It’s no secret that South Carolina is one of the world’s meccas for golf. What players may not know is that five of the State’s—and the planet’s—most challenging and beautiful courses can be found on one barrier island, just a short drive from historic downtown Charleston.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort is home to 90 holes of championship golf, nestled amongst South Carolina’s iconic Lowcountry landscapes on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Plus, this resort island offers gorgeous beaches, premier tennis facilities, family-friendly activities, superb dining and seaside accommodations for groups of every size.
Whether you’re teeing off solo while the family relaxes in the sun and sand, or getting all the girls together for an exclusive golf getaway, Kiawah Island has something for everyone.
The resort has been named Most Excellent Golf Resort by the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence, the No. 1 island to visit in the US mainland and the Best US Golf Resort. Once you arrive, it’s easy to see why.
90 Holes of Championship Golf in South Carolina’s Beautiful Lowcountry
Course 1: The Ocean Course
The most notorious of Kiawah’s courses, The Ocean Course, is one of the world’s most challenging. The Ocean Course attracts amateurs and professional golfers from around the world, and most famously served as host of the 1991 Ryder Cup and 2012 PGA Championship.
The Ocean Course is not for the faint of heart—few other courses in the world are as affected by the wind than this one. Pete Dye designed this course with the wind in mind, which depending on its strength and direction can result in up to an 8-club differential from round to round.
Turtle Point Golf Course
With panoramic views of the Atlantic and countless accolades, The Ocean Course is a must-play destination for serious golfers.
Course 2: Turtle Point
Designed by Jack Nicklaus with a vision for the player to “use his mind ahead of his muscles,” Turtle Point is a course for strategists and shot-makers. It has been rated 48th on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses, and received a near-perfect 4 ½ star rating in Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” 2006 course guidebook.
Turtle Point is one of Nicklaus’ earliest designs. One of the longest courses on Kiawah Island, it features narrow fairways, strategically placed hazards, small greens and phantom winds—so accuracy, precision and agility are key on this high-caliber traditional layout.
Osprey Point Golf Course
Course 3: Osprey Point
Osprey Point’s unique and diverse landscapes make it one of the resort’s most popular courses. Nestled among the island’s lagoons, saltwater marshes and maritime forests, this par-72 layout was originally designed by Tom Fazio as a members-only course. Today, it is considered one of the island’s most approachable courses, suitable for golfers of any skill level and open to the public.
The immaculate clubhouse is as much of a draw as the course itself, and plays host to events, weddings and post-round celebrations unlike anywhere else. The renowned Osprey Point has been ranked 10th in Golf For Women magazine’s list of the “50 Best Golf Courses for Women,” and was awarded a near-perfect rating of 4½ stars in Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” readers’ poll. This beautiful, one-of-a-kind course is challenging enough for the pros, but playable for everyone.
Course 4: Cougar Point
Cougar Point
It’s no wonder that the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association deemed Cougar Point “Golf Course of The Year.”
The course formerly known as Marsh Point was completely redesigned by Gary Player in 1996, and today features 6,875 picturesque yards and an eclectic mix of par-3, -4 and -5s to suit a wide range of skill levels.
The Kiawah River flows alongside this scenic course, making it one of the most memorable on the island—and a favorite for players looking to experience all the natural beauty of South Carolina’s famed Lowcountry. Cougar Point’s 17the hole is touted as one of the island’s most challenging and most beautiful, so even if you don’t make par, the view is reward enough.
Course 5: Oak Point
Oak Point
Sheer power won’t get even the longest driver through this course, which sits atop the grounds of what was once a cotton and indigo plantation. Clyde Johnston’s classic design boasts a shot-maker’s layout that’s reminiscent of the courses of the Roaring 20s. The layout is not only nostalgic, but also demands strategic play, intelligent club choice and near-perfect placement of the ball.
Oak Point was the last course acquired by Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Since its addition in 1997, this course has undergone dramatic renovations and is now considered one of Golf Digest magazine’s “Best Places to Play” and one of the best values in South Carolina.
Lowcountry Luxury on Kiawah Island
From the cart path to the clubhouse and everywhere in between, Kiawah Island Golf Resort is first-class every step of the way. They even offer a service to ship your clubs to and from the resort, so traveling here is as breezy as the oceanfront porches.
With five championship courses to choose from, Kiawah Island is a golfer’s paradise. Play one or play them all, and come to find that South Carolina’s Lowcountry is the perfect destination for an unforgettable golf getaway. Start planning your trip to play where the pros play at SouthCarolinaGolf.ca.
Let’s Tee Up!
