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4.9
65 Reviews (65)
5 Stars
59
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.9
Value
4.2
Layout
5.0
Friendliness
5.0
Pace
4.1
Amenities
5.0
98.2%
Recommend this course
61 out of 65 reviews
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Value
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Layout
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Friendliness
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Amenities
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Recommend this course
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About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 7356 yards
Slope 144
Rating 77.3

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina is one of America’s most prestigious rounds of publicly accessible golf. The headliner of five 18-hole courses at Kiawah Island Resort, the Ocean Course was designed by architect Pete Dye and opened in 1991, just prior to its staging of the 1991 Ryder Cup, otherwise known as the “War by the Shore.” It also hosted the 2012 PGA Championship, won by Rory McIlroy, and the 2021 PGA Championship. The Ocean Course is a windswept coastal layout that plays along a narrow and sandy section on the east end of the island. Its defenses are numerous, from small, elevated greens to huge waste areas that surround plateaued fairways. New tees installed prior to the 2021 PGA Championship can stretch the layout to over 7,800 yards. For daily resort play, the Ocean Course is a walking-only layout that comes with caddies, with the exception of summer months after 10 a.m., when carts are permitted. It has been ranked within the Top 5 public golf courses in the country according to top magazine panels. Elevating the experience further is an oceanside driving range and putting green, as well as its iconic, lowcountry-inspired Ocean Course clubhouse, designed by Robert A.M. Stern architects. The 24,000-square-foot building features the Ryder Cup bar for casual dining and drinks as well as The Atlantic Room for fine dining. In 2021, Kiawah Island added four Ocean Course Cottages, each four-bedroom, 3,800-square-foot units that overlook the course. Accommodations at Kiawah Island include The Sanctuary Hotel as well as villas. Stay-and-play packages that include the Ocean Course an be booked with either option.

Course Details

Year Built 1991
Fairways Paspalum Grass
Greens Paspalum Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Pete Dye (1991) Alice Dye (1991) Chris Lutzke (1991)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS No
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No
Single Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper attire is required.

Food & Beverage

Snacks, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Showers, Lockers, Locker Rooms

Accolades

Reviews

4.9
65 Reviews (65)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 17
19th Hole Scenic Views 16
Dinner 15
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 14
Forced Carries 13
Plays Long 10
This course/club is great for:
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 17
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 16
Advanced Golfers 14
This Course's Location is:
At a Resort 14
Worth the Drive 11

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Average weather
Walked

Wow - hardest course I ever played

I played this course with buddy, we both had caddies and walked (no option to ride which is how I like it).

I had Scott Hall caddy for me, great guy, really into it and so knowledgeable. Recommend you ask for Scott when you book.

Well the course was very very hard, I'm a pretty good player and it kicked my butt, I did play the black tees, so recommend "play forward".

Definitely a bucket list course!

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 171
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 50 Contributor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

The best of the best

I have played a lot of good course including Pinehurst #2 and Kapalua and this is the best course I have ever played. You can't imagine how good it is until you play it. Everything is done right from the clubhouse to the practice area to the course itself. If you're going to play a course that has hosted a major you can't do much better than this.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Walked

Nice View, Tough Course

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island was made famous for hosting the 1991 Ryder Cup. It recently hosted the 2012 PGA Championship won by Rory McIlroy. It is an exciting course to play and has breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. You may find yourself playing shots from the beach. The course is a tough walk with the summer humidity. Beware of the alligators on the inland holes. It will take you along time to get out to the course, but it's worth it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Golf Advisor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

While rare, it you are fortunate enough to catch the course on a day with light winds, then it can be a delightful experience

To the eye, the Ocean course is a stunning ocean side golf course. Subject to ever present, fickle and sometimes punishing winds, Kiawah has all of the earmarks of a great links course, only it is not a great links course, in fact it does not play like a links course at all. Pete Dye is famed for imposing his vision upon the land with a record of success in multiple instances. However, I do not feel that the Ocean Course is designed in harmony with it’s natural surrounds. Paspalum grass gets sticky and does not promote the type of bump-and-run shots called for around the greens and in general, golfers should be allowed to utilize every bit of creativity their imagination can muster without otherwise having a particular strategy or approach mandated. While rare, it you are fortunate enough to catch the course on a day with light winds, then it can be a delightful experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0

Ocean Course has it all

Well worth the $350+ price tag. The Ocean Course was in great shape, had a great layout, the best views, great staff and prefect weather when I was there. Even when the round was over you can't beat enjoying a bite and an ice cold beer on the deck, watching the others players finish their rounds. A must play for any true golfer.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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Golf Packages

The Villas at Kiawah Island Stay & Play Package

FROM $177 (USD)
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 7 nights’ accommodations in a 1 to 4-bedroom unit at The Villas of Kiawah Island and up to 5 rounds of golf on your choice of Kiawah Island - Cougar Point, Kiawah Island - Osprey Point, Kiawah Island - Oak Point, Kiawah Island - Turtle Point, and Kiawah Island - The Ocean Course.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Stay & Play Package

FROM $337 (USD)
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at The Sanctuary Hotel and up to 4 rounds of golf on your choice of Kiawah Island - Cougar Point, Kiawah Island - Osprey Point, Kiawah Island - Oak Point, Kiawah Island - Turtle Point, and Kiawah Island - The Ocean Course.

Wild Dunes Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $197 (USD)
CHARLESTON, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Wild Dunes Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Wild Dunes – Harbor Course, Wild Dunes – Links Course, RiverTowne Golf Course, and Charleston National Golf Course.

Francis Marion Hotel Stay & Play

FROM $187 (USD)
CHARLESTON, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Francis Marion Hotel and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of RiverTowne Golf Course, Charleston National Golf Course, Wild Dunes – Harbor Course, Wild Dunes – Links Course, and Stono Ferry Golf Course.

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa Stay & Play Package

FROM $207 (USD)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Oyster Reef Golf Course, Robber’s Row Course, Barony Course, and The Shipyard Golf Course.
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