Written by Palmetto Bluff
Jul 24, 2025
Golf has always been more than a game at Palmetto Bluff. It is a way of experiencing the land, connecting with nature, and building community through quiet competition and shared moments. With the arrival of the new Coore and Crenshaw course, that tradition is set to evolve in a bold and beautiful new direction.
Set to open in Winter 2025-2026, this new 18-hole course marks the next great chapter in Palmetto Bluff’s golf story. Legendary architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed the layout to offer a strikingly different experience from the existing Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. Rather than reshaping the land to fit the game, Coore and Crenshaw are shaping the game around the land. The result is a course that feels native to its surroundings, rich in nuance, challenge, and discovery.
Coore and Crenshaw are widely known for their minimalist approach, which favors natural landforms and organic routing over dramatic alterations and artificial flourishes. That philosophy is perfectly suited to the landscape of Palmetto Bluff. The new course will span approximately 500 acres, with only around 80 acres designated for fairways, greens, and bunkers. The rest of the land will remain undisturbed, preserving the property’s lush ecosystem and allowing players to move through the Lowcountry as it truly is.
This course is not built for spectators or showmanship. It’s built for those who see golf as a purposeful walk through nature. Every hole is designed to fit the land’s natural contours. Each bunker, mound, and green complex reflects the site’s existing features. That sense of subtlety will make the course feel timeless from the very beginning, as if it has always been there.
What makes this new course truly unique is the way it weaves through four distinct Lowcountry ecosystems. Players will begin in upland pine terrain, then move through maritime forest, winding past live oak groves, and finally reach expansive salt marshes framed by sabal palms. This variety gives each hole a different mood and rhythm, creating a course that feels alive and constantly in motion.
Coore and Crenshaw have made a point to highlight these natural transitions. Rather than drawing a hard line between play and wilderness, the design uses native grasses, sandy edges, and unmanicured buffers to blend golf into the landscape. It is a course that feels immersive and grounded, offering players more than just a round of golf. It is a chance to explore the soul of the Bluff, one shot at a time.
Learn More: Preserving Paradise: The Mission of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy
Although the course will present a thoughtful challenge to experienced players, it will remain approachable to golfers of all skill levels. Multiple tee boxes will allow for flexible distances, and the routing encourages clever, strategic play over brute force. The team expects the green to be slightly smaller than average, with natural slopes and subtle undulations that reward accuracy and imagination.
Coore and Crenshaw will keep bunkering minimal but intentional.. Instead of scattering sand across the property, they are focusing on strategic placement. The hazards are designed to make players think carefully about their approach without overwhelming the course’s flow or beauty. The result is a layout that feels fair but never simple, encouraging repeat play and rewarding those who learn its secrets over time.
The new course will be located within the future Anson Village, a thoughtfully planned expansion of the Palmetto Bluff community. Anchored by this world-class golf experience, the village will offer new amenities, neighborhoods, gathering spaces, and opportunities to connect with fellow Members and guests.
Plans include a dedicated practice facility with over three acres of short-game areas, a clubhouse designed for both relaxation and socializing, and spaces that encourage post-round storytelling just as much as pre-round focus. Like every aspect of life at Palmetto Bluff, this course is not just about what you do but how it makes you feel. It is a setting for camaraderie, celebration, and reflection.
Many who have played May River, Palmetto Bluff’s beloved Nicklaus Signature golf course, will find the Coore & Crenshaw layout to be a thoughtful counterpart. Where May River offers bold visuals and elevated shotmaking, this new course leans into subtlety, texture, and the quiet power of restraint. Together, they offer two distinct yet complementary perspectives on what golf in the Lowcountry can be.
This new course is not about spectacle. It’s about returning to the game’s roots. It invites players to slow down, to notice the way sunlight hits the marsh, or how a breeze carries across a live oak canopy. It challenges you to hit great shots while simultaneously appreciating where you are.
Opening in Winter 2025-2026, the Coore & Crenshaw course will soon join a growing collection of world-class amenities available exclusively to Palmetto Bluff Golf Club Members. Membership is reserved for those who purchase a qualifying home or homesite, offering access to a lifestyle where golf is only the beginning.
Thoughtfully designed to honor the land and elevate the game, this new course invites Members to experience golf in its purest form while embracing a community that celebrates connection, adventure, and timeless Lowcountry living. To begin your journey, explore our available homes by clicking the button below.
