FEATURE STORY

Renting golf clubs no problem on Hilton Head Island

By William K. Wolfrum,
Staff Writer

As one of the nation's great golf destinations, Hilton Head Island welcomes a nearly endless stream of golfers heading to play some of the most beautiful and interesting layouts in the United States.

And most, it seems, bring their own golf clubs along.

"We do an incredible amount of golf packages and it's amazing how rarely this comes up," said Kip Powers of Hilton Head Golf Travel when about club rental.

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Of course, Powers then started ticking off places where a visitor can go to rent golf clubs.

Such is the beauty of prominent golf destinations like Hilton Head. Even if the problem is rare, someone has a solution. Maybe it was an impulse trip and you packed light. Or maybe the airline sent your sticks to South America instead of South Carolina.

One way or another, some golfers do end up in this dream destination sans their clubs. But there's always a way to rectify that dilemma.

First off, nearly every golf course you'll find in and around Hilton Head will have clubs for rent.

At Golden Bear Golf Club, you can get a brand-new set of King Cobras for $40 a round; if you're a single-digit handicapper, they'll rent you their new set of Titleist clubs. The Country Club at Hilton Head also has Cobra and Titlist clubs for rent for $35.

"We're in the process of replacing a whole lot of our rental clubs," the Country Club's Joan Delozia said. "On an average we rent clubs maybe two or three times a week. A lot of times it's people that are on vacation and figure they should give a round of golf a try."

Crescent Pointe Golf Club in nearby Bluffton, the sole public Arnold Palmer Signature course in the area, also has one of the better club deals, $30 a round for Cobras.

Of course, if you rent at a course, you get the clubs for one round and they stay on the premises. A more long-lasting and cost-efficient option is renting from a sporting-goods or golf-equipment store.

Golf Headquarters rents out its generic clubs for $20 for the first day and $10 for each day after.

Hilton Head tee times: (866) 870-4653 Click here for Hilton Head golf packages.

"Our customers are always pleased with them," said Hilton Head Golf Travel's Powers.

Golf Outfitters on William Hilton Parkway in Hilton Head has a wide variety of clubs of used, new and demo clubs available for rent for $25 a day or $100 a week, salesman Chris Smith said.

Some golfers would rather rent clubs than risk traveling with their own, Smith notes.

"A lot of times we'll get people who don't want to bring their clubs on vacation," he said, "whether it's because they're afraid of the airlines losing their clubs or they just couldn't fit their clubs in with their other stuff."

April 9, 2007

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.