Colleton River Club, nestled in the heart of the Lowcountry, offers coastal living at its best. Quite possibly the area’s most unique setting, the panoramic vistas are the perfect backdrop for a vibrant community with infinite opportunities to enjoy a fulfilling life. Colleton River Club is surrounded by water on three sides and bordered by an 1100-acre nature preserve. Members have access to the Colleton River and Chechessee River, Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. The natural beauty is incomparable. A vibrant community, members and their friends enjoy a variety of amenities, social activities, nature, and a myriad of outdoor activities.
Luxurious custom-built homes and homesites are available, all of which complement the land and bask in the breathtaking views of the rivers. If you’re looking for a spectacular existing home or a homesite to build your own dream home, this private peninsula offers an unmatched sense of community amid pristine settings. Situated just close enough to the energy and exuberance of the Hilton Head Island community and the charm of Old Town Bluffton, Colleton River Club offers the best of all worlds and serves as a preserve for the soul and the natural world.
Known to the natives simply as the “land between two rivers” and as a place of abundant fishing and game, Colleton River was loved early for its natural resources. Spanish, French and British explorers, pirates and sailors passed through this area referring to it as “Devil’s Elbow Barony.” In the 1700s, several land-granted members of the Colleton family began to establish and develop the area under the name “Footpoint Plantation.” Some part of the Revolutionary War was waged here as was a great Civil War battle that took place in the Colleton River and Port Royal Sound.
The Dye Course at Colleton River.
This 1,500-acre peninsula with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, abundant fishing and a myriad of natural wonders and resources has long made it a natural paradise. Thanks to Colleton River Club’s founders, this paradise continues to thrive through a collective devotion to the preservation of nature then and now. This commitment to preservation is what attracted many of the current members to make Colleton River Club their home.
Angelia Hopkins and her husband David first visited Colleton River Club from their home in Dayton, Ohio, in 2014 to visit friends.
“When we drove through the gates, I knew immediately this was a special place,” Hopkins said. “The natural beauty was abundant, and the environment was so peaceful. After one day at Colleton River Club, we were convinced we didn’t need to search anywhere else.”
The Hopkins bought their home in Colleton River Club in 2015 and moved here fulltime in 2017. Since then, their six children and 10 grandchildren travel with their families from Florida, North Carolina, Texas, and Indiana several times a year to make memories.
“We feel fortunate to live in the unique and vibrant community of Colleton River,” Hopkins said.
Dining Room at the Nicklaus Clubhouse. This beautiful room overlooks the Jack Nicklaus Golf Course and the Colleton River.
Kirsten Dumas and her husband John were also drawn to the beauty of Colleton River Club’s natural environment along with the opportunity to move out of the cold weather in Michigan. After raising two children and becoming empty nesters, they were more than ready to find a warmer spot in a community they could begin enjoying immediately. So, when Kirsten’s sister and her husband told the Dumas’s they had purchased a home in the Bluffton area and began regaling all the things they loved about it, they decided to take a closer look.
“The natural landscape and long winding drive into the community is like driving through an enchanted forest,” Dumas said. “We were immediately attracted to the intentional preservation of the natural landscape and the abundance of wildlife throughout the community.”
With the intention to buy an existing home, each time the Dumas’s toured a listing, they took advantage of the opportunities to tour the amenities at Colleton River Club and meet as many staff and community members as they could.
“Every time we had the chance to visit Colleton River, it kept topping our list of favorites for a variety of reasons,” Dumas said. “First and foremost, everyone we met was so welcoming and helpful during our search process. We started to feel like we were home before we had even found our home. Plus, the amenities—which were already amazing—were undergoing updates and improvements, all of which helped us to visualize how we would spend our time there with our family and friends.”
Brand new Pickleball Courts at Colleton River
Colleton River Club members have access to all the excitement, cultural and culinary amenities of a world-class waterfront community along with the sense of community, security, and serenity that only a private enclave can offer. Colleton River Club is one of three clubs in the United States that features two signature golf courses by designers Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus and has been ranked on Golf Magazine’s Top 100 list.
“Our golf courses are renowned,” said Tim Bakels, former general manager and COO of Colleton River Club. “Both of our 18-hole courses exemplify the best of their designers, Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye. Since practice makes perfect, we also have professional-grade training and learning facilities and a challenging par 3 course.”
The brand-new Foot Point Tennis Center is another active and integral part of Colleton River Club amenities and a member favorite. World-class tennis amenities start with six brand-new HarTru tennis courts, a state-of-the-art underground watering system, and a pavilion for social engagements. Colleton River Club also just completed the installation of eight pickleball courts and three bocce courts.
The Aquatics center is a member favorite and was recently renovated to provide members the perfect spot for relaxation.
“This is a great time for racket sports at Colleton River Club,” said Mike O’Regan, Director of Racket Sports. “With all the buzz around the new amenities, we are getting more participation than ever. A lot of new members moving in have interest in both tennis and pickleball. We also have multiple USTA leagues at Colleton River Club throughout the year, and we hold clinics on Mondays and Wednesdays; social group play and private lessons are also available.”
Throughout the year, various events are held such as the annual “Nick vs. Dye Challenge” tennis exhibitions and social “meet and play” events. “The Point,” with its comprehensive programming, is designed to engage and encourage players of all levels.
Beyond golf and racket sports, members can enjoy downtime at the pool, a fitness class or maybe a massage at the Spa. All are included in their state-of-the-art Sports & Wellness Complex. Clubs within the club exist ranging from kayaking or birding, to cooking clubs and more. Whether you are into golf, tennis, pickleball, walking, running, biking, or water sports, Colleton River Club has it. Members can even stay on campus and enjoy the club’s beautiful dog park where there are separate spaces for both larger and smaller dog breeds.
Stand Up Paddleboard SUP. At the foundation of all that Colleton River Club represents is a desire to preserve and celebrate the area as a place of historical significance and natural beauty.
“Our lab, Louie, has already mastered the art of lazy days and long naps on the screened porch after a walk,” Dumas said, “but he absolutely loves a fun romp with friends at Colleton’s dog park.”
The enhanced dining at the Dye Clubhouse will better optimize the amazing golf course and water views with the addition of a rooftop lounge as well as expanded casual dining with an indoor/outdoor bar and veranda. The newly renovated clubhouse promises a more relaxed experience where members spend afternoons and evenings enjoying the views gathered around the rooftop firepit with family and friends.
“With two distinctly different clubhouses and multiple dining options offering everything from poolside casual to formal dining, you hardly need to leave the community,” Dumas said. “In fact, the view from the Dye is like heaven on earth and might have single-handedly sealed the deal for us when we saw it for the first time.”
“Although there is an abundance of activities, community clubs, water activities, tennis, pickleball, and golf to enjoy, the members here are friendly, welcoming, and engaged in Colleton River,” Hopkins said.
Dumas agreed. “We frequently receive invitations to meet at the community dock for cocktails or food trucks, or at one of our neighbors’ homes where everyone on the street brings a dish to pass,” she said.
While the amenities abound at Colleton River Club, it’s not just about the fun and games. The members prioritize service, too. Colleton River Club members are also extremely active in charitable foundations. Every year, they organize and participate in Play for P.I.N.K. which includes a silent auction, golf tournament, tennis, pickleball, etc., where the proceeds go the supporting breast cancer research. Another wonderful charitable foundation is the Colleton River Charitable Fund.
“Colleton River Charitable fund is rooted in a tradition of caring and giving,” Bakels said. “Their mission is to give our neighbors in need the tools and support to build a better future for themselves and their families. We also support the Colleton River Collegiate Tournament, an annual charitable event which showcases the talent of many of the nation’s leading collegiate players as they vie for coveted individual and team titles. Additionally, Colleton River Club members volunteer for Colleton River Friends of Habitat (for Humanity), The First Tee of the Lowcountry, and more. The generosity of our members has helped thousands of people in our Bluffton community and around the nation … and that’s the greatest impact of all.”
At the foundation of all that Colleton River Club represents is a desire to preserve and celebrate the area as a place of historical significance and natural beauty. Thanks to Colleton River Club’s founders, this low-density paradise continues to thrive through a collective devotion to the preservation of nature then, now, and in the days to come.
