Beaufort is a source of some confusion to those looking for a charming Carolinas coastal community to visit or to live in (or near). There are two Beauforts, each charming in its own way, each with golf communities within a reasonable drive but both pronounced differently. The North Carolina Beaufort is pronounced “Bow-furt.” The South Carolina town is known as Byoo-furt.”
The Wall Street Journal a week ago ran a short little feature on Beaufort, SC; you can read it by clicking here. The story reminded of my visit a year ago to a few impressive and reasonably priced golf communities worthy of consideration in the Beaufort area. Dataw Island, for example, is a mere 10 miles away but requires a 20-minute drive to circumvent the marshland and streams around which the local roads are built. Callawassie Island and Spring Island are about a half-hour south of Beaufort, over the Port Royal Sound in Okatie.
In ruins: Spring Island's Old Tabby Links passes former plantation home.
The three span the range of mid-priced to expensive communities, all with more than one course except for Spring Island, with its exceptional 18 at Old Tabby Links, designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, which threads its way past wildlife preserves and the tabby ruins of a former plantation house. Callawassie features 27 characteristically imaginative holes by Tom Fazio, whereas Dataw Island provides 18 by Fazio and another 18 by Arthur Hills, one of your editor's favorite architects.
Five homes priced between $500,000 and $600,000, with golf course views, are currently on the market in Callawassie. Eighteen homes in the same price range are currently available in Dataw Island; a few include golf membership. (Note: There are nice selections in both communities under $500,000.) Three homes at the more expensive Spring Island, all 2 BR, 2 BA cottages, are priced below $600,000; one, at $598,500, sits on two wooded acres with a view of a pond.
I have written a number of articles and posted reviews of each of these fine communities. Use the search box at top right to find past articles. If you have specific questions or want more information on Dataw, Callawassie or Spring Island, please contact me.
A par 4 at Callawassie Island (above) gives a taste of the waste bunkers over the 27 hole layout while on Dataw Island's Arthur Hills course (below), live oaks and a greenside bunker provide most of the challenge on a par 3.
