Belfair (West)

Developers John Reed and David Everett approached Tom Fazio in the mid-1990s with a view to creating a 36-hole golf complex within a forested 1,100-acre residential estate that lies along the inlets and wetlands of the Colleton River.

Five years later and the architect duly delivered, producing two outstanding 18-hole courses for member play. The West was first to open in 1996 and at just over 7,000 yards from the back tees is slightly longer (and rated a little harder) than its younger sibling.

There’s a chance to pick up a stroke or two on the West’s early holes, where there are a few short par fours and generously wide par fives but the pace has picked up by the time golfers reach the 429-yard 9th, where a lagoon runs down the left side of the fairway.

A causeway takes players to holes 13, 14 and 15 on Telfair Island before they face a rather daunting end to the round at the Cape-style 17th – played to a really small green set next to the marsh – then the 448-yard wetland-threatened closing hole.

Both courses were recently renovated, with Fazio returning to rework the West course first. Using old aerial photos to help in the process, he changed all the greens to MiniVerde Bermuda grass. The East course followed soon after, with greens converted to Bermuda and all the bunkers refurbished.