Secession Golf Club
Beaufort, SC • Private
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Overview
Pete Dye and his son P.B. did the early routing of Secession, but when they left in a dispute with the developer, Bruce Devlin, a PGA Tour veteran who’d previously designed courses with Robert von Hagge, stepped in and finished something much in keeping with the then-prevailing Dye philosophy of low profile architecture. Greens were set at ground grade, protected by low humps and pot bunkers with vertical stacked-sod faces. Still, Devlin invariably left open the fronts of greens for running approach shots. The site itself is a peninsula in marsh, with several holes on individual islands. Secession demands a complete game, both aerial and ground, particularly in steady ocean breezes.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2013.
2023-'24 ranking: 159th.
Previous ranking: 164th.
Highest ranking: 150th, 2013-'14.
Best in State: Ranked fifth, 2023-'24. Ranked seventh, 2021-'22.
2023-'24 ranking: 5th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“If you get the opportunity play, do not pass it up!"
Read More2025
Review
“Pretty awesome piece of property and depending on when you play it could change from relatively simple and open (i.e., low tide, no wind, etc.) to much more challenging and penial (i.e., high tide, high winds). Regardless of weather conditions or tide levels, the course is a wondering test of skills for all golfers with relatively flat greens with very subtle breaks. The 3 hole stretch of 11-13 is challenging without much coastal influence. Island green 17th is a real treat and the 18th hole finishing back to the club house provides a great ending to a great round."
Read More2025
Review
“A beautiful low country Devlin golf course whose routing provide interest and requires a golfer to think about how to attack each hole on a very flat piece of property. The holes plays very differently depending on both the winds and the tides which makes the course play slightly to very differently depending on the day. Holes 11 is the most interesting par 4 - slight dogleg right with water left in the landing area up to what is a very large putting surface protected by a bunker on the left. The last 3 holes - considered -"the point" is a challenging finish with 18 a classic dogleg right where a golfer decides how much of the fronting marsh to cover on his tee shot - aggressive play is rewarded by a simple pitch shot to the green. Caddies add top the experience and the setting exudes southern charm and hospitality. Definetly worth a stop if you are in the Beaufort area."
Read More2024
Review
“Walking only Bruce Devlin design in the South Carolina low country. Excellent conditioning is evident throughout the course. The course has an excellent caddie program, and the staff is most welcoming. A definite must if invited to play here."
Read More2024
Review
“A nice course with challenging holes and water features. Good conditioning. Need a member sponsor to play."
Read More2023
Review
“Fantastic layout and design and highly memorable experience. Each hole is unique and playing this course back to back really helped. I was able to use almost every club in the bag. The back first hole is high risk and reward while the finishing holes 15-18 are challenging, beautiful and unique to this special place."
Read More2022
Review
“Very good routing and one of the easiest and most enjoyable walks of any top 200 course. The holes seamlessly flow together while still making a player feel like there really aren't any other holes around. Holes are all distinctive and Devlin does great job with the routing to assure a really strong mix of 4s and 5s. Par 5s are all very good but fair scoring opportunities for birdies. Course could have played incredibly difficult if it is windy (which it often is) but was more benign on day of the review. Character of the course is off the charts. The perfect mix of old school with great modern service and incredibly cool history with the clubhouse and membership base etc."
Read More2022
Review
“Pretty flat, yet visually stunning right from the start as you must pick your line on hole one.... hybrid/long iron out left or carry the marsh with driver to the right. Course winds out to the marsh and back at varying degrees so wind is never the same two holes in a row. Good variety on short and long holes, and great three hole finish out the point and back avoiding the pothole bunkers along the way."
Read More2022
Review
“Secession is a special place that gives an amazing, walking round through an excellent low country design. But it's the overall "hang" that makes Secession one of the great experiences and memories in American golf."
Read More2020
Review
“If ever given the opportunity to enjoy a day at Secession DO NOT turn it down. Low-country Southern Hospitality at it's finest, this is one of the best golf experiences you can have in a day. The course runs along the marshes with the tides rolling in and out throughout the day. Depending on the time a ball in the marsh could be playable if the tide is right. "The Point" holes 16-17 finish with a reachable par 5, island green par 3, and difficult par 4 18th is an extremely fun finish. The bunkers are the Scottish style revetted bunkers but are artificial therefore much less maintenance."
Read More2018
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