Introduction to Charleston’s Golf Lifestyle
Charleston, SC, stays sunny and warm enough that you can keep the sticks in the trunk year-round.
Salt-tinged breezes, live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and fairways framed by tidal marshes give every swing a Lowcountry vibe you won’t find anywhere else in South Carolina.
Toss in the area’s knack for hospitality, and it’s easy to see why golfers hunting for homes for sale in Charleston start with neighborhoods wrapped around a great layout.
Why Charleston is a Premier Golf Destination
The Charleston area offers more than two dozen courses designed by the likes of Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, Arnold Palmer, and Mike Strantz.
Golf Digest and Golf Magazine routinely slot several Charleston-area golf tracks onto their best golf lists, led by the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, host to major golf championships and rated among the top Charleston golf experiences in the country. Because many of these layouts sit inside gated communities, you get privacy, security, and a quick cart ride from back porch to first tee.
Whether you crave a private golf club with two championship golf courses or a relaxed semi-private track minutes from downtown Charleston, you’ll find a community near Charleston built around the game.
Top Golf Communities in Charleston
Kiawah Island Golf Resort Community
Golf Courses
Five public and two private tracks anchor the Kiawah Island golf experience.
The Ocean Course grabs headlines after the 2021 PGA Championship, while the Kiawah Island Club’s Beresford Creek Course and Cassique Course offer members-only play on impeccably groomed fairways.
The Ocean Course stretches to almost 7,900 yards from the back tees, earning a reputation as one of the toughest tests in major-championship golf.
Community Amenities
Residents split weekends between world-class golf, ten miles of Atlantic beach, a brand-new sports pavilion, marina slips on the Kiawah River, and an Island Club that curates wine dinners and outdoor concerts.
Sunset walks on the Bass Pond boardwalk or paddle-boarding through the winding creeks add a little off-course magic to the mix.
Real Estate Snapshot
Luxury homes and golf course real estate start around $800,000 for a villa and top $20 million for oceanfront estates. Homes qualify as true golf course homes for sale if they front any fairway or lagoon.
Listing windows are short, as well-priced cottages often draw multiple offers within a week.
What Makes it Special
Nowhere else in SC golf communities combines major-championship golf, a private gated community, and an unspoiled Atlantic shoreline just forty minutes from historic Charleston.
Frequent dolphin sightings along Captain Sam’s Inlet remind homeowners that world-class nature watching comes bundled with the tee times.
Seabrook Island Golf Community
Golf Courses
Seabrook Island Club gives members two championship tracks: Willard Byrd’s Ocean Winds and Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s Crooked Oaks.
Both wind through palmetto groves and marsh creeks, and each has a set of combo tees so you can dial in the perfect yardage for casual rounds.
Community Amenities
An equestrian center, deep-water marina, and oceanfront Beach Club pool complex pile on extra amenity options beyond the fairways.
The kayak launch at Bohicket Creek turns slow afternoons into dolphin-spotting expeditions.
Real Estate Snapshot
Villas begin near $400,000, with luxury homes cresting $3 million.
The POA sets reasonable annual dues that cover gated security and resort-style maintenance. Newer cottages near the golf practice area remain the quickest movers each spring.
What Makes it Special
It’s the only Charleston, SC golf community where you can ride your horse on the beach in the morning and chase birdies on two championship courses after lunch, all while a gentle ocean breeze keeps temperatures a few degrees cooler than the mainland.
Daniel Island Club
Golf Courses
Members alternate between Tom Fazio’s Beresford Creek Course and Rees Jones’s Ralston Creek Course, both ranked among the top Charleston-area golf layouts.
A compressed walking loop lets juniors play three-hole “quick loops” on summer evenings.
Community Amenities
Daniel Island Club offers boating on the Wando River, a family swim complex, clay-court tennis, and a new fitness center. Village restaurants, miles of trails, and year-round concert series give residents plenty to do after the last putt drops.
Real Estate Snapshot
Golf course homes start in the $700,000 range and climb past $5 million for waterfront estates. A steady pipeline of newly built cottages near the park system gives buyers turn-key options without waiting on construction.
What Makes it Special
It sits just twenty minutes from downtown Charleston, so you can finish eighteen holes and still make dinner reservations on East Bay.
Toss in top-rated schools and thriving youth sports programs, and the island feels more like a small town than a master-planned development.
Wild Dunes Resort
Golf Courses
Tom Fazio’s Links Course flanks the Atlantic while his Harbor Course twists around the Intracoastal Waterway, giving Isle of Palms golfers variety in both routing and wind direction.
Locals swear the par-three 14th on the Links Course is the most photogenic tee shot in the Lowcountry.
Community Amenities
Beachfront pools, the new Sweetgrass Inn spa, and pickleball courts back up the golf offerings inside this private gated community.
Resort staff keep an active calendar of oyster roasts, movie nights, and weekly shag dancing lessons.
Real Estate Snapshot
Condos list from $600,000, and single-family homes overlooking the links course hover between $1 million and $3 million.
Short-term rental demand stays strong, cushioning carrying costs for second-home owners.
What Makes it Special
You can play true links golf with sea views and still head to Sullivan’s Island for tacos five minutes later. A new boardwalk extension means you’re never more than a short flip-flop stroll from the beach.
Dunes West Golf and River Club
Golf Courses
Arthur Hills carved an eighteen-hole championship layout around former rice fields and the Wando River. Risk-reward short par-fours tempt better players while generous fairways keep the weekend crowd smiling.
Community Amenities
A deep-water boat launch, water-park-style pool, and miles of walking trails keep residents outside even when they’re not chasing pars.
Seasonal food-truck nights draw neighbors from every cul-de-sac.
Real Estate Snapshot
Homes for sale range from $500,000 patio homes to $2 million riverfront estates. Annual social-club dues remain modest compared with comparable Charleston, SC, golf communities.
What Makes it Special
The gatehouse, river pier, and proximity to Charleston National create a Mount Pleasant hub where golfers can mix up their routine without ever leaving the zip code.
Bulls Bay Golf Club
Golf Courses
Mike Strantz sculpted this private track into natural sand ridges with sweeping marsh views. The routing encourages walkers, and caddies still shoulder bags on weekend mornings for that classic club feel.
Community Amenities
A Lowcountry-style lodge serves regional fare, and members share a cozy marina on Bulls Bay.
Quail hunts and fishing derbies pop onto the social calendar every fall.
Real Estate Snapshot
Homesites begin near $900,000 with custom builds beyond $4 million.
Larger lots mean you can tuck a guest cottage or art studio behind the live-oak canopy.
What Makes it Special
Only thirty minutes from North Charleston, yet it feels worlds away, no highway noise, no streetlights, just a starlit sky and the distant call of egrets settling in for the night.
Rivertowne Country Club
Golf Courses
An Arnold Palmer design rolls along Horlbeck Creek and earns regular nods in top Charleston golf lists for its riverside par-threes.
The finishing hole sails over marsh grass to a peninsula green that photographs like a postcard.
Community Amenities
Residents tap neighborhood pools, tennis, and flexible membership tiers. A trail network links Rivertowne to nearby shops so you can bike for coffee instead of driving.
Real Estate Snapshot
Single-family homes start around $450,000 and rise to $1.2 million for creek-front lots.
Inventory often turns over in spring as northern retirees arrive with cash in hand.
What Makes it Special
Palmer flair plus quick access to Mount Pleasant shopping makes this one of the most convenient golf course communities for commuters headed into the city.
Legend Oaks Golf Club
Golf Courses
This semi-private course weaves through centuries-old live oaks in Summerville and still clocks in at an easy four-hour pace on busy Saturdays.
Greens drain well, so it stays playable even after a summer thundershower.
Community Amenities
Homeowners enjoy a swim complex, holiday parades, and low-pressure men’s and ladies’ leagues that welcome beginners. Morning yoga on the clubhouse porch has become a mid-week staple.
Real Estate Snapshot
Homes run $350,000 to $750,000, cheaper than many Charleston golf communities, and taxes remain moderate because you’re in Dorchester County.
Resale values have ticked up thanks to new schools nearby.
What Makes it Special
Budget-friendly dues without sacrificing the Lowcountry charm—think sweet-tea socials, Spanish moss, and neighbors who wave as they pass in their golf carts.
Coosaw Creek Country Club
Golf Courses
Arthur Hills’s tight par-71 rewards accuracy more than brute distance, and the closing stretch around the creek tests nerves when afternoon winds pick up. Members rave about quick-rolling MiniVerde greens.
Community Amenities
The clubhouse anchors dining, pool, and junior-golf programs while gated security keeps streets safe for evening jogs. Community chili cook-offs draw big crowds each winter.
Real Estate Snapshot
Listings hover between $350,000 and $700,000, a value play for private golf close to Boeing and Joint Base Charleston.
Many homes include FROGs, finished rooms over garages, that convert easily into home offices.
What Makes it Special
A true private gated community where military families and professionals blend on the tee sheet, sharing stories of deployments and corporate launches alike.
Stono Ferry Golf Community
Golf Courses
Ron Garl’s layout rides the old Stono River bluffs, mixing Civil War earthworks with modern risk-reward holes.
On still mornings, you’ll catch mist rising off the marsh like a scene from a painting.
Community Amenities
An on-site equestrian venue hosts the annual Steeplechase of Charleston, turning front lawns into tailgate zones for a day.
The neighborhood garden club keeps common areas bursting with azaleas each spring.
Real Estate Snapshot
Homes usually sit between $400,000 and $900,000, with golf course frontage commanding premiums.
New cottage sections are underway, promising fresh inventory over the next eighteen months.
What Makes it Special
It feels rural yet sits only thirty minutes from downtown, blending Lowcountry history, horse culture, and modern fairways into one laid-back package.
Comparing Top Golf Communities
| Community | Builder / Developer | Price Range | Golf Course Rating* | Unique Amenities |
| Kiawah Island | Kiawah Partners | $800,000 – $20M | 5 stars | Ocean Course, 10 mi beach, Island Club spa |
| Seabrook Island | Seabrook Island POA | $400,000 – $3M | 4 stars | Two championship golf, equestrian center |
| Daniel Island Club | The Daniel Island Company | $700,000 – $5M | 4.5 stars | Two championship golf courses, Wando marina |
| Wild Dunes Resort | Lowe Destination Real Estate | $600,000 – $3M | 4 stars | Links Course, Harbor Course, beachfront resort |
| Dunes West | John Wieland / PulteGroup | $500,000 – $2M | 4 stars | River dock, gated golf, waterpark pool |
| Bulls Bay | Bulls Bay Development | $900,000 – $4M | 4.5 stars | Mike Strantz design, hunting-lodge clubhouse |
| Rivertowne | Crescent Communities | $450,000 – $1.2M | 4 stars | Arnold Palmer-designed course, creekfront lots |
| Legend Oaks | Various Custom Builders | $350,000 – $750,000 | 3.5 stars | Live-oak setting, low fees |
| Coosaw Creek | Greenwood Development | $350,000 – $700,000 | 3.5 stars | Gated security, Arthur Hills course |
| Stono Ferry | IMI Charleston | $400,000 – $900,000 | 3.5 stars | Intracoastal views, annual steeplechase |
*Ratings reflect composite reviews from Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and local player surveys as of mid-2025.
Real Estate Market for Golf Communities
Average Home Price
Charleston County’s median sold price hovered around $642,920 in July 2025.
Step into the golf neighborhoods, and sticker shock sets in. Daniel Island posted a roughly $1.5 million median, while Kiawah Island climbed to about $1.9 million after a 21 percent annual jump.
Even the “value” communities such as Legend Oaks or Coosaw Creek usually start above $500,000, so plan on paying at least one-and-a-half times the county norm for a fairway address.
Other Community Fees
Purchase price is just the opening bid on most golf communities.
For example, Daniel Island Club offers full golf, sports, and social tiers, each backed by a partially refundable initiation deposit and yearly dues.
Kiawah Island Club’s initiation runs about $135,000, with monthly charges layered on.
Semi-private spots like Legend Oaks trim join costs to under $15,000, yet trail or cart fees still stack up.
Add HOA or POA assessments ranging from two to twenty-plus thousand dollars annually, depending on extras like marinas or beach clubs.
Market Trends
Low inventory and remote-work demand kept pressure on prices through early 2025.
Countywide values rose 6.5 percent year over year, but headline clubs such as Kiawah easily outpaced that figure.
Analysts expect another four-to-six percent gain over the next twelve months, barring a sharp rate hike, with oceanfront and deep-water lots continuing to draw the highest premiums.
How to Choose the Right Golf Community for You
Factors to Consider When Buying
Start with a location in Mount Pleasant, on an island, or near Charleston proper.
Map commute times, school districts, and proximity to Charleston National Golf or other public tracks you enjoy. Decide if you want private golf access or a pay-as-you-play setup. Review course style too: do you savor links course wind at Isle of Palms or tree-lined parkland like Legend Oaks.
Finally, weigh whether you prefer a full country club social calendar or a quieter gated golf setting.
Tips for Scheduling Tours and Visits
Visit during member shotgun events to gauge the pace of play. Ask to ride every hole so you understand sightlines, turf conditions, and any 18-hole championship golf course designed quirks.
Chat with residents at the bar about dues increases. Schedule at least two showings: one in the afternoon sea breeze, and one at low tide to see how marsh scents travel. That hands-on recon helps you find the perfect community before writing an offer.
Ready to tee up coastal life? From Arnold Palmer-designed course views to private gated tranquility, Charleston, SC golf communities deliver world-class golf and Southern charm in one tidy package.
FAQ’s About Charleston Golf Communities
Is membership mandatory in Charleston golf communities?
It depends. Places like Daniel Island Club and Kiawah Island Club require an equity or non-equity membership tied to property, while semi-private spots such as Legend Oaks allow homeowners to live on the course without joining the club.
How far are these communities from downtown Charleston?
Most sit within 20 to 45 minutes of downtown, depending on bridge traffic. Daniel Island is roughly 20 minutes from downtown Charleston, whereas Kiawah Island or Seabrook Island take closer to an hour during summer weekends.
Do gated communities near Charleston allow short-term rentals?
Rules vary. Kiawah Island and Wild Dunes maintain resort rental programs, but private golf enclaves like Bulls Bay Golf Club and Coosaw Creek Country Club prohibit rentals shorter than 30 days to preserve neighborhood character.
What are typical climate considerations for golf course homes in the South Carolina Lowcountry?
Expect humid summers, mild winters, and occasional tropical systems. Most newer golf course communities use elevated construction and impact glass to handle storms, but you should budget for higher insurance on waterfront lots.
Can I own a boat and still live in a golf community?
Absolutely. Communities in Charleston SC such as Dunes West, Daniel Island, and Seabrook Island pair deep-water docks with premier golf so residents can play in the morning and cruise at sunset.
