Old Tabby Golf Links

Old Tabby Golf Links occupies a distinctive setting on Spring Island, a private residential community in the South Carolina Lowcountry near Beaufort. Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay and opened in 1991, the course takes its name from the tabby ruins scattered throughout the property—remnants of antebellum structures built from the oyster-shell concrete mixture common to coastal Southern architecture. The routing weaves through maritime forest, tidal marshes, and along the Chechessee River, presenting a landscape characteristic of the Sea Islands region where live oaks draped in Spanish moss frame many holes. The design reflects Palmer and Seay's approach to working with sensitive coastal environments, preserving natural areas and incorporating the tidal marshlands into play rather than building over them. Several holes play along or across marsh edges, requiring strategic placement to avoid hazards that shift with the tide. The course measures over 6,800 yards from the back tees but offers multiple sets of tees to accommodate different skill levels, a hallmark of Palmer's design philosophy during this period. Spring Island itself operates as a conservation-focused community where development is limited and environmental stewardship is central to the culture. Golf here is part of a broader amenity package rather than the primary draw, and the club maintains a low-key atmosphere consistent with the island's emphasis on nature and privacy. The course remains accessible only to residents and their guests, making it one of the more secluded Palmer designs along the South Carolina coast.