Flights, 7 Nights, 4 Rounds
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is 3rd on Golf Digest's 'America's 100 Greatest Public Courses' and, honestly, it feels every bit like a major venue from the first tee. It's a Pete Dye test that has hosted the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship, with Atlantic winds that can turn a good score into a very long afternoon. I'll admit that I am a golfing geek, and this one ticks every box for bucket-list golf.
The best bit is that the Ocean Course is not the only reason to come. Kiawah has four more championship courses, Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point and Cougar Point, so you can build a proper multi-round trip without repeating yourself. If you're building a multi-round itinerary, it's worth mixing styles. The Ocean Course is the exposed, wind-led examination, while the other four give you different looks and pacing across the week, which is ideal if you've got mixed abilities in the group.
Kiawah sits on the sunny South Carolina coast and works well year-round. Fly into Charleston International Airport and it's under an hour through the coastal islands to the resort. Off the course, there's standout dining, a top-class spa, serious tennis and miles of beach, which makes it an easy win for mixed groups too. If you're ticking off big-name American golf, this one belongs on the shortlist.
Who is this for?
Golfers who want a five-course resort with a genuine headline act, groups looking for variety across several rounds and families who want a luxury base with plenty to do off the course.
Who is it best for?
Anyone chasing a bucket-list Ocean Course tee time and golfers who enjoy a proper test in the wind, plus organisers who want a resort where golf, accommodation and facilities are all in one place.
Flights, 7 Nights, 4 Rounds
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Flights, 5 Nights, 3 Rounds
Flights, 7 Nights, 5 Rounds
One of the greatest accolades that the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island has in it's locker is that it is one of only four courses to have hosted all of the US PGA Major Tournaments after the 2012 PGA Championship was staged there, in which Rory McIlroy set the course a light and won by a record 8 strokes and again in 2021 when Phil Mickelson became the oldest Major winner. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is also engraved in golfing history due the plethora of other excellent tournaments that have been staged there. The 2007 Senior PGA, the 1997 and 2003 World Cups, and the 2001 UBS Cup have all graced the Ocean, but the highlight without a doubt was in 1991 when Kiawah joined the list of courses to have hosted a Ryder Cup, dubbed ‘The War on the Shore', which culminated with Bernhard Langer missing ‘that putt'.
The standard of Pete Dye's 1991 creation, which is frequently buffeted by the prevailing Atlantic winds. Ten holes track the coastline, with the remaining eight running parallel just inland, making it one of the world's most spectacular courses, and also one of the most desirable destinations for the true golf aficionado.
Signature hole: 17th - 221 Yard Par 3
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Pete Dye, Alice Dye |
| Opened for play | 1974 |
| Previously hosted | Ryder Cup, PGA Championship |
| Black | 7,360 yards | SSS 76.8 |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 6,779 yards | SSS 73.9 |
| Silver | 6,475 yards | SSS 72.4 (M) | 78.6 (L) |
| Blue | 6,202 yards | SSS 71.1 (M) | 77.0 (L) |
| Blue/Red | 5,859 yards | SSS 69.1 (M) | 75.1 (L) |
| Red | 5,307 yards | SSS 66.4 (M) | 72.2 (L) |
The Osprey Point Course is one of the resort’s most popular courses for resort guests. Idyllic Forests, Lagoons and Saltwater marshes make The Osprey Course a fantastic track. In 2014, the course underwent a mega renovation spearheaded by renowned course architect Tom Fazio.
The course is now one of the finest golfing layout’s in South Carolina and has won countless awards including ranked 10th in 50 Best Courses for Women by Golf for Women and it also was awarded a near perfect 4 ½ stars in Golf Digest’s “ Best Places to Play”. Osprey Point should not just be known for an excellent course but also for a very elegant clubhouse where you can enjoy a post round drink or a bite to eat. It is also a fantastic venue for Wedding receptions and special functions.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Tom Fazio |
| Opened for play | 1988 |
| Awards | No.3 in top 100 courses you can play (Golf Magazine), One of Seventeen 5* courses named in Golf Digest’s “Best places to play” |
| Black | 6,902 yards | SSS 73.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 6,545 yards | SSS 71.5 |
| Silver | 6,162 yards | SSS 69.8 |
| Blue | 5,376 yards | SSS 65.7 (M) | 71.2 (L) |
| Blue/Red | 5,123 yards | SSS 64.6 (M) | 69.9 (L) |
| Red | 4,746 yards | SSS 63.2 (M) | 67.9 (L) |
Cougar Point is currently under a mega renovation and is set to reopen in 2017. The renovation will address completely re-grassing the greens, tees and fairways, laser levelling all tee boxes including the driving range, redesigning bunkers and updating the irrigation throughout all the course.
Cougar’s Point had been recently rated “Golf Course of the Year” by South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association and offers some of the Island’s most spectacular views. The Course was originally designed by Marsh Point, but in 1996 it was re-designed by golfing legend Gary Player.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Gary Player |
| Opened for play | 1976 |
| Black | 6,814 yards | SSS 72.7 |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 6,514 yards | SSS 71.1 |
| Silver | 6,139 yards | SSS 69.3 |
| Blue | 5,608 yards | SSS 66.9 |
| Blue/Red | 5,187 yards | SSS 70.2 |
| Red | 4,816 yards | SSS 68.1 |
Turtle Point recently reopened after enjoying a mega 9-month renovation that included refurbishing green complexes, re-grassing the greens, tees and fairways, rebuilding all the bunkers, laser levelling all tee boxes and advanced irrigation throughout all the course. The course is now at the best it’s ever been and is becoming very much a favourite for golfers on a Kiawah Island Golf Experience.
The course was designed by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, who has designed 100’s of courses all over the world. Jack has said that his number one goal in designing courses is to “make the player use his mind ahead of his muscles”. Turtle Point certainly reflects Jack’s quote, so be sure to have a thorough read of the course planner before hitting the fairways.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Jack Nicklaus |
| Opened for play | 1981 |
| Previously hosted | PGA Cup matches (1990), Carolina's Amateur (2006) |
| Black | 6,911 yards | SSS 73.9 |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 6,510 yards | SSS 71.9 |
| Sliver | 6,162 yards | SSS 70.1 |
| Blue | 5,746 yards | SSS 67.3 (M) | 72.2 (L) |
| Blue/Red | 5,310 yards | SSS 65.4 (M) | 70.2 (L) |
| Red | 5,064 yards | SSS 64.3 (M) | 68.7 (L) |
The Resort purchased Oak Point in 1997, making Kiawah Island home to 5 stunning golf courses and also one of the World’s most impressive golf resorts. In 2015, the course underwent a large-scale renovation making it on the same level as the resort’s other championship golf courses.
The course was designed by Clyde Johnston, who has a stellar portfolio of golf courses across the USA and the UK. Hailing from South Carolina, Clyde designed Oak Point on the grounds of a former cotton and indigo plantation. It is highly regarded as a shot making course, where strategy and course management are crucial to avoid trouble and give yourself the best chance of making pars & birdies.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Clyde Johnston |
| Opened for play | 1989 |
| Black | 6,821 yards | SSS 72.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 6,535 yards | SSS 71.0 |
| Silver | 6,110 yards | SSS 69.3 |
| Blue | 5,620 yards | SSS 67.4 (M) | 72.5 (L) |
| Blue/Red | 5,295 yards | SSS 65.3 (M) | 70.2 (L) |
| Red | 5,009 yards | SSS 64.1 (M) | 68.6 (L) |
Kiawah Island Resort matches the golf with two very different stays, depending on whether you want full-service hotel luxury or villa space for a group.
The Sanctuary sits right on the beach and leans into classic Lowcountry style with polished, five-star comfort. The 255 guest rooms and suites are fitted with handcrafted armoires and desks, custom-made beds and private seating areas. This isn't generic resort luxury, it's thoughtfully designed with Southern hospitality at its core. The Sanctuary has earned a stack of accolades over the years, and once you're there, you'll see why. If you want the full resort experience with everything on your doorstep, this is the way to do it.
If you're travelling as a family or a bigger group, the Resort Villas can be the smarter choice. They vary in size and location across the resort, and the extra space, kitchens and privacy make the whole trip feel easier, especially if not everyone is golfing every day. They're also ideal if you want a living area to regroup after taking on the Ocean Course. Right, these are perfect for families and larger groups who want more space and the added privacy that makes a golf holiday feel more like home.
Facilities are a big part of the Kiawah appeal. The Sanctuary Luxury Spa is one of only 17 facilities in America to be honoured with four stars by the Forbes Travel Guide, and its quality is derived from two key facets: the therapeutic value of the extracts of the Lowcountry's foundations, such as seaweed and mineral-rich soil, and the old-fashioned values of Southern hospitality. Tennis is another headline, Kiawah has been ranked as one of the top tennis resorts in the world, offering tuition for players of all standards and the latest tennis technology. On land, there's cycling, hiking and walking trails. On the water, the swimming pools and Atlantic coastline offer plenty of options, from paddleboarding to deep-sea fishing charters.
When it's time to eat, Kiawah covers the full range. The Ocean Room is the dress-up option and it's rightly well known, a culinary delight with dishes influenced by the flavours of North Africa, Spain and southern France that saw it awarded four Diamonds by the AAA. Among the countless dining options across the resort, from casual beachside bites to fine dining, Beaches & Cream is a great post-round stop for luxury ice cream and frozen yoghurt. Needless to say, it's an essential stop after a round in the Carolina sun.
Nick
✓4 May 2026
Great. Like Center Parcs on steriods. 3 bedroom villa. Very comfortable. TV with every channel you can imagine. 3 bathrooms. Nice view. Lovely little village with supermarket/restaurants etc.
Moragh
✓26 May 2025
Our stay was in a Villa. Very comfortable and some repairs were uncompleted.
David
✓4 May 2025
Bitten all over my back from bed bugs. Won’t ever stay in these villas again
Martin
✓9 May 2023
Stayed in a 4 bedroom deluxe Villa, which was enormous and situated on the 15th fairway of the Cougar Point Course. The accommodation needed to be seen to be believed, with huge separate bedrooms and spacious veranda looking onto the course, complete with barbecue.
Hugh
✓31 May 2022
Brilliant all round this place , could find no fault
Chris
✓16 May 2022
Great location, would definitely visit again
Jonathan
✓22 Apr 2022
Really lovely accommodation - a lot like an Airbnb. It was maybe a bit dated, but comfortable.
Philip
✓15 Apr 2022
Kiawah island is beautiful but eye wateringly expensive. My tip is to drive 5 minutes outside the resort to find restaurants more sensibly priced.
Raj
✓6 Apr 2022
Exclusive expensive bars and dining
Simon
✓31 Mar 2022
Although we did not stay in hotel, but in a Villa nearby, it was very comfortable with all the amenities needed. The Resort centre had a Market Shop which served excellent Breakfast as well as being a convenience store. Just a note, if you are staying in a Villa, tell the Security at the Resort Gate because the Villa Reception is not at the Hotel, but a different location on the Resort.
