how to play the ocean course at kiawah island

by Chaz Macejkovic 4 min read

Is the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island a must-play golf course?

Mar 17, 2021 · With the resort's online tee time system, booking this way is transparent about pricing and easy to do. Kiawah Island Stay & Play Package. FROM $177 (USD) KIAWAH ISLAND, SC | Enjoy 5 nights' accommodations in a Resort Class Villa at Kiawah Island Golf Resort and play 4 rounds of golf at Osprey Point, Turtle Point, Cougar Point and Ocean Course.

What is the toughest course at Kiawah Island?

Oct 06, 2017 · The Ocean Course is sort of a throwback because Dye built it to be a walking course designed for play with a caddie. It’s a six and a half-mile walk. It helps that the holes are close together, so not a long haul from one green to the next tee like it would be on a course designed for carts. It can be harder in the summer due to the heat.

Would you pay $225 to play on the ocean at Kiawah Island?

1. The Ocean Course. Home to past PGA Tour events, two PGA Championships, and the 1991 Ryder Cup, Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course is without a doubt the best and the toughest course that the resort has to offer. The Ocean Course is ranked No.3 on Golf Digest’s “America’s Top 100 Public Courses” and No.1 on “America’s 20 Toughest ...

How much is the Kiawah Island Golf Club discount?

Aug 07, 2012 · How you can play the host site, Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course, at a 49 percent discount. No, you don't have to play in oppressive heat and humidity -- you can score this discount during prime seasons. You don't even need to be a resort guest. You just have to take advantage of a little-known policy change regarding replay rounds.

How much does it cost to play the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island?

The Ocean Course. All are among the world's greatest golf courses but places most golfers only dream about playing. They just don't fit into the average golfer's budget. The $383 Ocean Course greens fee, which doesn't include a gratuity for the caddie, keeps most locals from heading out to Kiawah Island Golf Resort.Apr 24, 2018

Can I play Kiawah Island Ocean Course?

Offering tremendous scenery, all courses are open to the public for an expensive green fee. Although not inaccessible, green fees at the Ocean Course cost $383. Resort guests can play at the courses at a discounted rate and there are a number of packages available to play more than one of Kiawah Island's courses.May 12, 2021

Can anyone play the Ocean Course?

Many majors are contested at exclusive clubs around the country, but this year we get two (along with the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines) that are on courses open to the public. That means you — yes, you — can play on the same holes that are trekked by the likes of Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy.May 21, 2021

How does the Ocean Course play?

The Ocean Course gets constant wind, although it can shift directions. It can make an eight club difference on the same hole from one day to the next — or even from morning to afternoon. A few Sundays ago, a scratch golfer had only 120 yards to the hole, but because of the wind it wound up playing more like 180 yards.Oct 6, 2017

Are caddies required at Kiawah Ocean Course?

The Ocean Course is walking only except during the summer months (June, July and August), when carts are allowed for golfers teeing off after 10am (carts restricted to paths). Caddies are not mandatory for anyone walking the course but are highly recommended.

Can the public play Kiawah Island Golf Course?

Do I have to stay at the resort to play golf at Kiawah? KIGR is open to the public and tee times can be made without renting property at the resort. Discounts are offered for guests of the resort.

How hard is the Ocean Course?

The Ocean Course can certainly lay claim to one of the toughest stretches of holes as any other big-time course. Starting at the long par four at the ninth hole, players face another strenuous par four at the 10th hole.

What are the green fees at Kiawah Island?

(Note: For all four courses, peak season greens fees are $262 for non-resort guests (not including taxes and resort fees) and $224 for resort guests. For Ocean Course pricing, click here.)May 21, 2021

How do I book the Ocean Course?

The Ocean Course: An American Icon. Online booking for tee times at The Ocean Course is currently unavailable. To reserve your tee time, please contact our pro shop at 843.266. 4670.

Is Kiawah the hardest course?

Kiawah could arguably be listed as number 1 on the list of the hardest public golf courses especially when the wind gets blowing. Kiawah has played host to 1991 Ryder Cup (USA), Senior PGA Championship (Denis Watson), and the 2012 PGA Championship (Rory McIlroy).

Why is Kiawah so hard?

It's windy Wind factors into a rating when the prevailing mid-season wind speeds are 5 miles-per-hour or higher. At Kiawah, 10-12 mile-per-hour winds are the mid-season average. Of course, they can blow harder, as they did during the 2012 PGA Championship, when gusts got up to 40 miles per hour.May 19, 2021

Are there any sand traps on The Ocean Course?

Bunkers: There are NO bunkers on the course. All sandy areas, whether natural, specially prepared and/or enclosed by grass and are not in a penalty area are treated as part of the general area.May 20, 2021

Where is the Ocean Course in 2021?

As you will hear many times during the 2021 PGA Championship broadcast, the Ocean Course is at Kiawah Island Golf Resort — one of the resort’s five courses — and it’s easy for you to book a tee time. The Pete Dye-designed Ocean Course opened in 1991 and hosted one of the most memorable Ryder Cups ever later that year.

Who is Josh Berhow?

Josh Berhow is the managing editor at GOLF.com. The Minnesota native graduated with a journalism degree from Minnesota State University in Mankato. You can reach him at joshua_berhow@golf.com. Author Twitter Account.

Where is the clubhouse at Kiawah Island Golf Resort?

The magnificent clubhouse at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Gary Kellner/PGA of America. Part of the pure joy of a round on the Ocean Course is the excuse to show up early and stay late at the magnificent clubhouse. This is one of the coolest spots in golf.

When is the Ocean Course walking only?

The course is walking-only September through May. Carts are allowed after 10 a.m. during the hotter summer months June through August.

Where is the 103rd PGA Championship?

The 17th hole of the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort , the site of the 103rd PGA Championship. Gary Kellner/PGA of America. From the moment it opened in 1991, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island has been a showstopper.

How much does a caddie tip for golf?

These rounds require a forecaddie. Recommended tip for any caddie is at least $100 a bag. Considering how difficult the course can play, especially when the wind kicks up, these bagmen are vital to guiding bogey golfers around the course in as few shots as their skill allows.

How many shots did Rory McIlroy win in 2012?

It's hard to fathom that somebody will have as easy a time winning as Rory McIlroy did at the 2012 PGA Championship, cruising to an eight-shot victory. It all depends on the weather. You could say the same for your round.

How long is the Ocean Course?

The Ocean Course is sort of a throwback because Dye built it to be a walking course designed for play with a caddie. It’s a six and a half-mile walk. It helps that the holes are close together, so not a long haul from one green to the next tee like it would be on a course designed for carts.

Which is harder, 17 or 14?

Of the par threes, 17 has all the history because of the Ryder Cup, but 14 is actually harder because it’s elevated, so it gets more crosswind. Seventeen is visually harder because you have to carry water the whole way. But 14 is elevated to the same height as the sand dunes, and the course turns back eastward, which means you’re more likely to get a headwind. The silver tee lies only 160 yards from the green, but you might need a 2 iron to hit it from there.

How many golf courses are there in Kiawah Island?

Kiawah Island Golf Resort is home to five public golf courses that are known around the world for their beautiful layouts and world-class conditions. From The Ocean Course to Osprey Point, there is a course for any skill level and price range.

What is the Osprey Point course?

Osprey Point is another incredible course that, like many of Tom Fazio’s designs, champions playability over showmanship, delivering an enjoyable experience for players of all skill levels. This course doesn’t offer the same flashy pageantry or spectacular oceanside views as The Ocean Course, but it still presents players with pristine conditions and beautiful marshland scenery. After your round, grab a drink at FortyEight Wine Bar or spend some time shopping in Freshfield Village’s charming town center!

What is Tom Fazio's golf course?

Oak Point. Another Tom Fazio course, Oak Point combines natural lakes, saltwater marshes, and dense forestry, making for a unique course that plays unlike any other in the area. The course underwent major renovations in 2015 to bring it up to speed with the rest of Kiawah Island’s immaculate golf courses and now competes with ...

What is Cougar Point?

Cougar Point is the most recently renovated course with changes made in early 2017. A close third behind Osprey Point , the course was designed by Gary Player and gives players some amazing views as it weaves its way around the Kiawah River. With a good mix of short and long par fours and some great risk-reward par fives, Cougar Point is a great course to warm up with before you take on The Ocean Course.

Who is Craig Better?

Craig Better. Craig Better is one of the founding editors of Golf Vacation Insider. In addition to traveling to 15 foreign countries, he has twice traveled across America to play golf courses in all 50 United States.

Does Kiawah Island offer a discount?

How you can play the host site, Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course, at a 49 percent discount. No, you don't have to play in oppressive heat and humidity -- you can score this discount during prime seasons. You don't even need to be a resort guest.

What is the first golf course in Kiawah?

When travelling to Kiawah, Cougar Point is the first golf course you reach once you get to the Island. This course is beloved for its great playing holes that were designed to be inherently unique from one another. In particular, you will find two holes situated along the Kiawah River that lend long fairways with challenging terrain.

How many holes are there in the Atlantic Ocean?

With 10 holes situated next to the Atlantic Ocean, and the other eight nearby, there is little protection from the wind. Hole 17 in particular is known to test golfers skills, as well as their patience, with a green that is fully vulnerable to the elements and surrounded by water. Prepare to lose a ball, or a few.

Is Kiawah Island a golf course?

Living on a golf course is one of the best ways to enjoy what Kiawah Island has to offer. If you have always dreamed of living on a golf course, Kiawah has seven world-class options to choose from. View our listings of available homes built along these courses below.

What is the last course on the golf course list?

The last course on the list is Oak Point , known as the shotmaker’s course. This highly-rated course is the perfect blend of Scottish Links and South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Almost every hole is surrounded by maritime forest that frames the fairways for a picturesque view.

Is Osprey Point open to the public?

Originally, the Osprey Point Golf Course was only accessible to Kiawah Club Members, but has since been opened to the public. In 2014, the entire course was renovated by Tom Fazio, which was the third Kiawah course he had a role in designing. The transformation turned Osprey Point into the championship-level course it’s known as today.

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