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Some come for the golf. Some come for the coastal setting. But ultimately, what most members love about Belfair is the tremendous sense of community. Set on the banks of the Colleton River, just minutes from Hilton Head Island, Belfair has all the elements that make for a great private golf community. But as much pride as is taken in its natural beauty, two nationally ranked Fazio courses, and a slew of high-end amenities, it is the welcoming, caring spirit that residents treasure most. They take as much pride in that as they do the quality of their golf.

That said, the golf here is nothing short of spectacular. Fazio created two distinct golf experiences, joined together by a memorable setting along a picturesque tidal estuary. Both the East and West courses have been justifiably recognized among the best residential courses in the country.

The very walkable layout of the East course (6,959 yards), with wide windswept fairways and views of the open water, draws parallels with the links courses of Scotland. The West course (7,080 yards) is a parkland design, whose generous fairways belie the precise shotmaking required around the tightly guarded greens. Home to the prestigious Players Amateur tournament, the West course was lauded by LINKS Magazine “as what could be the finest set of golf holes in the Lowcountry, if not on the East Coast.”

The courses are complemented by the 29-acre Jim Ferree Learning Center with its multiple tees and places to practice putting, chipping and bunker play, all-weather hitting stalls, indoor hitting room, and all the high-tech equipment today’s best clubs offer.
A glance at the bulletin board in the locker room reveals an extensive lineup of clinics, schools and member events.

Before you ever step foot on the golf courses, though, this is a community you will fall in love with at the front gate. Belfair’s entrance is as impressive and dramatic as you’ll encounter anywhere. The first half-mile leading to the neighborhoods and clubhouse takes you under a canopy of century-old, moss-draped live oaks. The Avenue of Oaks is a drive to be savored slowly, a visual reminder that this is a special setting.

Originally a country estate and working plantation dating back to 1811, Belfair preserved the natural grandeur of the landscape. Salt marsh vistas and wildlife abound in a coastal splendor that has been kept intact for generations and can be enjoyed from a system of wildlife trails and nature observation areas.

About 325 families live year-round on the 1,100-acre property, with another 125 who live here seasonally. That’s a comfortable number, enough to keep the community full of life without being overcrowded. Homesites start about $50,000, while homes range from $500,000 to $3 million (membership included). Most boast marsh, forest, fairway or river views. Member owned since 2001, Belfair is debt-free and has money in the bank.

Life here is definitely high-end, but in a comfortable, relaxed way. You might not be able to wear jeans to the clubhouse, but you won’t need to wear a jacket either. High-end also means great amenities, including a 32,000-square-foot clubhouse with both formal and informal dining areas and well-appointed men’s and women’s locker rooms. There’s also a fully equipped Fitness & Sports Center with indoor and outdoor pools, six Har-Tru tennis courts, outdoor soccer/lacrosse field, basketball court, playground area and pathways for walking, running and biking.

Belfair couldn’t be more convenient to the surrounding area’s offerings, including airports. Savannah, Georgia, and Beaufort, South Carolina, with major medical, shopping and cultural services, are each within a 30-minute drive. But Belfair residents enjoy a unique perk closer to home. They can take a golf cart through a private entrance to the adjacent Belfair Towne Village and its supermarket, pharmacy, restaurants, dentist and other shops. 

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