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Long Cove Club
Architect: Pete Dye & Alice Dye (1982) / Bobby Weed (2018) Year: 1982 399 Long Cove Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 Phone: (843) 686-1070 Course Access: Private https://longcoveclub.com/ |
Long Cove Club
Long Cove Club, nestled on the southern end of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is a private residential golf community renowned for its Pete Dye-designed championship course and its embodiment of Lowcountry elegance. Spanning just over 600 acres, this gated enclave has a rich history tied to the vision of its founders, the evolution of its golf course, and its development into one of the Southeast’s premier residential clubs. Below is a detailed historical report tracing its origins, growth, and significance.
Origins and Founding (1970s–1980)
Long Cove Club’s story begins in the 1970s, a time when Hilton Head Island was transitioning from a sleepy Lowcountry outpost to a burgeoning resort destination, largely due to the success of Charles Fraser’s Sea Pines Plantation. Three young developers—David Ames, Joseph Webster III, and Weston “Wes” Wilhelm—cut their teeth working for the Sea Pines Company, honing their skills in real estate and community planning. In 1976, they struck out on their own, forming Development Associates Inc. with a mission to create a new kind of community: a private, single-family residential retreat free from the tourist bustle that defined much of the island.
The trio identified a 630-acre parcel along Broad Creek, a tidal waterway between Wexford and Shelter Cove, as the ideal site. Unlike other Hilton Head developments with public-access golf or resort amenities, their vision for Long Cove was exclusivity and intimacy—a haven for permanent residents and second-home owners. The project broke ground in the late 1970s, with the first home lots going on sale August 11, 1980. The community welcomed its initial 100 members soon after, setting the stage for a tight-knit, member-owned club.
The Golf Course: Pete Dye’s Masterpiece (1981–1982)
The crown jewel of Long Cove Club is its 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Pete Dye, one of the most influential architects of modern golf. Dye was initially approached in the mid-1970s but declined to focus on TPC Sawgrass (opened 1980). After completing that landmark project, he accepted the Long Cove commission in 1981, eager to craft something distinct from his nearby Harbour Town Golf Links, a tighter, more compact design.
Construction began in 1981, with Dye collaborating with a talented crew that included Bobby Weed (construction supervisor), Tom Doak, David Savic, Ron Farris, Scott Pool, and Dye’s son, P.B.—many of whom later became notable architects themselves. Alice Dye, Pete’s wife and design partner, also contributed, ensuring the course balanced challenge with playability. The back nine opened in November 1981, with Louis and LaJunta Stovall hitting the ceremonial first shots. The front nine followed in spring 1982, completing the 7,094-yard, par-71 layout.
Dye’s design departed from Harbour Town’s narrow corridors, incorporating larger, sectional green complexes, knobs, mounds, and framing berms. Two holes skirt the Colleton River, while others weave through live oaks, pines, magnolias, and saltwater marshes. The course’s signature par-5 third (527 yards from the blue tees) bends around a hazard, ending at a dramatic, undulating green. The par-5 15th (565 yards), the longest hole, challenges players with a sprawling fairway bunker. Early reviews praised its variety and shot values, with Golf Digest ranking it among the Top 20 U.S. courses in 1985.
Early Years and Recognition (1980s–1990s)
Long Cove Club quickly established itself as a golfing and residential gem. By the mid-1980s, it lured discerning golfers seeking a private, world-class experience, distinct from the island’s public courses. Golf Digest named it South Carolina’s No. 1 course for a decade, a title it held until Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course opened in 1991. Historian Charles Price lauded it as “one of the ten best courses in America,” arguing it belonged among the nation’s noblest layouts for its beauty and fit with the land.
The community grew steadily, with homesites—80% of which offer golf or lagoon views—selling to a mix of retirees, professionals, and seasonal residents. The developers preserved the Lowcountry landscape, integrating moss-draped oaks and marsh vistas into the design. By the 1990s, Long Cove boasted a full-service clubhouse, a marina with 77 boat slips on Broad Creek, and a reputation for understated elegance.
Renovation and Modernization (2018–Present)
Over time, the course’s edges grew “shaggy,” as vegetation encroached and wear softened Dye’s original intent. In 2018, Bobby Weed—now an established architect and the original construction supervisor—returned to lead a comprehensive restoration. His team rebuilt bulkheads to 1981 specs, refined bunkers, upgraded drainage, and switched fairways to Celebration Bermuda grass and greens to TifEagle Ultra Dwarf Bermuda. The project, completed in 2019, restored Dye’s vision while enhancing playability, earning renewed acclaim.
Today, Long Cove stretches to 7,094 yards from the back tees, with a course rating of 74.9 and a slope of 141. It ranks No. 19 among Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Courses (2020), No. 168 in Golf Digest’s Second 100 Greatest (2019), and No. 6 in South Carolina (Golf Digest, 2017–2018). The club continues advisory work with Weed’s firm to maintain its championship caliber.
Community and Amenities
Beyond golf, Long Cove evolved into a lifestyle destination. The 17,000-square-foot clubhouse, renovated in the 2010s by Chambers, features dining rooms, a bar, and event spaces that flow seamlessly—a nod to its Lowcountry setting with muted marshland tones. The marina offers deepwater access for boating and fishing, while a sports center (added later) includes eight Har-Tru tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and two bocce lanes. A Junior Olympic-sized pool, community garden (“The Farm”), dog park, and playground cater to families and retirees alike.
The community’s 570 homesites, ranging from $329,000 to $3.7 million, feature Lowcountry-style homes with porches and marsh views. Annual dues (around $17,434) cover unlimited amenity access and security, reinforcing Long Cove’s private, member-driven ethos.
Legacy and Significance
Long Cove Club’s history reflects a deliberate counterpoint to Hilton Head’s resort-heavy identity. Its founders sought a return to “simple and exclusive” living, and Dye’s course—built during a prolific period post-TPC Sawgrass—delivered a forward-thinking design that influenced modern architecture. Gary McCord ranked it among his top 10 courses worldwide, praising its blend of beauty and challenge.
Certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary since 2006, Long Cove balances development with environmental stewardship. Its small size—just 400+ homes—fosters a close-knit community, symbolized by its sea fan logo, representing interconnectedness. While it lacks Harbour Town’s PGA Tour fame, Long Cove’s quiet prestige and residential focus make it a Lowcountry standout, consistently lauded as Hilton Head’s “hidden jewel.”
In summary, Long Cove Club, born in 1980 from a vision of exclusivity and elevated by Pete Dye’s genius, has matured into a timeless retreat. Its history—from a 1970s dream to a 21st-century masterpiece—underscores its place among America’s elite residential golf communities.
Origins and Founding (1970s–1980)
Long Cove Club’s story begins in the 1970s, a time when Hilton Head Island was transitioning from a sleepy Lowcountry outpost to a burgeoning resort destination, largely due to the success of Charles Fraser’s Sea Pines Plantation. Three young developers—David Ames, Joseph Webster III, and Weston “Wes” Wilhelm—cut their teeth working for the Sea Pines Company, honing their skills in real estate and community planning. In 1976, they struck out on their own, forming Development Associates Inc. with a mission to create a new kind of community: a private, single-family residential retreat free from the tourist bustle that defined much of the island.
The trio identified a 630-acre parcel along Broad Creek, a tidal waterway between Wexford and Shelter Cove, as the ideal site. Unlike other Hilton Head developments with public-access golf or resort amenities, their vision for Long Cove was exclusivity and intimacy—a haven for permanent residents and second-home owners. The project broke ground in the late 1970s, with the first home lots going on sale August 11, 1980. The community welcomed its initial 100 members soon after, setting the stage for a tight-knit, member-owned club.
The Golf Course: Pete Dye’s Masterpiece (1981–1982)
The crown jewel of Long Cove Club is its 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Pete Dye, one of the most influential architects of modern golf. Dye was initially approached in the mid-1970s but declined to focus on TPC Sawgrass (opened 1980). After completing that landmark project, he accepted the Long Cove commission in 1981, eager to craft something distinct from his nearby Harbour Town Golf Links, a tighter, more compact design.
Construction began in 1981, with Dye collaborating with a talented crew that included Bobby Weed (construction supervisor), Tom Doak, David Savic, Ron Farris, Scott Pool, and Dye’s son, P.B.—many of whom later became notable architects themselves. Alice Dye, Pete’s wife and design partner, also contributed, ensuring the course balanced challenge with playability. The back nine opened in November 1981, with Louis and LaJunta Stovall hitting the ceremonial first shots. The front nine followed in spring 1982, completing the 7,094-yard, par-71 layout.
Dye’s design departed from Harbour Town’s narrow corridors, incorporating larger, sectional green complexes, knobs, mounds, and framing berms. Two holes skirt the Colleton River, while others weave through live oaks, pines, magnolias, and saltwater marshes. The course’s signature par-5 third (527 yards from the blue tees) bends around a hazard, ending at a dramatic, undulating green. The par-5 15th (565 yards), the longest hole, challenges players with a sprawling fairway bunker. Early reviews praised its variety and shot values, with Golf Digest ranking it among the Top 20 U.S. courses in 1985.
Early Years and Recognition (1980s–1990s)
Long Cove Club quickly established itself as a golfing and residential gem. By the mid-1980s, it lured discerning golfers seeking a private, world-class experience, distinct from the island’s public courses. Golf Digest named it South Carolina’s No. 1 course for a decade, a title it held until Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course opened in 1991. Historian Charles Price lauded it as “one of the ten best courses in America,” arguing it belonged among the nation’s noblest layouts for its beauty and fit with the land.
The community grew steadily, with homesites—80% of which offer golf or lagoon views—selling to a mix of retirees, professionals, and seasonal residents. The developers preserved the Lowcountry landscape, integrating moss-draped oaks and marsh vistas into the design. By the 1990s, Long Cove boasted a full-service clubhouse, a marina with 77 boat slips on Broad Creek, and a reputation for understated elegance.
Renovation and Modernization (2018–Present)
Over time, the course’s edges grew “shaggy,” as vegetation encroached and wear softened Dye’s original intent. In 2018, Bobby Weed—now an established architect and the original construction supervisor—returned to lead a comprehensive restoration. His team rebuilt bulkheads to 1981 specs, refined bunkers, upgraded drainage, and switched fairways to Celebration Bermuda grass and greens to TifEagle Ultra Dwarf Bermuda. The project, completed in 2019, restored Dye’s vision while enhancing playability, earning renewed acclaim.
Today, Long Cove stretches to 7,094 yards from the back tees, with a course rating of 74.9 and a slope of 141. It ranks No. 19 among Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Courses (2020), No. 168 in Golf Digest’s Second 100 Greatest (2019), and No. 6 in South Carolina (Golf Digest, 2017–2018). The club continues advisory work with Weed’s firm to maintain its championship caliber.
Community and Amenities
Beyond golf, Long Cove evolved into a lifestyle destination. The 17,000-square-foot clubhouse, renovated in the 2010s by Chambers, features dining rooms, a bar, and event spaces that flow seamlessly—a nod to its Lowcountry setting with muted marshland tones. The marina offers deepwater access for boating and fishing, while a sports center (added later) includes eight Har-Tru tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and two bocce lanes. A Junior Olympic-sized pool, community garden (“The Farm”), dog park, and playground cater to families and retirees alike.
The community’s 570 homesites, ranging from $329,000 to $3.7 million, feature Lowcountry-style homes with porches and marsh views. Annual dues (around $17,434) cover unlimited amenity access and security, reinforcing Long Cove’s private, member-driven ethos.
Legacy and Significance
Long Cove Club’s history reflects a deliberate counterpoint to Hilton Head’s resort-heavy identity. Its founders sought a return to “simple and exclusive” living, and Dye’s course—built during a prolific period post-TPC Sawgrass—delivered a forward-thinking design that influenced modern architecture. Gary McCord ranked it among his top 10 courses worldwide, praising its blend of beauty and challenge.
Certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary since 2006, Long Cove balances development with environmental stewardship. Its small size—just 400+ homes—fosters a close-knit community, symbolized by its sea fan logo, representing interconnectedness. While it lacks Harbour Town’s PGA Tour fame, Long Cove’s quiet prestige and residential focus make it a Lowcountry standout, consistently lauded as Hilton Head’s “hidden jewel.”
In summary, Long Cove Club, born in 1980 from a vision of exclusivity and elevated by Pete Dye’s genius, has matured into a timeless retreat. Its history—from a 1970s dream to a 21st-century masterpiece—underscores its place among America’s elite residential golf communities.