South Carolina, USA
King-Collins' revolutionary reversible nine-hole course at Palmetto Bluff opened in January 2024 with dual routings named The Hammer and The Press. Located on 54 acres in South Carolina's Lowcountry, featuring 40-foot dune ridges and innovative putting surfaces totalling 150,000 square feet for limitless holiday experiences.
Overall rating
5.5
King-Collins' revolutionary reversible nine-hole course at Palmetto Bluff opened in January 2024 with dual routings named The Hammer and The Press. Located on 54 acres in South Carolina's Lowcountry, featuring 40-foot dune ridges and innovative putting surfaces totalling 150,000 square feet for limitless holiday experiences.
Palmetto Bluff's Crossroads represents golf architecture's most innovative experiment in decades, with King-Collins' revolutionary reversible design opening January 2024 within the 20,000-acre Lowcountry community. Located in the Moreland area of Palmetto Bluff, this 54-acre course features dual nine-hole routings that switch daily, creating virtually unlimited playing experiences.
Experience King-Collins' groundbreaking reversible concept, where no two rounds are identical. This is America's first truly dynamic golf course, with 11 greens and dual routings providing endless strategic possibilities within South Carolina's pristine Lowcountry setting.
Crossroads emerged from South Street Partners' 2021 acquisition of Palmetto Bluff, marking the first significant golf addition since Jack Nicklaus designed the May River course in 2005. King-Collins Golf Course Design received the commission in 2022, with Principal Designer Rob Collins and Managing Director Tad King creating their most ambitious project. Construction began in 2023, with the course opening to Palmetto Bluff Golf Club members in January 2024.
The design team drew inspiration from St Andrews' Old Course, specifically its multiple playing lines and ground-game opportunities. Collins notes, "The Old Course is just the ultimate golf course for discovering something new every single time you go out."
Crossroads comprises two distinct nine-hole routings: The Hammer and The Press, which alternate daily. The Hammer routing offers more traditional shot values with visual intimidation that proves more forgiving than appearances suggest. The Press provides a quirkier, more athletic challenge with increased blindness and dramatic green contours.
The course measures 3,115 yards from the longest tees with flexible yardages ranging from 1,000 to 3,100 yards depending on tee placement. Eleven greens serve both routings, including double and triple green complexes totalling 150,000 square feet - exceeding most 18-hole courses. A massive 34,000-square-foot "Himalayas" putting green near the first tee adds recreational variety.
Dramatic sand dunes reach 40 feet in height with elevation changes of 10 feet throughout, utilising abundant local sand to create firm, fast playing conditions. The design features no traditional tee markers, instead offering flattish grass areas allowing players to position their ball anywhere within designated zones.
Crossroads' reversible concept enables four distinct playing experiences: both routings played forward and in reverse. Some greens appear exclusively in one routing while occasionally featuring in the other, creating strategic unpredictability. Rob Collins explains, "It's a golf course that's never going to play the same one day to the next."
The course integrates seamlessly with Palmetto Bluff's natural environment through careful topographical planning. Native plantings include Sheep's Sorrel, Goldenrod, Black Eyed Susan, Switchgrass, and Little Bluestem, established through hydroseeding with erosion-control measures on steep slopes.
The design maximises spatial efficiency through overlapping playing corridors and shared features, fitting 35 acres of maintained turf into the compact footprint. Collins notes the design philosophy: "One feature bleeds into the next, with no beginning and no end."
Within 16km (10 miles): May River Golf Club offers a Jack Nicklaus design alongside Crossroads at Palmetto Bluff. Old South Golf Links in Bluffton provides authentic Lowcountry golf 15-minute drive from Crossroads.
16-32km (10-20 miles): Hilton Head National and Crescent Pointe Golf Club offer additional championship options, both within 20 minutes. Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort requires 25 minutes driving.
32km+ (20+ miles): Kiawah Island's championship courses, including The Ocean Course, lie 90 minutes northeast. Palmetto Dunes Resort's three courses on Hilton Head Island offer variety within 30 minutes.
Crossroads operates Wednesday-Monday from 8:00 am-5:00 pm, with Tuesday closure for maintenance. Caddie service is mandatory, enhancing the experience through local knowledge of ever-changing pin positions and routing options. Limited access for Montage Palmetto Bluff resort guests provides exclusive playing opportunities.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport: 42km (26 miles), approximately 39 minutes driving via US-278 and SC-46. Major car rental facilities with direct motorway access to Palmetto Bluff.
Charleston International Airport: 158km (98 miles), approximately 1 hour 45 minutes via I-95 South for broader flight connections.
Hilton Head Island Airport: 18km (11 miles), 21 minutes driving for private aviation and limited commercial service.
Ground Transport: Direct motorway access via US-278 from Hilton Head Island bridge with final approach through Palmetto Bluff's gated entrance.
Spring: Optimal conditions March-May with mild temperatures and NorthBridge Bermudagrass awakening from dormancy. Peak season requires advance booking.
Summer: Year-round play with warm, humid conditions ideal for Bermudagrass performance. Early morning tee times are recommended to avoid the afternoon heat.
Autumn: September-November offers excellent conditions with reduced humidity and comfortable temperatures for walking.
Winter: Mild Lowcountry winters maintain playable conditions, though Bermudagrass dormancy may affect appearance December-February.
Crossroads represents golf architecture's boldest innovation in decades, proving King-Collins' reputation for creative course design. The reversible concept delivers genuine strategic variety impossible to replicate elsewhere, while the Lowcountry setting provides stunning natural beauty. This is golf's future - dynamic, adaptable, and endlessly engaging for the committed golfer seeking something completely different.
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