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Nestled amidst the charm of the Palmetto State, Columbia, SC, offers a Southern oasis for those seeking refined leisure and exclusive camaraderie. The city’s private country clubs stand as sanctuaries where manicured fairways meet Southern hospitality. In this article, we unveil the top 10 best country clubs in Columbia SC, where the allure of South Carolina and the pursuit of golf excellence converge, creating an enclave for golf enthusiasts who appreciate the finer things in life.

Why Join a Country Club

Joining a private country club in Columbia is an immersion into a lifestyle that transcends the ordinary. Beyond the manicured fairways, these clubs offer exclusive access to championship golf courses, upscale dining, and a calendar filled with social events. The sense of community and belonging fostered within these enclaves creates lasting connections among like-minded individuals. Whether perfecting your swing on the golf course or enjoying upscale amenities, the private country club experience is a symphony of elegance, offering a retreat from the every day and a platform for creating lasting memories amidst the charm of the South.

10 Best Country Clubs in Columbia SC

Forest Lake Club

340 Country Club Dr, Columbia, SC 29206

Forest Lake Club is a private golf course located in Columbia, South Carolina. The club has been in existence for over 100 years and offers a range of activities to its members and guests. The club’s core values are reflected in the exceptional hospitality experience it provides. The club has a highly talented staff that delivers a best-in-class experience to its members and guests.

The club offers a full-service clubhouse with a pro shop, restaurant, locker rooms, showers, lounge, and more. The club’s 18-hole golf course is 6,385 yards long from the longest tees and has a par of 72. The course rating is 71.2, and it has a slope rating of 128 on Bermuda grass.

Columbia Country Club

135 Columbia Club Dr W, Blythewood, SC 29016

Columbia Country Club is a private golf course located in Blythewood, South Carolina, near Columbia. The club has 27 holes of championship golf, a full golf practice facility, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The club’s 25,000-square-foot clubhouse offers fine dining, locker rooms, showers, and a lounge.

The club is known for its exceptional hospitality and rich tradition, which is reflected in the laid-back lifestyle it offers to its members. The club’s golf course is designed to provide panoramic views of elevation changes and the meandering Hinkson Creek. Columbia Country Club is a great place to relax and enjoy a game of golf with friends and family.

Spring Valley Country Club

300 Spring Valley Rd, Columbia, SC 29223

Spring Valley Country Club is a private golf course located in Columbia, South Carolina. The club offers a range of activities to its members and guests, including golf, tennis, and aquatics. The club’s 18-hole golf course is 6,841 yards long from the longest tees and has a par of 72. The course rating is 72.7, and it has a slope rating of 128 on Bermuda grass.

The club’s facilities include a full golf practice facility, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse with fine dining, locker rooms, showers, and a lounge. Spring Valley Country Club is privately owned by its members, and the club’s core values are reflected in the exceptional hospitality experience it provides. Whether you are a golf, tennis, or aquatics enthusiast, the club facilities and activities provide many opportunities to develop deep friendships with other members while enjoying all the amenities and services a first-class country club has to offer

Wildewood Country Club

90 Mallet Hill Rd, Columbia, SC 29223

Wildewood Country Club is a private golf course located in Columbia, South Carolina. The club offers a range of activities to its members and guests, including golf, tennis, and aquatics. The club’s 18-hole golf course is designed by Russell Breeden and opened in 1976. The course is built on over 160 acres and offers panoramic views of the rolling terrain of the Sandhills.

The layout is fair, yet challenging for all players, with excellent course conditions and Tif-Eagle Bermuda greens. The club’s facilities include four lighted clay courts, four lighted hard courts, and two climate-controlled indoor hard courts for tennis enthusiasts. The club also has an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a splash pad for children. The club’s full-service clubhouse features a pub, fine dining, locker rooms, showers, and a golf shop.

Governors Club

One Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455

Governors Club is a private golf course located in Columbia, South Carolina. The club offers a range of activities to its members and guests, including golf, tennis, and aquatics. The club’s 27-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Championship Golf Course is designed to provide a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. The club’s golf practice area features a double-sided full-length practice tee, three putting greens, pitching, and a short game practice green.

The club also offers VI teaching technology, Ernest Sports, Launt Monitor, and TPI Golf Fitness Class. The club’s facilities include a full-service clubhouse with casual dining, and fine dining, a ballroom with a balcony, an outdoor dining area, AV equipment, a members’ lounge, an activity room, and a conference room. The club also has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a splash pool, a wellness and fitness center with cardio and resistance machines, group fitness classes, a kid care room, a summer grill, a playground, and locker rooms.

The club has six lighted clay surface courts, two lighted hard courts, four pickleball courts, and a tennis shop with USPTA professionals. Governors Club is an award-winning full-service country club located inside the Governors Club gated community and is ranked among the top 5% of private clubs worldwide by Boardroom magazine. More than recreation, the Governors Club offers vibrant social and cultural connections. The social scene is abundant with opportunities at 400+ events year-round.

Woodcreek Farms Country Club

301 Club Ridge Rd, Elgin, SC 29045

Woodcreek Farms Country Club is a private golf course located in Elgin, South Carolina, near Columbia. The club boasts of having the best-kept golf course in the state and is designed by Tom Fazio, a world-renowned course designer. The course is spread over 18 holes and is 7022 yards long with a par of 72.

The club offers a range of amenities, including a driving range, pitching/chipping area, and putting green. The club also has a pro shop and offers golf lessons from a teaching pro. The club is open from Monday to Sunday, with varying hours of operation.

The Woodlands Golf & Country Club

100 Norse Way, Columbia, SC 29229

The Woodlands Golf & Country Club is a private golf club located in Columbia, South Carolina. The club offers a Russell Breeden design, an 18-hole Championship Golf Course that can accommodate players of all levels. The course plays 6658 yards from the blue tees, carries a course rating of 72.0, and a slope of 132. The club also has PTR-certified Tennis Professionals. The facility boasts a practice range, instruction, PGA Professionals on staff, a Golf Shop, Men’s Day, Ladies Day, Snacks at the turn, and a full bar and kitchen.

The Member’s Grill & Lounge features a beautiful banquet and patio space overlooking the golf course, making it an excellent place for your special event2. The Woodlands is a premier facility for both junior and adult tennis players of all levels. Home of the league champion Wahoos Swim Team, the Woodlands Swim Center offers a Junior-Olympic sized pool and toddler pool along with a snack bar, ample patio space, and swim lessons for the whole family1. Proper golf attire is required, and The Woodlands is a soft spike facility.

Timberlake Country Club

222 Timberlake Dr, Chapin, SC 29036

Timberlake Country Club, located in Chapin, South Carolina, near Columbia, is a private golf club that offers a variety of amenities. The club, resting in the Lexington County countryside and surrounded by Lake Murray, features a picturesque golf course designed by Willard C Byrd. The course measures 6,579 yards from the back tees and over 5,000 yards from the forward tees, with water in play on seven of its 18 holes.

In addition to golf, Timberlake offers tennis, dining, and swimming facilities. The club also has a full-service restaurant and provides golfing services such as golf lessons and golf products for sale on-site. Timberlake Country Club is a destination point where members of all stages of their lives can enjoy the finest in country club living.

Oak Hills Golf Club

7629 Fairfield Rd, Columbia, SC 29203

Oak Hills Golf Club is a well-established golf club located in Columbia, South Carolina. Oak Hills Golf Club is a semi-private golf course that is open to the public. The club is situated on a 160-acre tract of gently rolling hills and nestled among thousands of oaks, pines, and picturesque dogwoods. The golf course is a challenging, parkland layout carved through the deep woods on rolling topography with unique and isolated, pine and dogwood, tree-lined fairways.

There’s a large lake and numerous streams impacting play on multiple holes and sand bunkers along the fairways and guarding the greens. Oak Hills is a semi-private golf course that is open to the public. The club has a 72,000-square-foot clubhouse that houses ten rooms available for events, both social and professional. The facility also boasts a beautifully furnished banquet facility within the clubhouse, with a full-service professional catering staff that will pamper you with everything from casual to formal dining. Proper golf attire is required, and Oak Hills is a soft spike facility.

Country Club of Lexington

1066 Barr Rd, Lexington, SC 29072

Country Club of Lexington, located in Lexington, South Carolina, near Columbia, is a private golf club that offers a variety of amenities. The club, conveniently located at 1066 Barr Road, has been awarded “Club of the Year” by the South Carolina Golf Association. The golf course, constantly ranked among the top courses in the Midlands, has hosted several SCGA and USGA events.

The club also offers a full-service driving range, including a short game practice facility, as well as two practice putting greens. In addition to golf, the club offers an Olympic-sized swimming pool, seven tennis courts, a grill area, and banquet/meeting rooms. The Country Club of Lexington is a family-oriented social and recreational organization, proud of its history, and reverent of its legacy, whose purpose is to create a sense of community among its members in a relaxed environment while providing the quality of services and facilities desired in a fiscally responsible manner.

Conclusion

In the heart of South Carolina’s capital, Columbia’s private country clubs stand as symbols of exclusivity and Southern charm. These enclaves offer not only championship golf courses but a lifestyle where leisure is crafted with finesse against the backdrop of the palmetto-lined fairways. As the sun sets on these meticulously groomed courses, the allure of the best country clubs in Columbia SC remains—an invitation to elevate your leisure pursuits in a city that seamlessly blends Southern tradition, hospitality, and the pursuit of golfing excellence.