The prodigious pools are just one reason the Crowne Plaza is a preferred pick.

Whenever possible, we try to avoid staying in cookie-cutter type accommodations in favor of those that offer a more unique experience. There are plenty of villas, condos, inns and independent hotels to choose from on a Hilton Head golf vacation, but if you prefer to stay with a national chain, there’s at least one that deserves consideration.

The Crowne Plaza Resort hotel on the grounds of Shipyard Plantation is one of the most upscale Holiday Inn-affiliated properties in the United States (both are owned by parent company InterContinental Hotels Group). Highlights include large indoor and outdoor pools, a workout center, one of the best breakfasts on the island, playing privileges at the famous Van der Meer Tennis academy next door, and miles of sandy beach just behind the hotel.

While the rooms are spacious and comfortable, they do retain a glorified Holiday Inn feel. The staff, on the other hand, was a cut above what you normally find at hotels of this ilk. At one point during Golf Odyssey’s recent stay, the noise from an adjacent elevator became very distracting, but the gracious and accommodating staff quickly moved us to a quieter room.

If you’re thinking of staying here, you might want to first join the hotel’s PriorityClub Rewards program, as its members may check in as early as 7 am and check out as late as 3 pm. By our math, that can add another full day of golf, and that’s always a good thing.

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