Montage Palmetto Bluff
Bluffton, SC, United StatesLowcountry luxury on 20,000 acres of South Carolina marshland
View All Photos Montage Palmetto Bluff
Montage Palmetto Bluff is a sprawling 20,000-acre Lowcountry retreat along the May River in Bluffton, South Carolina. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course meanders through live oaks and tidal marshes, and the resort's cottages, inn rooms, and village atmosphere capture the essence of Southern coastal living.
- Jack Nicklaus routed all 18 holes through ancient live oak and longleaf pine forest, with several fairways edging the May River itself
- Five par-3s of genuine variety, with holes 6, 11, and 17 consistently cited as among the best short holes in South Carolina
- The Equestrian Center offers trail rides through the 20,000-acre preserve — Palmetto Bluff remains one of the largest private conservation communities on the East Coast
- Riverfront marina launches kayaks and fishing charters directly into the May River estuary
- The caddie program is consistently ranked among the best at any American resort property
The Course
- May River Golf Club — 18 holes, par 72, designed by Jack Nicklaus
May River Golf Club · 18th (Par 5)
A 570-yard par-5 finishing alongside a 250-year-old live oak that gives the course its logo. The hole demands a precise layup to avoid the encroaching Lowcountry marsh, and the green sits beneath the ancient oak's canopy — one of the more atmospheric closing scenes in resort golf.
Restaurants & Bars
- River House
- Octagon Porch
- Buffalo's
- 5 Restaurants Total
On Property
Spa Montage- 3 Swimming Pools
Equestrian Center
Riverfront Marina
Kayaking
Fishing
Nature Preserve
Biking
March - May, October - November
Spring brings azaleas and dogwood along the fairways; fall delivers the marsh color and cooler temperatures before the short coastal winter.
Request a caddie even if you're a low-handicap player — the May River caddies carry intimate knowledge of Paspalum turf breaks that don't read the way bent grass does. Then take the resort's sunset boat down the May River: the Lowcountry marshes turn copper and gold in a way no photograph quite captures.
Joining Montage Palmetto Bluff
Private members club (property owner/resident community club, separate from resort). Palmetto Bluff Club is a private members club within the Palmetto Bluff community in Bluffton, SC, operated alongside Montage Palmetto Bluff resort. Membership is primarily available to property owners within the Palmetto Bluff community; resort guests receive limited guest access during their stay. The club features two golf courses (May River — Jack Nicklaus Signature, and Crossroads), dining, racquet sports, fitness, and marina amenities.
Membership Categories
- Full Golf Membership (includes May River Golf Club, racquet, fitness, pools, dining)
- Social Membership (dining, fitness, pools, racquet — no golf)
Member Benefits
- Golf access at May River Golf Course (Jack Nicklaus Signature), Crossroads nine-hole course, and Anson Point (Coore & Crenshaw 18-hole)
- Wilson Lawn & Racquet Club access
- Club swimming pools and fitness facilities
- Exclusive member dining at Canoe Club and Cole's
- The Farm agricultural program access
- Wilson Landing Marina (optional Boating Club add-on)
- Longfield Stables access
- Shooting Club access
- Exclusive programming and events
- Initiation: Not publicly listed on official site (third-party estimates: $75,000–$125,000+ for Full Golf; not verified from official source)
- Annual Dues: Not publicly listed on official site (third-party estimates: $16,000–$18,000/year Full Golf; $6,000–$10,000/year Social; not verified from official source)
- How to Join: Contact Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Company Sales Office; membership tied to community property ownership. Call 843-706-5515.
Membership details → · 843-706-5515 | 19 Village Park Square, Bluffton, SC 29910
Montage Palmetto Bluff
Features &
Amenities
Set within a 20,000-acre Lowcountry preserve along the May River between Hilton Head and Savannah, Montage Palmetto Bluff combines a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course with a pluff-mud spa and a dining program anchored by serious wine cellars and river views.
May River Golf Club
Jack Nicklaus's Signature design at Palmetto Bluff stretches 7,171 yards at par 72, with several holes running along the May River beneath a canopy of centuries-old live oaks. The course is built on eco-friendly Paspalum turf, well-suited to the tidal Lowcountry environment, and is ranked consistently among the top courses in South Carolina. The layout's back-nine transition from forest to riverbank is among its most distinctive stretches.
Spa Montage Palmetto Bluff
The 13,000-square-foot spa's signature Carolina Kur treatment uses pluff mud drawn directly from the May River in a full-body exfoliation and marine-inspired soak sequence. The facility includes 13 treatment rooms — among them a couples suite with teacup soaking tubs — along with a heated whirlpool, cold-plunge pool, eucalyptus steam room, cedar sauna, adults-only lap pool, and a full hair and nail salon.
River House and Canoe Club Dining
River House offers floor-to-ceiling views of the May River alongside a 2,500-label wine cellar and a land-and-sea menu of regional ingredients. The adjacent Canoe Club takes a river-to-table approach in a similarly scenic setting. For casual dining, the speakeasy-style Hush — located in River House's lower level — serves premium bourbon and rye alongside live music, and the flagship Octagon handles all-day service with modern Carolina cuisine and a rotating wine program.
Signature
Events
Palmetto Bluff hosts a long-running annual culinary and music festival each autumn that has become one of the signature events on the Lowcountry calendar.
Music to Your Mouth
This multi-day celebration of Southern food, spirits, wine, craft beer, and artisan producers draws chefs and producers from across the region for tastings, dinners, and live musical performances across the Palmetto Bluff preserve. The festival has run annually for more than a decade and is among the most distinctive culinary events in the Southeast. Guests are advised to confirm current-year dates directly with the property, as the 2024 and 2025 editions were not prominently indexed in available sources.
One Membership.
Dozens of Destinations.
Your visit to Montage Palmetto Bluff is coordinated by the LXV concierge — preferred tee times, dining reservations, room upgrades, and personalized welcome amenities, arranged before you arrive. One of more than 55 properties in the LXV network.
Getting
Here
Montage Palmetto Bluff477 Mt Pelia Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910
Tel: +1 843-706-6500
Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH)
Approximately 11 miles from the resort, a 20-minute drive. Serves American, Delta, and United with seasonal nonstop routes; limited to roughly 8 destinations year-round.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
Approximately 25 miles and a 40-minute drive. The preferred gateway for most travelers, with nonstop service from more than 34 destinations on 10 carriers including Delta, American, United, Southwest, and JetBlue.
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Approximately 95 miles north, roughly a 1 hour 45 minute drive. A secondary option for travelers whose routing makes Charleston more convenient.
Private aviation can arrive at Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH), reducing ground transit to under 20 minutes from wheels-down to the resort entrance.