Fripp Island, South Carolina, is a place that’s close to my heart. For 49 straight years, my family has made the trip to this quiet Lowcountry island, and it’s here that I first picked up golf—usually just once a year, playing with my dad and grandfather during our beach week. While my brother and I grew up more as basketball players, Fripp is where the game of golf began to take root for me.

Fripp has two golf courses—Ocean Creek and Ocean Point. Today, we’re looking at Ocean Point Golf Course, the older of the two, and arguably the more iconic.

Ocean Point was designed by George Cobb (famous for his work at Augusta National) and opened in 1964—the same year my dad was born. The course sits on the north side of Fripp Island, and though you can just barely glimpse it when driving onto the island, it makes its full impression once you’re on the first tee.

Recently, Ocean Point underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation that restored it to a true links-style layout. Trailing bunkers now follow you across holes, the fairways have been reshaped, and the course feels both more challenging and more scenic. Five holes play directly along the ocean with breathtaking views, while others weave through marshland and Lowcountry homes.

Ocean Point is a par-72 course that plays around 6,500 yards from the tips, with a course rating of 74.0 and slope of 141. In other words—it’s tough.

The course is not gimmicky, but it is demanding. Greens are small. Bunkers are everywhere—waste, pot, fairway, trailing—and often exactly where you’d like to land your ball. Water is present on almost every hole, though not always in direct play.

There’s little elevation change, but Cobb cleverly used elevated tee boxes to create drama and give sweeping views of the ocean and marsh. One of the most spectacular is the tee at No. 9, where you look directly at the Atlantic before hitting a dogleg-left tee shot.

And let’s not forget the wind. The ocean breeze changes everything here—sometimes helping, often hurting, and always adding a layer of strategy.

Bottom line: this is not your average “resort course.” It’s far more demanding. A bogey golfer will be tested at every turn, with forced carries, tight fairways, and hazards everywhere. But for those willing to take it on, it’s as fun and rewarding as any course in South Carolina.

No. 1 – Par 4, 333 yards
A handshake opening that immediately makes you think. Water runs down the left and cuts across in front of the fairway about 265–285 yards out. Most players will take 3-wood or less to stay short. From there, it’s a wedge into one of the larger greens on the course.

No. 9 – Par 4, 366 yards
The signature hole. Elevated tee box, dogleg left, water left, OB right, and the Atlantic Ocean straight ahead. Wind often howls here, making the tee shot one of the most thrilling and daunting on the island. The approach is uphill into a heart-shaped green guarded by bunkers.

No. 14 – Par 4, 376 yards
Another elevated tee box with incredible views of the island’s north side. Water up the left, more water behind the fairway, and a dogleg left design that rewards precision. The kidney-shaped green has tricky tiers and undulation, making for a fun second shot.

No. 18 – Par 5, 476 yards
A perfect finisher. Elevated tee looking down into a fairway alley framed by houses. OB lurks both right and left, but a solid drive leaves a tempting chance to go for it in two. The green is long, wide, and tiered, framed by sandy dune-style bunkers—one of the best closing holes in the Lowcountry.

In a word: immaculate.

Ocean Point is one of the best-maintained golf courses I’ve ever played. Fairways roll true, bunkers are filled with clean white sand, and the greens are quick but fair. The lynx-style layout means few cart paths, and everything from tee boxes to marsh edges is manicured beautifully.

Even the marsh views feel pristine (alligators included). This is championship-level conditioning for a price that feels like a steal.

Here’s the one catch: Fripp Island is private. You don’t have to own property to play, but you do have to be staying on the island. For me, that’s part of the charm. Fripp is quiet, family-oriented, and far from the bustle of commercial beaches.

The clubhouse has a classic look, the grill is welcoming, and the staff—starters, pros, and attendants—are all top-notch. Combine that with the course’s uniqueness, its level of care, and the views, and you’re getting one of the best golf values in South Carolina.

Ocean Point Golf Course is more than just a resort course—it’s a true links-style challenge with breathtaking scenery, championship-level conditions, and incredible value for those lucky enough to stay on Fripp Island.

For me, it’s more than just golf. It’s part of a family tradition, a reminder of summers past, and a course that keeps calling me back. If you love Lowcountry golf, Ocean Point is a must-play.