the Ocean Course running along the Atlantic dunes at Kiawah Island
▦ hero—the Ocean Course running along the Atlantic dunes at Kiawah Island
tfd.golf
Destinations / Southeast

Kiawah Island

Five championship courses on a Lowcountry barrier island—led by Pete Dye's Ocean Course, a two-time PGA Championship host.
Courses
5 championship courses
Dye · Fazio · Nicklaus · Player
CHS ~45 min
Best season
Spring & fall
Getting there
Fly into Charleston International (CHS), about 25–30 miles north of the resort.
It's a 40–50 minute drive south to Kiawah Island.
The resort provides complimentary on-island transportation for guests.
From the airport
Charleston, ~45 min (CHS) · ~45 min drive
Price
$$$$
Build this trip

Kiawah Island Golf Resort sits on a barrier island about 25 miles southwest of Charleston, and it has grown into one of the East Coast's premier golf destinations—five championship courses from a who's-who of architects: Pete & Alice Dye, Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player.

The flagship Ocean Course hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, making it one of only a handful of courses to hold each of the PGA of America's men's majors. Off the course there's the AAA Five-Diamond Sanctuary hotel, ten miles of beach, and Charleston a short drive away.

The courses
Cougar Point
Cougar Point
Gary Player · par 72 · Gary Player's course, reimagined in a 2017 redesign, along the Kiawah River marsh.
Reserve →
Oak Point
Oak Point
Clyde Johnston · par 72 · A Clyde Johnston layout on a former plantation just off-resort, Scottish-style bunkering throughout.
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Osprey Point
Osprey Point
Tom Fazio · par 72 · Tom Fazio's water-laced routing through maritime forest, lakes and marsh.
Reserve →
The Ocean Course
The Ocean Course
Pete & Alice Dye · par 72 · Pete & Alice Dye's brutal, beautiful links along the Atlantic—host of the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 & 2021 PGA Championships.
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Turtle Point
Turtle Point
Jack Nicklaus · par 72 · Jack Nicklaus's Lowcountry parkland, three holes on the ocean and the rest through oak and lagoon.
Reserve →
Course conditions

When each course at Kiawah Island is aerating, closed, or clear — the 12 months ahead.

Cougar PointGary PlayerNo schedule on fileOak PointClyde JohnstonOsprey PointTom FazioThe Ocean CoursePete & Alice DyeTurtle PointJack NicklausNo schedule on fileJulAugSepOctNovDecJan ’27FebMarAprMayJun

Best stretches for all courses: 14 Aug – 1 Jul.

Derived from 3 windows across 3 courses · 3 confirmed directly, 0 from published sources, 2 unknown.

Status
ClearAeratedRecoveringSeason closedDeadlineNo data
Source
Confirmed with the coursePublished source / estimatedNot on file yet
Where to stay

On-property lodging sells out well in advance—book early.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island
AAA Five-Diamond · oceanfront · from $550/nt
Check rates →

Some stay links are affiliate links — booking through them supports the site at no extra cost to you.

Where to eat
The Ocean Room
$150 pp
Forbes Five-Star steakhouse · dinner
On resortVisit website ↗
The Atlantic Room
$120 pp
Local seafood · dinner
On resortVisit website ↗
Tomasso at Turtle Point
$65 pp
Italian · dinner
On resortVisit website ↗
Jasmine Porch
$45 pp
Lowcountry · breakfast & dinner
On resortVisit website ↗
Cherrywood BBQ & Ale House
$40 pp
Southern BBQ & 60+ beers · dinner
On resortVisit website ↗
The Ryder Cup Bar
$40 pp
Pub fare over the Ocean Course · lunch
On resortVisit website ↗
The Players' Pub
$35 pp
Clubhouse comfort food · lunch
On resortVisit website ↗
West Beach Cantina
$35 pp
Mexican & margaritas · lunch
On resortVisit website ↗
Off the course
Ten miles of wide, hard-packed beach—cycling and shelling at low tide.
Historic Charleston: markets, museums, and Lowcountry restaurants, ~45 min away.
Kayaking, paddleboarding, and marsh nature tours around the island.
The Sanctuary spa and the resort's tennis and pools.
Best time to go
JanAprJulOctDec
Spring and fall are ideal; summer is hot and humid, and Atlantic hurricane season runs June–November.
Sample itineraries
Ocean Course pilgrimage
Play the Ocean Course early, walk the beach in the afternoon, and dine at The Ocean Room; add Turtle Point or Osprey Point the next morning.
Five-course week
One course a day across the resort—Dye, Nicklaus, Fazio, Player and Johnston—with a Charleston day in the middle.
Open in the builder →
Or let our concierge handle it

Complex trip, big group, or a portal-only resort? We'll secure every tee time, stay and detail for you.

Flat-fee pricing, credited back when you book →
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Bookings through this search support the site at no extra cost to you.
Nearby — chain a road trip

Other destinations within driving distance of Kiawah Island. Drive times estimated from distance.

Hilton Head Island
📍 ~1h · 52 mi
Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island · 6 courses
Pawleys Island
📍 ~2h · 78 mi
Pawleys Island
Hammock Coast · 2 courses
Jekyll Island
📍 ~3h · 133 mi
Jekyll Island
Southeast · 3 courses
Plan a multi-stop road trip →