Hilton Head Island Links (Port Royal) info

We have been going to HHI every summer for the past 5 or 6 years. A 3BR in Island Links became available....and am considering this resort for summer 2010. I've read the reviews (very positive), but still have a few questions/concerns:

We've stayed at Royal Dunes, Waterside, Port O'Call and our home resort, Sea Crest. The kids like the convenience of staying near Coligny---easy access to beach and shopping areas. I know that Island Links is a bit more "secluded". Is the beach within walking/biking distance? My husband and youngest son are avid golfers.....is there a discount for golf associated with exchanging into Island Links? That would be a big plus. The reviews are very favorable towards the units themselves....are they worth exchanging the "convenience" of the Coligny area? (I had been trying to exchange back into our home resort of Sea Crest---smaller 2BR units.)

Thoughts?

DEB

There is a golf course on site at this resort. You can ride your bikes to the public beach. Bike rackes are on site at the beach (a bike lock is needed).

The beach is located behind the Westin Hotel and the Marriott's Barony Club Resort.

You can walk to the beach; this is only a guess may be 3/4 miles from the resort to the beach one way. The resort may offer shutter services to the beach and back to the resort.

I owned island links for about 10 years and it is an awesome TS. There is a shuttle to the beach during prime season. It is about a 20 minute walk or 10 minute bike ride. The Westin is great and Island Links guests share many of the amenities at the hotel.

It is a mid-island location so you can easily get to either side of the island. There really is no shopping area within easy walking distance, however.

And about the golf. Our TS came with free greens fees (you pay for cart). You would have to check if your exchange provides that.

3 golf courses in Port Royal, but not sure which ones you'll have access to.
...best to call resort to find out.... all are nice courses, and you've ridden by the course fronting Hwy 278 many times, I'm sure.

here's a link to PR courses

http://gosoutheast.about.com/od/sportsleisureadventure/ss/hiltonhead_golf_4.htm


Port Royal is very pretty and serene, definitely farther out, and maybe a 10-minute drive to Coligny (from the heel to the ball-of-foot, since island is a big shoe shape) , but still mid-island and definitely worth staying there.

As you know, Westin Hotel and Barony Beach Club are there in PR. Beach is not within easy walking distance of Island Links, but shuttle will get you there in a couple of minutes. (We're Barony & G.O. owners, never stayed at IL, but know where they are....very pretty.....have good friends who are owners there, and love it.)

Closeness to Coligny area is fun, tho...Port Royal has nothing much else to do except relax and play golf. YOU decide, but you'll still enjoy IL if the others don't happen. jme