The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

The Ocean Course at Kiawah is a true test of your golf game. The views, from the time you arrive, are spectacular. You'll see plenty of the Atlanic Ocean. I'd definitely recommend a walking caddie. The wind is what makes this course deserving of the title of Americas toughest, and the caddies do a great job helping you navigate your way around the links. Do yourself a favor and check out the Ryder Cup Bar in the clubhouse. The food is fantastic.....I recommended the Bagger burger btw. Can't wait to get back on Kiawah Island.

Played the Ocean Course this morning and was blown away by the beauty of the course and it’s surroundings. I was lucky enough to play on a day that although cool, was pretty benign wind wise (about a 1 club wind). Going in you should know that if you are the average golfer there are just gonna be some shots you can’t make. Especially around the greens. I highly recommend putting off the tightly mown areas. Even if it’s up a steep slope. There were some really elevated table top greens where if you tried to pitch it to hit it high enough you had to swing hard and risk it rolling off the green on the other side, unless you can really flop it. The greens were very smooth and very fast. Especially down wind. They are generally pretty flat and putts don’t break that much. The fairways are very generous but if you miss them there isn’t much rough. They are gone into the waste areas which may or may not be playable. The course itself is beautiful and in perfect shape. As are the areas around the course. It’s just more scenic than anywhere else I’ve ever been. And the holes on the ocean are unbelievable. Trust your caddie. He knows more about the course than you do. There are several holes where Pete Dye tries to trick your eyes and things you think are on one side of the fairway may be in the middle. Or things you think are in the middle are on the right side. He knows his lines. My caddie was Robbie and he was awesome! He quickly learned my club selection and was very helpful with yardage, lines, and the affect of the wind and would suggest a club. He also helps you look for you ball when you hit it in the junk. Take plenty of balls. I’m a bogey golfer and in my two previous rounds I think I had lost 2 balls total. And I lost 6 at the Ocean Course. You’ll find some to replace the ones you lose. I’d say I shot about 10 strokes higher than my handicap but I did make several (4-5) pars. But I didn’t keep score and don’t recommend you do unless you are better than a 10-12 handicapper. Enjoy the walk, enjoy the scenery, and enjoy the company. To make it more affordable boom the Golf and Gourmet Package. $300 gets you a round on the Ocean Course, a night in a condo, and $100 food credit. $200 gets you the same room, a round on any of the other courses and a $50 food credit. I highly recommend it once in your life!

Played this as part of a winter special where the round plus 2 nights as well as a round at Osprey Point was only $250, found this price very reasonable but would have a tough time paying $450 for just 18 holes in prime season to take the beating this course delivers. The course is very demanding especially when the wind picks up as it did for us on the back nine, but if you can keep a driver in play then a respectable score is possible (for the Ocean purse that is). Overall the course was in excellent shape especially for January, and considering when we played it it had recently had a fair amount of rain the fairways were excellent. The greens are a bit fast but nothing terrible and roll very true. The only knock on the course is that it emphasizes target golf a little too much for a course so exposed to the wind. I found the scenery on both sides to be fantastic and don’t understand the complaint that the front isn’t close enough to the ocean, the scenery it provides is even more unique than the ocean and is equal to the backside. Overall an excellent course that will test every aspect of your game but especially your endurance and will to push on, it is an easy course to give up on. If you can play it in the winter for a deep discount and are fortunate enough to have the excellent weather we did then do not pass it up, otherwise save up and play because it is worth it if even only once.

Played the ocean course at Kiawah! Which has hosted the Ryder cup and is hosting the PGA in 2021! The course condition is excellent! The layout is hard to beat with very memorable holes and green strings ! The wind plays into every shot so one needs patience to play and a good caddie as they k ow the course and where is best to hit your tee shots as well as approach shots into green or where to lay up if needed !
I felt the course was great and challenging yet very fair overall which is important in playability
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I would recommend giving this course a try as you will surely enjoy the experience

Tom

God placed his hand on this land and created the Ocean Course. We played in 4 1/2 hours which was perfect. This time frame allowed us to enjoy the scenery and take photos. My caddy Mike was very informative on were to hit my shots and showing the breaks on the greens. I hope to play there again in the near future.

I’m not even sure where to start. I was in Charleston for 3 days, and due to a limited budget, a course costing $400 (plus $100 for a caddie, and you should absolutely take a caddie) wasn’t in my budget. However, due to Southwest loosing my clubs for 2 of the three days, I decided to splurge and play one round of epic golf. And, let me tell you, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is beyond EPIC!! I’ve been a scratch golfer twice in my life, and am a mid-single digit right now (mental game, between the ears stuff), which is only to say that I’m writing this review as someone who has deep experience and appreciation for the game of golf. The Ocean course is the best course I have ever played, and I’ve played a lot of the gems in the United States (Scotland trip next year might change that). Literally, from first walking into the most amazing clubhouse, the history and ambiance just resonates with a feeling that there is no place else you’d rather be. The practice facilities are great, my caddie was exceptional, the course conditions were pristine (they use a special grass that grows in sand/coastal areas, and there is NO GRAIN, so putts are truer than any other course out there. It’s the best turf on earth, and they use it tee to green), and the weather happened to be 65 and sunny with almost no wind (don’t expect that though, my caddie said it’s a rarity, it isn’t ranked as one of the toughest courses in the world for nothing). On top of all of that, I shot 77 from 1 tee box up from the tips, as the course really brought out the best in me. You have to be precise on your tee shots. There’s water, sand washes and terribly spiky bushes on every single hole, but you see what you get. The sight lines on every hole are as good as any, so if you keep it in play (and keep it low if the wind is blowing) it can be a score-able course.

I have many other words to express how amazing this course and experience is/was, but we all know Pete Dye is a legend....and The Ocean Course is his “John Hancock.” I digress.

It’s pricey but it’s worth the cost. Good layout, great staff, immaculate conditions. Stunning views from the veranda. Gorgeous clubhouse. I think the layout is good but it is not anything memorable when I compare it to the other top 10 courses I’ve played. Excellent caddies, well organized. Greens rolled true... play from
The right tees to
Enjoy it and not kill yourselves (or others paired with you).. make sure you can handle wind and not be intimidated....Don’t play this if you’re a casual once a year golfer...great sunset views

There’s a reason this is on almost everyone’s bucket list. It brings so much to the table, and even though it’s known for being a difficult test I find it more playable each time I have had the chance to play it. Make sure you leave time to enjoy a drink after the round looking over the 18th and the ocean in the Ryder Cup Room.

We had the opportunity to play here on a Monday afternoon . Playing later in the afternoon was our plan so that we could take our time and enjoy the views and course. Quite a disappointment as we found the greens in poor condition and very, very slow. It was like putting on shag carpeting. The layout was very nice and there was plenty of views to take in. Our mandatory caddie was very poor, rode on our cart, didn’t clean our clubs, didn’t provide sight lines and continually gave us wrong reads on the green. To top it all off he had the guts to ask for a bigger tip at the end of the round. This was quite a disappointment and I would not recommend playing here.

I have played The Ocean Course 4 times now, and it never disappoints! The course is always in great condition, and walking with a caddie is always treat. The views are beautiful and the course is challenging. Make sure to have lunch on the porch of the Ryder Cup bar. The whole place is definitely a treat.

Now, with that headline, you would think I had a terrible time. I didn't, it's an enjoyable and challenging-but-fun Pete Dye course.

But to call this a "bucket list" experience, and to rate it a Top 5 you can play in the US, is to WILDLY overrate it. It's a good course with classic Dye bunkering and green complexes. But it's in the middle of nowhere, the conditioning is spotty in places (tee boxes were muni-level poor), and it boasts near-Pebble-level pricing for an experience that is nowhere near. It's not even close to worth the money.

I don't know where it should be rated, Golf Digest, but I know it ain't #4. Better than Spyglass? Are you serious?? Bethpage Black? Pinehurst #2? I could go on, but I imagine there's a maximum character limit here.
Put it this way: there are 3 tracks in Bandon, Oregon, that are FAR better golf courses, and you could make a solid argument for a 4th.
AND THEY ALL HAVE BETTER VIEWS.

So about those vistas...
I was astounded - and pretty angry, frankly - at the marketing material claiming an ocean view from every hole. This is totally false. The front nine is played through marshland (still lovely, but not the Atlantic). Then on the back nine, you hear the waves crashing throughout, but you rarely ever see the water besides peek-a-boos from the tee boxes (14th Hole is one beautiful exception). Even the beach-side final 4 holes are bizarrely blockaded by a sand dune, so feel free to shank your tee shot right in order to get a good look.
Frankly, it should be called the "Hear-But-Not-See-The-Ocean Course".

All in all, the experience is fine -- great staff, excellent service, good golf course. It's just not remotely close to worth the price of admission.

The clubhouse is striking, though - and it's got the best views on the property, by far. Be sure to enjoy a post-round drink so you can finally get a good look at the ocean.

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is something special. We played on the golf and gourmet package which is a heck of a deal. $150 for a night stay and round is crazy.

The course is amazing. Greens and fairways are top notch. The rough well their is none everything just runs into waste areas which are very playable.

Front nine I liked No. 2 and No. 3 the best although the hole are great but very visually tough. No. 2 is a great par 5 where you need to pick the right area to land your tee shot then the shot towards the green you must miss a fairway bunker and avoid the waste area as you hit to an elevated green. No. 3 is a shorty but is no slouch must require 2 good shots and then some work on the green.

The back nine is so cool. You start playing along some beach mansions and then finish 14-18 along the ocean or if your me on 16 play from the beach cause your tee shot was so bad.

This place is just amazing I highly recommend it to any golfer who likes tough courses, I also recommend a caddie as they were a huge help especially when they tel you not to look for balls in the spots with the gators HA HA.

I wouldn't recommend this course for just a hacker just because of the price of the greens fees. From the second you pull up to drop off your clubs you are treated like a Pro golfer. My caddie for the day came out grabbed my clubs, cleaned them and had them out at the driving range before I got out of the car. The course is amazing and calls for every shot you have and some that you don't. The day I played it was windy and hot, but they have towels on your cart and free water at every hole. The greens are beautiful and pure and have no grain in them so deciding line and speed were easier to decide, even for me. I love the way the course makes it ways around the dunes and waste areas using all natural features. It was also cool knowing all the pros that had played all the holes you had. The caddie was well worth it because of some of the demanding tee shots and where to hit it, if you didn't know you could be in alot of trouble. The whole back 9 run along the ocean and the views were awesome. The 18th hole back to the huge clubhouse makes you think about the pressure you would have leading a golf tournament. As soon as we got back to the clubhouse my caddie took my clubs off the cart and cleaned them. When I got ready to leave after stopping at the 19th hole for a cold drink (or three) he took my clubs out to my car and he started it so It would be cold for me when I got in. This could be considered a once in a lifetime experience.

Round was interrupted by a storm but that did not change the fact that this course is amazing. The course conditions were perfect besides the water from the storm. Our caddie was friendly and very helpful. I was in awe the entire round. What an experience. I hope to play again someday and would recommend this course to everyone.

I was down in Kiawah for the first time with my family. I have two very high level junior golfers 7 and 9 - they are playing in the junior worlds at Pinehurst in early August so we decided to give the Ocean Course a try. We were required to have a forecaddy and we were able to use carts after 10 (cart path only) - We were treated first class from the moment we pulled up. The only hickup (if you can call it that) was the look of dismay on the caddy’s face when he saw my 7 / 9 year old daughter - when my 7 year old chipped in for birdie on 1 and the other one drove her first drive 150 down the middle and bacially played par golf from the JR world lengths - the caddy took the girls under his wing and went well above any expectations - the girls played other courses at Kiawah but this was defiantly the highlight and I could not relay more of a high class enjoyable day.

Big Pete Dye fan. Have played his courses all over the country. Ocean Course was on the bucket list. I'm from snow country so this was my first round of the year, so shooting a score wasn't really on the agenda. But just wanted to see how hard and scenic this place was.......
The clubhouse and staff are outstanding. Venue is incredible. Amenities in clubhouse were top notch. I had been on Kiawah Island all week and saw the other courses and they looked to be in wonderful condition (this was later confirmed by my playing partners). Weather was great, light winds. Met my playing partners----seem like nice people. Should be a fantastic, memorable experience on the course.
Meet my caddie, knock the rust off the Mizuno's and off we go to take the 5 minute ride to the first tee. Step onto the first tee and......
The course is sorta brownish? Hmmmmmm......
Tee it up, hit one down the middle and have 105 in. Wedge comes up short but hey, its early and nerves. Hit a little spinning chip to 2 feet. Kick in par. I'll take that on one of the countries toughest golf courses........
Continued to play golf holes, hoping for the course conditions to improve (they didn't), and waiting for the 'wow' factor to hit me. It just never did. To me this is not even close to Pete Dye's best work, nor is it that difficult. I hit 10 of 14 fairways (two I missed by a couple yards and two I pull hooked and chalked that up to the first round of the year yips). The wind, which the caddie said was a 'normal' day, was two clubs. Greens rolled well and were fast. Maximum break I had on a putt all day was a foot and a half. Most were two balls outside. This is tough course?????? Sure, if the wind blows 30 mph. Go play your muni in a 30 mph wind and tell me its a cakewalk. Any course is tough.

Ocean views???? Ok, the back nine, but the front nine was very ho hum. Sorry, I've seen more scenic. Bunkers were hard pan or "a little firm" as my caddie put it. I was is two that were unraked and getting out wasn't a problem but you had to catch in perfectly to keep from blading in over the green. Most high handicappers will struggle with that shot big time.
I'm sorry, but it just didn't do it for me. I think the people who are members there like to believe their course is the most scenic and most difficult course and that's how its portrayed, but IMHO, its not.
Save your money (a lot of money) and play somewhere else. The members will appreciate that and so will your wallet.
Caddie was fine, did a great job. Ever notice most of the scenic pictures of the course are overhead views? There's a reason.

You'd better bring your a game when you play this challenging course.

Kiawah is a world class facility and the Ocean course met every expectation. Every hole is ocean view, and each presents a different challenge. And everything about the course was in perfect condition. Also, the bunkers on Ocean don't count as hazards, and they present a unique challenge.

From the moment I got to Kiawah, I was treated like a VIP. Staff was super friendly. My caddie was amazing and very helpful - these greens are really challenging and he knew exactly where to put the ball on every hole.

Superb practice facility, amazing food and bev and great pro shops. Can't recommend enough. Well worth the money. Hope to go back sometime.

This is hands down the hardest course I've ever played. That said, it's a tremendous golf course. The greens are fantastic. Not too fast and not a ton of break, so you can make some putts. The hardest part is off the tee. Pete Dye is so deceptive with sight lines, that you really have to trust the line and be aggressive. Everything about this place is first class. The views are amazing. The caddies are tremendous. I can't wait to go back.

The Ocean Course is definitely a bucket list course. If you are any where near Kiawah Island, knock it off your list.

I hope that you can experience this course on one if its signature windy days and I also hope you can play it on a calm day. It can be tough to take in the awesome views while you are grinding on a windy day.

Pics of Ocean Course

https://flickr.com/photos/92239680@N08/sets/72157633914033442