Ocean Creek: A Fripp Island Gem

Welcome, Sweet Tees Golfers, to our very first course review! I'm thrilled to kick things off by taking you on a journey to a place incredibly dear to my heart: the Ocean Creek Golf Course on Fripp Island, South Carolina. Located just south of Beaufort, this course has been a constant in my family's annual beach trips for nearly five decades, offering a unique blend of challenge, beauty, and cherished memories.

Before we dive into the intricate details of Ocean Creek, a quick introduction. I grew up in Mauldin and Simpsonville, South Carolina, a lifelong sports enthusiast. All four of us Reames siblings played collegiate sports – my brother and I Division II basketball, and my two sisters Division I beach volleyball. While basketball was my primary passion for years, golf, initially a once-a-year family affair at Fripp Island, truly captured my attention during the pandemic. Like many, when college sent me home, and my brother was in online high school, golf became our escape, and we've been hooked ever since.

A Course Steeped in History (and Hollywood!)

Ocean Creek isn't just a golf course; it's a piece of Fripp Island's story. Built in 1995 and designed by the notable Davis Love III and Paul Crowley (whose name I sadly don't recognize), it replaced what was once an unused marshland. But here's the coolest tidbit, a story that permeates Fripp Island: the land for Ocean Creek was being cleared and prepared for the course's construction when Forrest Gump was being filmed in the area in 1993-94. The production actually utilized the site for the Vietnam War scenes! To this day, on the tee box of the fifth hole, a bench tells the tale of Lieutenant Dan and the filming that took place right there. It's an incredible piece of history that truly adds to the course's unique character.

Fripp Island itself is a private, residential island, delightfully off the beaten path. About 45 minutes from Beaufort, it remains largely untouched by heavy commerce, boasting only a handful of restaurants beyond the golf course grills. It’s a tranquil, beautiful escape, and Ocean Creek perfectly embodies that spirit.

The Course Layout: Tight, Tricky, and Full of Character

Ocean Creek is a par 71, a little unique with three par 3s and two par 5s on the front nine. It's not a long course, measuring 6,392 yards from the tips, making it quite "gettable" if you hit it straight. However, what it lacks in length, it makes up for in tight fairways, abundant inland water (marshes and lagoons acting as hazards), and strategically placed peninsula-style greens. Trouble lurks everywhere, demanding precise shot-making and strategic thinking. There are very few holes I dislike; almost all are exceptionally well-designed.

Let's walk through some of the highlights:

• Hole 1 (Par 5, 505 yards): A handshake start. This dogleg left par 5 requires a precise tee shot to set up a potential second shot at the green, especially if the pin is front right. The green wraps around, with a massive bunker guarding the left.

• Hole 2 (Par 4, 382 yards): Things get tougher here. A tee shot over marshland leads to a dogleg right. Water wraps around the front and back of the two- or three-tiered green, demanding a controlled approach. Keep an eye out for the 12-foot alligator that often suns itself near this green!

• Hole 3 (Par 3, 168 yards): A pleasant, straightforward par 3 over a slight rise, with water to the right and a front-left greenside bunker. A nice reprieve after the second.

• Hole 4 (Par 4, 275 yards): My brother's favorite hole, and for good reason. This is the ultimate risk-reward drivable par 4. A narrow fairway with water up the right and dense woods/marsh on the left. A huge valley sits in front of the green, and a massive waste bunker guards the left. The green itself is incredibly interesting, with about a quarter elevated on the left and the rest a giant bowl. Pin placement dictates the entire strategy – a front-left pin on the elevated tier makes for a true challenge if you go for the green.

• Hole 5 (Par 4, 428 yards): This is where the Forrest Gump bench resides. A tough, dogleg right tee shot with marsh down the right and trees on the left. The elevated, oblong green often sends well-struck second shots just off the back.

• Hole 6 (Par 3, 185 yards): One of my favorites. You drive across a residential road to a tee box with miles of stunning South Carolina marsh views. It’s a forced carry over marsh to a kidney bean-shaped green that runs off into more marsh, demanding a high, soft landing.

• Hole 7 (Par 4, 409 yards): The course's number one handicap. A straightaway par 4 with houses left (OB) and marsh right. The green is thin and runs side-to-side, requiring a forced carry over a 20-yard marsh area in front. A very challenging second shot.

• Hole 8 (Par 3, 241 yards): The third par 3 on the front, and a long one. A complete forced carry over water to a long, undulating green with a bunker on the right. My brother almost had an ace here once, with his ball disappearing behind a ridge only to be found five feet from the cup.

• Hole 9 (Par 5, 510 yards): The second par 5 on the front, and deceptively tough for its 19th handicap. A wide fairway initially, but a ridge about 270 yards out obscures the rest. The second shot often requires a lay-up due to a diagonal water hazard cutting across the approach. Large pot bunkers behind the green make for tricky chips back towards the water.

The Back Nine: A Unique Challenge (The "O Man Corner")

The back nine continues the course's creative design, with a few more memorable holes:

• Hole 10 (Par 4, 454 yards): The second-longest par 4, a straightaway shot with a "rollercoaster" fairway of rolling hills. The green has water behind and to the left, demanding precision on approach.

• Hole 11 (Par 4, 391 yards): A very creative hole. The tee box is left-aligned, facing water, with the fairway diagonal to the right. A good fade is rewarded, but an overcut can land you in the trees. A tree limb hangs over the fairway about 80 yards out, making for a challenging low punch if you’re off-line.

• Hole 12 (Par 3, 145 yards): The easiest hole on the course. A short, straightforward par 3 over marsh to an elevated, turtleback green. Another fantastic marsh view from the tee box.

• Hole 13 (Par 4, 393 yards): Unique for its black and tip tees offering a different shot – a tougher, thinner fairway with a wall of trees on the left. I birdied this one with a perfect fade and a well-struck pitching wedge!

• Hole 14 (Par 4, 400 yards): A straightaway par 4 with water strategically placed across the fairway about 240-285 yards out, forcing a decision: carry it or lay up. Trees drape over the left side of the fairway, punishing wayward shots.

• Hole 15 (Par 3, 166 yards): A fairly straightforward par 3, offering a brief respite before the "O Man Corner."

• Hole 16 (Par 5, 547 yards): The first par 5 on the back, and the start of what my brother and I affectionately call "O Man Corner." A wide tee shot over a pond leads to a sweeping dogleg left. Unreachable in two, the approach to the green is incredibly tight, with water completely guarding the right side.

• Hole 17 (Par 4, 467 yards): The longest par 4 and the fourth handicap. An hourglass-shaped fairway with trouble left and right (OB). The green is fairly circular with some undulations, but the true gem is the marsh view from the back of this green – the most spectacular on the course, a perfect spot to watch the sunset.

• Hole 18 (Par 5, 520 yards): The finishing par 5, mirroring the start. A blind, dogleg right tee shot over marshland. The second shot is completely blind over a 10-foot hill, requiring a precise approach to a tough green with a pot bunker front-left and a long bunker along the right. The green itself is elevated and uniquely shaped, making for a challenging finish right next to the clubhouse.

Final Thoughts & Rating

Ocean Creek is not just a golf course; it's an experience. Its tight, creative layout, combined with the stunning Lowcountry marsh views and fascinating Forrest Gump history, makes it truly special. While it's a private island, requiring you to stay on Fripp to play, it's an investment well worth it. My family's 49 years of enjoyment are a testament to that.

For its unique character, challenging yet rewarding design, and sheer beauty, I'm giving Ocean Creek Golf Course a 9.2 out of 10. While my heart would give it a perfect 10, the objective rating reflects its undeniable quality.

Have you played Ocean Creek before? What are your thoughts? Drop your ratings and comments below! And stay tuned, because next up, we'll be reviewing its sister course on Fripp Island, Ocean Point! For more information on Fripp Island, visit https://www.frippislandresort.com/. We hope you’ll come back and read more Sweet Tees Golf reviews soon!

Written by Grayson Reames