The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
About
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.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tournament | 72 | 7356 yards | 77.3 | 144 |
Ocean | 72 | 6779 yards | 73.6 | 138 |
Dye | 72 | 6475 yards | 72.0 | 134 |
Kiawah | 72 | 6202 yards | 70.9 | 132 |
Kiawah (W) | 72 | 6202 yards | 76.7 | 132 |
Carolina (W) | 72 | 5327 yards | 72.7 | 124 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Championship M: 79.1/155 | 395 | 557 | 390 | 479 | 214 | 480 | 579 | 197 | 499 | 3790 | 447 | 593 | 486 | 497 | 238 | 444 | 603 | 221 | 501 | 4030 | 7820 |
Tournament M: 76.8/153 | 395 | 543 | 390 | 453 | 207 | 455 | 527 | 197 | 464 | 3631 | 439 | 562 | 466 | 404 | 194 | 421 | 579 | 221 | 439 | 3725 | 7356 |
Ocean M: 73.9/148 | 375 | 528 | 367 | 432 | 185 | 377 | 505 | 170 | 415 | 3354 | 378 | 521 | 420 | 371 | 171 | 391 | 555 | 197 | 421 | 3425 | 6779 |
Dye M: 72.4/139 W: 78.6/143 | 365 | 501 | 319 | 401 | 177 | 345 | 493 | 166 | 406 | 3173 | 360 | 506 | 412 | 364 | 161 | 381 | 540 | 182 | 396 | 3302 | 6475 |
Kiawah M: 71.1/134 W: 77.0/140 | 357 | 495 | 310 | 396 | 171 | 331 | 484 | 151 | 399 | 3094 | 347 | 476 | 398 | 333 | 151 | 358 | 491 | 168 | 386 | 3108 | 6202 |
Governors M: 69.1/132 W: 75.1/136 | 357 | 419 | 310 | 328 | 171 | 331 | 484 | 151 | 344 | 2895 | 347 | 476 | 326 | 333 | 151 | 358 | 491 | 168 | 314 | 2964 | 5859 |
Carolina M: 66.4/125 W: 72.2/130 | 306 | 419 | 268 | 328 | 117 | 299 | 432 | 105 | 344 | 2618 | 310 | 440 | 326 | 312 | 132 | 306 | 447 | 122 | 314 | 2709 | 5327 |
Handicap | 15 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 6 | |||
Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 9 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 5 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 8 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Snacks, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Showers, Lockers, Locker RoomsAccolades
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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The Ocean Course, Hole 11 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/29/2022
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The Ocean Course, Hole 15 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/29/2022
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Photo submitted by PinnacleStaffer on 04/28/2021
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Photo submitted by PinnacleStaffer on 04/28/2021
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Photo submitted by PinnacleStaffer on 04/28/2021
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Photo submitted by PinnacleStaffer on 04/28/2021
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Photo submitted by PinnacleStaffer on 04/28/2021
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Clubhouse at Kiawah Photo submitted by balderman on 10/21/2020
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Photo submitted by RexP on 03/10/2020
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Photo submitted by b4SupHZcYdEXFEUDD2tf on 03/05/2020
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Photo submitted by b4SupHZcYdEXFEUDD2tf on 03/05/2020
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Photo submitted by b4SupHZcYdEXFEUDD2tf on 03/05/2020
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Photo submitted by kirksheffield on 03/04/2020
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Photo submitted by Td2000 on 03/04/2020
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18 back towards clubhouse Photo submitted by realasudxgift on 01/05/2020
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17 over the pond Photo submitted by realasudxgift on 01/05/2020
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16 on the Ocean Photo submitted by realasudxgift on 01/05/2020
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15 from the back tee Photo submitted by realasudxgift on 01/05/2020
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10 tee Photo submitted by realasudxgift on 01/05/2020
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View from 1 tee Photo submitted by realasudxgift on 01/05/2020
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Photo submitted by E1905 on 01/04/2020
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Clubhouse from the 18th Photo submitted by evanchalk on 12/18/2019
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Photo submitted by u021995854 on 12/04/2019
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Photo submitted by u021995854 on 12/04/2019
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Photo submitted by u021995854 on 12/04/2019
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Photo submitted by aCMeumOs9DQ2Sjf82fe3 on 11/20/2019
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Photo submitted by bluemelonheads on 10/06/2019
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16th tee Photo submitted by GolfFan33 on 08/12/2019
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Photo submitted by Brian9641459 on 01/02/2019
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Photo submitted by Brian9641459 on 01/02/2019
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Photo submitted by Brian9641459 on 01/02/2019
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16th Tee shot Photo submitted by dahlryan on 11/26/2018
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Photo submitted by blamertroy on 02/02/2017
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Photo submitted by blamertroy on 02/02/2017
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Photo submitted by blamertroy on 02/02/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/01/2017
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18th green and clubhouse. Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/01/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/01/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/01/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/01/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/01/2017
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Photo submitted by trace6590707 on 04/13/2016
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Photo submitted by trace6590707 on 04/13/2016
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Photo submitted by trace6590707 on 04/13/2016
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Photo submitted by trace6590707 on 04/13/2016
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Photo submitted by trace6590707 on 04/13/2016
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Photo submitted by trace6590707 on 04/13/2016
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Clubhouse from putting green Photo submitted by Titleistpro7 on 07/15/2015
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Photo submitted by Titleistpro7 on 07/15/2015
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.