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Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Kiawah Island Golf Resort is the golfing mecca of the USA’s Eastern Seaboard. It is the East’s answer to the West’s Bandon Dunes and Pebble Beach Resorts. Situated on the south-east coast of South Carolina, Kiawah Island is just a half-hour drive from Charleston. The Resort features five golf courses, all designed by hall-of-fame golfers including Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player and Clyde Johnstone. The expansive Resort offers pristine beaches, wetlands and forests, as well as hotel and villa options or vacation rentals that suit a broad range of travelling golfers. Kiawah Island is a destination fit for golfers and non-golfers alike with a world-class spa, recreational facilities and award-winning dining.
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Golf Resort Location
Resort Details
- Region: Kiawah, South Carolina
- Address: 4000 Sea Forest Dr, Johns Island, SC 29455, United States
- Contact Us: [email protected]
Golf Course Information
The Ocean Course – Pete Dye
Designed by the late Pete Dye, Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course is the Resort’s most famous golf course. It opened in 1991 and hosted The Ryder Cup in the same year. Bernhard Langer’s missed putt on 18 allowed the United States to win by one point that year. The Ocean Course has since hosted several tournaments including the 1997 World Cup, the 0201 UBS Warburg Cup and the 2003 World Cup. The Ocean Course hosted the 2021 PGA Championship. The 7,296-yard golf course has a par of 72 with a seaside links layout. The championship golf course was designed with a variety of tees so that the holes would remain great, regardless of your ability.
Turtle Point – Jack Nicklaus
Designed The Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus, Kiawah Island’s Turtle Point golf course opened in 1981 and has since risen through the ranks of popularity among visiting golfers. The golf course keeps a low profile-design with fairways and greens moulded into the landscape without artificial mounding and radical features. The golf course is 6,914 yards from the back markers, but the variance in tee boxes allows golfers of every calibre to enjoy Turtle Point. Turtle Point reopened in 2016 after a refurbishment by Nicklaus and his team to rave reviews. The design-philosophy is ‘to make the player use his mind ahead of his muscles.”
Osprey Point – Tom Fazio
Designed by famed golf course architect Tom Fazio, Osprey Point golf course at Kiawah Island Resort opened in 1986 and is characteristic of Fazio’s design philosophy. Features include four large natural lakes, fingers of a salt-water marsh, and dense maritime forests of century-old oaks, pines, palmetto pines and magnolias. The golf course was renovated in 1997 to increase the amount of championship play. The length of the par-72 golf course is 6,871 yards from the back tips, but golfers of all abilities can enjoy the challenging golf course. The scenery adds to the golf course’s renown.
Cougar Point – Gary Player
The Gary Player-designed Cougar Point golf course opened in 1996 and was renovated in 2017 to keep its championship quality intact. The par-72 golf course stretches to 6,861-yards from the back tees, making it 600 yards longer than the original. Cougar Point is famous for its three-hole stretch midway through the front nine where holes border the tidal marsh and offer panoramic views of the Kiawah River and miles of adjacent marsh. Golfers often remark on the outstanding natural beauty of The Cougar Point golf course.
Oak Point – Clyde Johnston
Designed by Clyde Johnston, the Oak Point golf course is tucked away in the centre of Hope Plantation. The golf course draws on Scottish influences with contemporary American twists. The par-72 layout provides a sufficient challenge for novices and experienced professionals at the same time. The Oak Point golf course sits by the Kiawah River and Haulover Creek, surrounded by maritime forest. The golf course favours precision shot-makers with undulating fairways and challenging greens.
Accommodation
The Sanctuary Hotel
The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Resort is the central accommodation option and the most hotel-like part of the Resort. There are a range of room types that cater to groups of any size and purpose. Luxurious Guestrooms are the entry category with the amenities of old-world style but modern comforts including a king bed or twins, dual vanity sinks and a private balcony. The only difference between these guest rooms is the amount of ocean view from the private balcony. Room categories increase from pool to garden-view suites, to oceanfront, Charleston, Governer and Presidential suites. All that is left for you to do is decide on how much space you require.
Resort Villas
Resort Villas at Kiawah Island are individual styles and maintained. They feature 2+ bedrooms and accommodate a variety of golf groups and families. Choose from newly renovated villas to old classics. The variables of the Resort Villas range from the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, location, bed configuration and views. The unique style of villas at Kiawah Island offers visitors a unique experience with every visit.
Private Homes
Much like the Resort Villas, Kiawah Island’s rental homes are privately owned and individually styled. They are ideal for golf and beach vacations, with locations on the Resort golf courses and beachfront. Kiawah Resort’s rental homes are ideal for larger groups or longer-stay families who like extra space and want to entertain from the privacy of their own home. Bedrooms range from 4+ with a range of configurations, full kitchens and private home amenities including BBQ’s, pools and lounge rooms.
Ocean Course Cottages
Designed especially for golfers with the sole aim of servicing groups looking to play the five golf courses at Kiawah Resort, the Ocean Course Cottages are the newest accommodation type at the Resort. The cottages frame The Ocean Course, featuring four distinctive two-story, four-bedroom accommodations just steps from the clubhouse. Contact us for more information.
Resort Dining
Town Center Market
Perfect for rental villas and self-catering homes, the Town Center Market is your destination to buy groceries. Pre-ordered groceries are available for pickup from 10 AM – 7 PM or delivery.
Jasmine Porch at The Sanctuary
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; the Jasmine Porch serves authentic Lowcountry cuisine and southern favourites. The Jasmine Porch has lighter meals for those just there to relax, or hearty cuisine for the full-experience diners. The sit-down restaurant offers value-for-money meals and comes highly recommended by Resort patrons.
The Ryder Cup Bar
Sophisticated and stylish, the Ryder Cup Bar is located at The Ocean Course. The menu is open for lunch and dinner with indoor and outdoor seating available. Service is on a first-come-first-serve basis. The Ryder Cup Bar is great for golfers looking to enjoy a meal after their round, with a full-service bar offering a wide range of cocktails, wines and beers. Menu items range from general starters to soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees.
Tomasso and Turtle Point Bar & Grille
Every Resort must have an Italian-themed restaurant and Kiawah Resort’s answer is the Tomasso and Turtle Point Bar and Grille. The restaurant requires reservations and is open daily from 4 PM to 8 PM. The cuisine served is contemporary Italian infused with Lowcountry flavours.
Cherrywood BBQ & Ale House
Open daily for lunch and dinner, the Cherrywood BBQ & Ale House offers walk-in only service for lunch, but reservations are required for dinner. The cuisine offers at The Ale House is genuine southern BBQ with house-made sauces. Its southern-infused flavours are a favourite among visitors to the Kiawah Resort.
The Player’s Pub at Cougar Point
A real favourite among visiting golfers, The Player’s Pub at Cougar Point is open daily for lunch and dinner, with walk-in service for lunch and reservations required for dinner. The restaurant offers comfort food favourites with a classic American ambience.
The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary
Kiawah Resort’s premium restaurant is The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday for dinner only. Attire that must be worn consists of a collared shirt or well-kept denim for gentlemen and boys over eight. Cocktail attire is recommended for ladies. The Ocean Room is Kiawah Island’s premier steakhouse, offering specialised cuts of beef paired with local product and fresh seafood. Reservations are required.
Resort Facilities
Recreation
Kiawah Island Resort has numerous recreational activities and services available, including:
- Bike Rentals – by reservation only
- Beach Chair & Umbrella Service – by reservation only
- Archery
- Paddle Boarding
- Beach Activities
The Spa at The Sanctuary
The world-class spa at The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island is fantastic. It offers showers, a steam room, sauna, mineral whirlpool, relaxation lounges and full spa services. Relax and enjoy a massage, get your nails or hair done, or enjoy a custom spa package. Ideal for non-golfers or those looking to pamper themselves, The Spa at The Sanctuary is a must.
Roy Barth Tennis Center
With almost a dozen hard-surface tennis courts and overhead lighting, the Roy Barth Tennis Center at Kiawah Island Resort is a must-visit destination. The courts are open daily with lessons and clinics available year-round. Rentals and private lessons are also available.
Golf Facilities
The golf practice and learning facilities at Kiawah Island Resort are truly world-class. The Tommy Cuthbert Golf Learning Center combines hands-on instruction with PGA Certified Professionals and Apprentices, along with the latest technology to help you improve every aspect of your golf game. Practice facilities consist of a full-length driving range, multiple putting greens and short-game areas with practice bunkers and greens. The studio for tuition utilises a video teaching system and Explanar technology tool for swing corrections.
How to Get There
Kiawah Island Resort sits south-east of Charleston on the coast of South Carolina. Getting there is as easy as flying to Charleston and either renting a vehicle or private transferring directly to the Resort. The distance is about 25 miles along the 700 highway before turning off at Walter Drive, making a right at Berryhill Rd, then another left at Bohicket Rd and continuing until you reach the Resort.
