The Ocean Course just ranked 25th in Golf Digest's 100 Greatest U.S. Golf Courses List and 4th on Best Public Course List
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is to have hosted the 2007 Senior PGA and will host the 2012 PGA Championships. The Ocean Course will become only the fourth course to host each of the PGA of America's major championships.
Probably no other golf course in the world outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland is affected as much by the wind. From one round to the next, a player can experience up to an 8-club difference on holes depending upon the direction and strength of the wind. Built in 1991 by Pete Dye, there are no prevailing winds on the course. Dye took this into account when designing the course. In fact, he designed two courses into one – one for an easterly wind and one for a westerly wind.
Located on the eastern-most end of Kiawah Island, The Ocean Course has more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere – 10 right along the Atlantic with the other 8 running parallel to those. Although it was originally designed to sit behind the dunes, Dye's wife, Alice, suggested raising the entire course to allow players unobstructed views of Kiawah’s beautiful Atlantic coastline from every hole. This improved view, however, made the course substantially more demanding as it also exposed it to the area’s brisk and unpredictable sea breezes.
The Ocean Course gained instant notoriety as the host of the most dramatic "War by the Shore," abattle decided literally by the final putt of Sunday’s final match in 1991’s Ryder Cup Matches. In 1997, The Ocean Course hosted the World Cup of Golf, with the world’s finest golfers from 32 countries competing in the stroke play tournament. The inaugural UBS Cup took place on the course in 2001, and in 2003 the course hosted the World Cup Championships World Cup. The PGA Professional National Championship was played in June 2005.
The Ocean Course made its big screen debut in November 2000 when the movie "The Legend of Bagger Vance" opened at theaters nation-wide.
Golf Digest named The Ocean Course "#4 Public Golf Course in U.S." and "America's Toughest Resort Course." It is one of only 17 "5-star" courses in North America in Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play" reader's poll. GOLF Magazine has rated it #4 in its "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" list. The Ocean Course has achieved the designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" by the Audubon Sanctuary System, and has recently been named "Golf Course of the Year" by the National Golf Course Owners Association.
With 18 holes offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, it is likely The Ocean Course would have earned widespread acclaim had no tournament ever been played there. In May 2007, The Ocean Course hosted the Senior PGA Championship, and in 2012 will host the PGA Championship – the first of golf's four majors to be played in South Carolina.
About the Resort
Kiawah Island is… Ten miles of wide, immaculate, ocean beach on which one - or two - might walk or cycle for hours and hours without interruption. Soothing by day, utterly romantic by night, the beach is complemented by the island’s river, meandering lagoons, and pristine marshlands, and closes each sun washed day safe beneath its own star studded southern sky.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort is… a resort unlike any other. Our guests enjoy world-class recreational facilities and choose from the widest selection of sizes and locations of rental villas and private homeson the island, all of which are held to the highest standards. If you are not renting directly through Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the official owner and operator of all Resort amenities on the island, you are not getting the best vacation experience at Kiawah, or the best value. Only guests of our Resort can enjoy the following benefits:
- Exclusive use of resort pools
- Preferred golf and tee times
- Preferred tennis and court times
- Preferred nature programs and Kids Kamp
- Complimentary door-to-door resort transportation
- Advance dining reservations and preferred availability
- Advance Spa reservations and preferred availability
- Resort charging privileges provide 'cashless' experience
- Personal service from over 1,000 employees
The only way to ensure the best Kiawah vacation experience at the best value is by staying as a guest of Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the official owner and operator of resort amenities on Kiawah. Beachwalker, Resort Quest Vacations and Pam Harrington Exclusives rental companies are not affiliated with Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
Off Island Transportation
We are pleased to offer transportation assistance.
For guests staying in the Villa's and Private Home, please contact the Villa and Private Homes Concierge at .
For guests staying in The Sanctuary, please contact The Sanctuary Concierge at .
For all group transportation, please contact Todd Began, our Group Transportation Specialist at .
For guests staying in the Villa's and Private Home, please contact the Villa and Private Homes Concierge at .
For guests staying in The Sanctuary, please contact The Sanctuary Concierge at .
For all group transportation, please contact Todd Began, our Group Transportation Specialist at .
