular vacation treats, simplifying meals for families. Share pizza, discuss the day's golf over burgers, and finish with ice cream.

Beyond the Fairways: Beaches, Marshes, and a Sunset Cruise

Fripp's natural beauty warrants as much attention as its golf.

Conserve some energy after the eighteenth hole. Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort's 3½ miles of Atlantic coastline are perfect for long beach walks, relaxed afternoons, and refreshing swims. For those with a competitive spirit, 12 pickleball courts and six tennis courts offer further opportunities for friendly matches.

The surrounding waterways reveal another facet of island life. Kayaking and paddleboarding through tidal creeks and salt marshes provide an intimate perspective of the Lowcountry, from the sway of marsh grass to coastal birds. Guided paddling excursions explore these habitats, while boat rentals and fishing charters extend adventures beyond the shoreline.

To fully appreciate Fripp Island's scenery, the Big Fripper Sunset Cruise is a must. From the water, the island presents broad coastal views, marsh-lined shores, and an evening sky that captivates. As the sun sets, the landscape that framed your golf day becomes the main attraction. Dolphins may appear, adding a moment of spontaneous delight.

This outing is ideal for bringing everyone together. After days of golf, swimming, and exploration, the cruise unites generations for a shared experience of the island at its most atmospheric. Pause the conversation, feel the breeze, and watch the light change across the water. Years later, this scene might be what draws you back to Fripp, long after individual golf shots fade from memory.

Further exploration awaits on horseback at Camelot Farms Equestrian Center on nearby Saint Helena Island. Their Coastline Ride traverses the shores of Saint Helena Sound, offering a unique view of the Lowcountry. Pony rides and lessons introduce younger visitors and aspiring riders to equestrian adventure. Between the beach, marsh, and saddle, a day away from golf can become a trip highlight.

Come for the Golf. Find Your Fripp.

Two distinct courses make Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort a worthwhile destination. The experiences between rounds—paddling through marshes, relaxing on the beach, and enjoying a sunset cruise that brings people together—make it worth staying longer.

Whether for a golf trip with friends or a multi-generational vacation, Fripp accommodates everyone's ideal day. Play a birdie in the morning, embrace the island's slower pace in the afternoon, and share stories over dinner. Just ensure there's time for one more round—and one more sunset.