Delay of game: The Club at Savannah Harbor is worth playing before heading to Hilton Head.

I like Savannah. And, I'll admit, it’s partly because I really like saying the name, which instantly evokes the city’s Southern charm and easygoing vibe. Must be the “ahhs.”

Well, there’s a lot more to like than just the sound of it, especially if you budget some time to play golf as part of your Hilton Head golf vacation.

There was a time when golfers were justified in flying into Savannah, then immediately embarking on the 40-minute drive to Hilton Head. But, thanks to the Club at Savannah Harbor at the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort & Spa, that is not necessarily the best option anymore.

In short, this semi-private course, a Bob Cupp/Sam Snead design, which hosts the Champions Tour’s Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, is worth sticking around for, either before or after your Hilton Head golf vacation. The links-style layout is located on tiny Hutchinson Island, just 15 minutes from the airport or a fun, five-minute water-taxi ride from the city’s historic district.

Few trees enter into play, but plenty of water, tricky wind conditions, vast expanses of tidal marshlands, and stunning views of the Back River (the inspiration for the song “Moon River”) provide plenty of excitement. And, while the Club at Savannah Harbor is in many ways a typical low-country layout, the fairways undulate enough to catch your attention and the gargantuan greens hold on to it.

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