Flights, 5 Nights, 3 Rounds
Turtle Point is one of Kiawah Island's smartest tests of golf. Jack Nicklaus' design is more sheltered than the Ocean Course, but don't mistake that for a softer ride. At 7,061 yards from the back tees, this is a strategic layout where shape from the tee, distance control into the greens and sensible course management matter on almost every hole.
What makes Turtle Point so enjoyable on a golf trip is the balance it offers. You still get the Atlantic on three memorable back-nine holes, but much of the course is framed by mature trees, lagoons and tightly positioned hazards that make you think your way round. It is a proper championship test with a little more variety and a little less exposure than Kiawah's headline act.
Nicklaus built the routing to alternate demands on the player, shifting the preferred shape from left-to-right on one hole to right-to-left on the next, so no single swing tendency goes unpunished for long. Course management is not optional here. It is the whole game.
If you like traditional design and a course that rewards patience, Turtle Point is easy to recommend. It is particularly good for golfers who want a serious round at Kiawah without the full brutality of the Ocean Course.
Who is this for?
Golfers visiting Kiawah Island who want a genuine championship test with more shelter and strategic nuance than the Ocean Course, plus anyone drawn to traditional Nicklaus design at its most considered.
Who is it best for?
Low-to-mid handicappers who enjoy thinking their way around a course, placing the ball with intent and working through a layout that rewards patience and punishes imprecision. If you want your golf with a strong sense of place and a proper view of the Atlantic, Turtle Point delivers.
Flights, 5 Nights, 3 Rounds
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Flights, 7 Nights, 5 Rounds
The golf course at Turtle Point was one of Jack Nicklaus’ earlier creations after turning his hand to course design, but it has stood the test of time. The narrow fairways, small greens, close out-of-bounds and the tricky water hazards are indicative of the more traditional style of Turtle Point, the course is also pretty long – 7,061 yards – necessitating proficiency with the driver in terms of both length and accuracy.
Arguably as challenging as the more famous Ocean Course, Turtle Point comes highly recommended.
| 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) |
Jonathan
✓22 Apr 2022
Alan
✓13 Jul 2019
Brilliant tree lined course in near perfect condition but I came for Ocean Course and anything after it was an anticlimax.
