Nina Caldwell
Nestled along the coast of South Carolina, Kiawah Island is a golfer's paradise, offering pristine fairways, stunning ocean views, and exceptional golf experiences. With a variety of world-renowned courses, it has become a sought-after destination for golf enthusiasts. The Island features five public courses, including the famous Ocean Course, which has hosted prestigious tournaments such as the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship. In addition to these public offerings, Kiawah Island also has private golf courses exclusively for members, providing challenging play across diverse landscapes. The private courses, designed by renowned architects, offer a unique and exclusive golf experience. With its rich history, breathtaking scenery, and top-class amenities, Kiawah Island presents an unparalleled blend of golf and luxury.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golf courses | 6 |
| Number of public courses | 5 |
| Number of private courses | 1 |
| Names of private courses | Cassique |
| Names of public courses | The Ocean Course, Turtle Point, Cougar Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point |
| Location | South Carolina, USA |
| Nearest city | Charleston |
| Distance from nearest city | 25 miles |
| Coast | Atlantic |
| Coastline | Scenic |
| Ocean views | Yes |
| Accommodation options | Resort villas, private homes, cottages, Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort |
| Amenities | Swimming pools, fitness centre, restaurants, pubs, grilles, living rooms, dining rooms, ballroom, veranda |
| Other activities | Dolphin-watching cruise, full moon kayaking, clay shooting, spa services, kayaking, paddleboarding |
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What You'll Learn
- Kiawah Island has five public golf courses and one private course
- The Ocean Course is public and hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup
- Cassique is the only private course
- The River Course is a public course and was the location of the first English settlement on the island
- The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers luxury accommodation
Kiawah Island has five public golf courses and one private course
Nestled along the scenic coast of South Carolina, Kiawah Island is a golfer's paradise. It offers pristine fairways, stunning ocean views, and an environment conducive to refining your golf skills. The island boasts six golf courses in total, five of which are public and one is private.
The Ocean Course, Turtle Point, Cougar Point, Osprey Point, and Oak Point are the five public courses that golfers can enjoy. The Ocean Course is the most famous of the lot, having hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, and the 2003 World Cup. It is a challenging course with a scorecard yardage of 7,876 yards from the Championship tees. Designed by Pete Dye, it opened in 1991 and is known for its stunning views and difficult holes.
Kiawah Island Club, on the other hand, offers its members two private courses, Cassique and the River Course, each with its own unique features and magnificent natural beauty. Cassique, designed by Tom Watson, is a links-style course with a Celtic influence. The first six holes have been described as resembling the southwest coast of Ireland. The River Course, designed by Tom Fazio, unfolds along the Kiawah River, with holes playing along the river, stunning savannahs, and shimmering ponds. It is the first private course on the island, opening in 1995, and was fully certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 1999.
Kiawah Island's golf packages can be tailored to individual specifications, with luxury accommodation options available, including resort villas, private homes, and cottages. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers unspoiled sea views and exceptional facilities, including a top-class fitness center and swimming pools. The resort's villas are also a popular choice, providing access to interactive pool complexes and free transport to any resort-owned venue.
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The Ocean Course is public and hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina is a public golf course. It is one of five public courses on the island, with the remaining course, Cassique, being private.
The Ocean Course is the most famous of the island's golf courses, having hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, and the 2003 World Cup. The 1991 Ryder Cup was particularly notable as it was the first time the competition had been awarded to a course that had not yet been built. Designed by Pete Dye, the course was completed in time to host the event, despite being badly damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
The 1991 Ryder Cup was also significant as it was the first time the competition had been televised live for three days. The event was won by the United States team, who had not claimed victory since 1983. The final match came down to a six-foot putt, with Germany's Bernhard Langer missing the putt on the final hole, giving the win to the United States.
The Ocean Course is the longest course on Kiawah Island, with a scorecard yardage of 7,876 yards from the Championship tees. The course offers stunning ocean views and luxurious accommodation options, including resort villas, private homes, and cottages.
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Cassique is the only private course
Kiawah Island is a golfer's paradise, with beautifully maintained golf courses, a huge number of coastal holes, and breathtaking views of the Atlantic. Located in South Carolina, the island has gained a global reputation for exceptional golf, with its courses ranked among the best in the world.
The island features five public courses, including the famed Ocean Course, which has hosted the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship. The Ocean Course is known for its challenging layout, stunning ocean views, and accessibility to the public.
In addition to the public courses, Kiawah Island offers two private courses exclusively for club members and their guests. Cassique is the only private course on the island, designed by Hall-of-Famer Tom Watson, a five-time British Open Champion. The course reflects classic links courses of Ireland and Scotland, with the first six holes described as "airlifted from Ireland's southwest coast."
The Cassique clubhouse, designed by Shope Reno Wharton Associates, captures the elegance of a 19th-century English country manor. It offers stunning views of the golf course and the tidelands surrounding the Kiawah River. Members can also enjoy the Cassique Boathouse, providing superior service and a variety of kayaking and paddleboarding options along the island's surrounding creeks, rivers, and marshlands.
Kiawah Island's private courses offer a prestigious and exclusive golf experience, complementing the renowned public courses that have made the island a renowned golf destination. The combination of challenging layouts, breathtaking scenery, and luxurious amenities ensures a memorable golf getaway for both casual players and avid golfers alike.
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The River Course is a public course and was the location of the first English settlement on the island
Kiawah Island, located off the coast of South Carolina, is known for its golf courses. The island features five public golf courses, including the famed Ocean Course, and two private courses. The River Course is one of the public courses and was the location of the first English settlement on the island in the 18th century.
The River Course, which extends about a mile along the Kiawah River, was originally opened in 1995 and was extensively renovated in 2006 by Tom Fazio. Fazio's redesign included re-grassing all 18 greens and rebuilding four putting surfaces, as well as re-grassing all 18 fairways, collars, and tees with a new type of Bermuda grass. The course has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Golf Digest's top five new private courses in the nation in 1996. However, it is important to note that despite this recognition, the River Course is, in fact, a public course.
The history of Kiawah Island dates back to the early 1600s when a tribe of natives called "Kiawah" inhabited the island before the English arrived later in the century. The River Course, located along the Kiawah River, played a significant role in the early history of the island. It is now a popular golf destination, offering challenging play along the river's edge and boasting magnificent natural beauty.
The Kiawah Island Club offers its members exclusive access to two private golf courses, in addition to the five public courses available to all visitors. The first private course, designed by Tom Fazio, presents a highly challenging experience with holes unfolding along a diverse landscape of river edges, savannahs, ponds, and maritime forests. The second private course, designed by Tom Watson, features a links-style layout inspired by classic Celtic designs, reminiscent of the southwest coast of Ireland. These private courses provide a more exclusive golf experience for members and their guests, while the public courses, such as the River Course, are accessible to all golfers.
The River Course, with its historical significance and stunning natural setting, exemplifies the unique blend of history and golf that Kiawah Island offers. Visitors can enjoy a round of golf on the very land where the first English settlement was established, immersing themselves in the island's rich past while also appreciating the meticulously designed course. This accessibility to the public showcases the island's commitment to sharing its historical and recreational treasures with a wide audience.
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The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers luxury accommodation
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a luxurious seaside hotel located on the Atlantic coast of South Carolina, about 21 to 25 miles southwest of Charleston. The resort is known for its unspoiled sea views, exceptional facilities, and southern hospitality. With a variety of luxury accommodation options, including resort villas, private homes, and cottages, The Sanctuary offers something for everyone.
The hotel itself is a grand seaside mansion with 255 guest rooms and suites, all featuring expansive balconies, custom furnishings, luxurious bedding, and bath appointments. The soaring central lobby frames stunning views of the ocean, with dual sweeping staircases on either side curving past two-story murals painted by local artist Karen Larson Turner, capturing the beauty of Kiawah's Lowcountry landscapes.
The Sanctuary's beachfront location provides the perfect setting for sun loungers and beach yoga, and the resort also offers a top-class fitness centre, swimming pools, and an onsite spa, ensuring guests have a variety of options to relax and rejuvenate. The resort's villas are a popular choice among golfers, providing access to two interactive pool complexes and free transport to any resort-owned venue.
The Sanctuary takes dining seriously, offering an excellent culinary experience, although it doesn't come cheap. From edible orchids floating in mimosas to the famed 21-day wet-aged filet mignon at the Ocean Room, the resort caters to a range of tastes and preferences. With a golf course on-site and several others nearby, including the famous Ocean Course, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is the perfect destination for golfers seeking a luxurious getaway.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kiawah Island Club offers members two private golf courses, Cassique and River Course, which are two of the Top 100 residential courses in the U.S.
There are five public golf courses on Kiawah Island: The Ocean Course, Turtle Point, Cougar Point, Osprey Point, and Oak Point.
Golfers can choose from a range of luxury accommodation options, including resort villas, private homes, and cottages. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers unspoiled sea views and exceptional facilities, including a fitness centre and swimming pools. The resort's villas are also a popular choice, providing access to interactive pool complexes and free transport to any resort-owned venue.
