For an unsurpassed golf experience, play on the five legendary courses at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, designed by five legendary architects: Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player, and Clyde Johnston. Kiawah is only the fourth course in the U.S. to have hosted every major American PGA event, including the 2012 PGA Championship and The Ryder Cup. It's time to bring your "A" game and see how you rank, or be inspired by some of the best courses in the country.
The Ocean Course - Probably no other golf course in the world outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland is affected as much by the wind. From one round to the next, a player can experience up to an 8-club difference on holes depending upon the direction and strength of the wind. Built in 1991 by Pete Dye, there are no prevailing winds on the course. Dye took this into account when designing the course. In fact, he designed two courses into one - one for an easterly wind and one for a westerly wind.
Turtle Point - Because of its traditional design, many of the better players visiting Kiawah Island Golf Resort would rather play Turtle Point than any of the other courses on the island. With narrow fairway corridors, small greens, strategically placed water hazards and plenty of out-of-bounds, Turtle Point calls for great accuracy and intelligent strategies. Players not driving the ball well will struggle for par. Since it is one of the longest courses on the island, proficiency with fairway woods and long irons is a must. So is the ability to scramble.
Osprey Point - Tom Fazio, originally developed it as a members' only type course. However, since Osprey Point is now part of Kiawah Island Golf Resort, anyone can enjoy this beautiful Lowcountry gem. Fazio used a superb natural canvas to create a masterpiece in playability and variety. The setting for the course features four large, natural lakes, fingers of saltwater marsh, and dense maritime forests of live oaks, pines, palmettos and magnolias. Each hole is unique and memorable. There are four distinctive par-3s, four extremely distinctive par-5s and ten outstanding par-4s ranging in length from 340 yards to 461 yards from the championship tees.
Cougar Point - Cougar Point Golf Course was recently rated the "Golf Course of The Year", by the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association. One of the most dramatic vistas on the island is the middle of Cougar Point's front nine, along the Kiawah River, making this course a very memorable one. Originally named Marsh Point, Cougar Point was redesigned by Gary Player in 1996 and plays 6,875 yards. It features a great blend of short and long par-4s, great risk/reward par-5s and extremely scenic and challenging par-3s.
Oak Point - The resort purchased Oak Point in 1997, rounding out the championship rotation of five courses that makes Kiawah Island Golf Resort one of the world's great golf destinations. Clyde Johnston designed Oak Point on the grounds of former cotton and indigo plantation. With its close proximity to the Kiawah River and the Haulover Creek, with its surrounding maritime forest, Johnston was able to mould the rolling landscape into a first-class layout. Undulating fairways and challenging greens are some of the unique features of Oak Point.