Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina, USA
Playing from one of the challening bunkers on the Cougar Point course
Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina, USA
The beautiful Cougar Point course in the late-afternoon sunshine
Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina, USA
An aerial view of the majestic Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina, USA
The long, wide expanse of sand and the warm ocean make for the perfect beach for children at Kiawah
Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina, USA
Kiawah Island is a haven for natural wildlife and presents some great photo opportunities
Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina, USA
The view from one of the elegant guest rooms in the Sanctuary Hotel, overlooking the beach
KIAWAH ISLAND RESORT, S. CAROLINA
PERFECT FOR:
- Family Vacations: A wide range of activities for parents to enjoy with their youngsters; the ten mile-long beach, swimming pools, tennis, biking, horse-riding and many other outdoor pursuits; comfortable family lodgings and a choice of dining options.
- Golfing Groups: Some of the finest golf courses in North America; outstanding dining and drinking options; plenty of post-golf relaxation activities.
- Romantic Breaks: Breath-taking seascape scenery; a variety of his-and-hers activities; memorable restaurants; serene accommodations.
SOUTHERN JEWEL HAS EVERYTHING ON TAP FOR A MEMORABLE HOLIDAY
For golfers, the Ocean Course is sufficient reason to consider the Kiawah Island resort for your next vacation but, great as it is, there’s much more to this glittering South Carolina destination. It has something for everyone: peerless quality at every turn, a serene ambience born of its coastal location; sporting and social facilities for all ages; and a variety of accommodations to suit all tastes. The management ethos and standards of service are a bonus.
LOCATION
A second bonus is the resort’s proximity to the historic city of Charleston, which many consider a holiday destination in its own right. The State capital is only 30 minutes away and, for international visitors, its airport is a short flight from Atlanta Airport.
Click here to see a local map.
ABOUT THE GOLF
There are five golf courses at Kiawah, all by renowned architects and all offering the ultimate challenge to visiting club golfers. The most famous is the Ocean Course, venue of the 1991 Ryder Cup that became known as The War on The Shore, where Bernhard Langer’s final putt to win the match for Europe missed by a hair’s breadth.
Few courses in the world, outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland, are so affected by the wind. From one round to the next a player can experience up to an eight club difference on holes, depending upon the direction and strength of the wind. This one separates the men from the boys!
Built in 1991 by Pete Dye, there are no prevailing winds in the locality: it changes by the hour. Dye took this into account in fact he designed two courses in one – one for an easterly wind and one for a westerly wind. If all 18 holes were played from the gold tiger tees, which are adjustable to allow for the wind velocity, the card would be stretched to more than 8,000 yards!
The course has ten holes running along the Atlantic shore with the other eight running parallel. Most tees are elevated, to a greater or lesser degree, to allow players unobstructed views of Kiawah’s beautiful Atlantic coastline but this brings the unpredictable wind into play and makes the course considerably more demanding.
The challenge and vista aside, the great course is set in what is virtually a wild life haven where every species of animal and bird, from alligators to herons and pelicans, may be spotted in the course of 18 holes. It adds to the thrill of playing one of the world’s great links.
The other Kiawah courses, designed by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player and Clyde Johnston, are:
- Turtle Point: One of Jack’s Nicklaus’ early designs features narrow fairway corridors, small greens, strategically placed water hazards and plenty of out-of-bounds.
- Osprey Point: This is a masterpiece in playability and variety. Featuring four large, natural lakes, fingers of saltwater marsh, and dense maritime forests, the course offers a wide variety of memorable holes, each presenting its own unique challenges and beauty.
- Oak Point: Only a few paces from the Kiawah River and Haulover Creek, Oak Point offers undulating fairways, challenging greens and beautiful vistas.
- Cougar Point: One of the most dramatic vistas on Kiawah Island is the middle of Cougar Point’s front nine, just along the Kiawah River. This course features a great blend of scenic challenges and was recently rated the "Golf Course of The Year", by the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association.
The golf at Kiawah is so outstanding that we could write a lot more about it. So we have. Click here to read our extended review of the golf courses.
NON-GOLFING ACTIVITIES
You name it and you’ll find it here. There’s inshore fishing; coastal and reef fishing and dolphin watching and there are boats for sunset cruises On a more esoteric level, the Kiawah Spa is ranked no.2 in the USA and Canada; the fitness centre would please Olympians and it includes yoga and pilates instruction. There are beauty treatments, a steam room with massage services available and, not least, there are ten miles of pristine beach. If you tire of all this, the city of Charleston is just a short drive away where escorted tours give access to some elegant and venerable mansions. Carriage rides will transport guests to the historic sites that saw the outbreak of the American Civil War which began in the city. It is an enchanting place. A chap could be bored hereabouts but he’d have to work at it!
ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Kiawah is home to a fascinating array of wild creatures with a diverse ecosystem and much of it is viewable through organised outings and nature walks for all the family. Then there’s Camp Kiawah for supervised activities for the youngsters; there are bicycles (and ten miles of woodland trails) and tennis courts (Kiawah is ranked #1 tennis resort in the world by on-line contributors to a tennis website) and there’s a programme of sporting and social activities just for teenagers. For those who wish to immerse themselves in water, there are the swimming pools, kayaking and, of course the Atlantic Ocean. There is something for all the family to enjoy at Kiawah.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation falls into three categories: the Sanctuary Hotel, the villa complex and a collection of private rental homes, which are located on the ocean front or overlooking the golf courses. The villa complex likewise falls into three categories based on rates: there are premier villas, de luxe villas and resort villas, the latter being the most affordable. The rates in all cases depend upon location and number of bedrooms.
And then there’s The Sanctuary. Built at a cost of $125 million, it is the newest major resort hotel in the USA and arguably its finest. The Sanctuary overlooks the beach and offers 255 spacious rooms and suites, including the 3000 square foot Presidential Suite. The king rooms are among the largest on the East Coast with the smallest measuring 520 square feet. It has a level with 44 rooms devoted to private concierge services.
The Sanctuary opened in August 2004. A casual but elegant building, the four-story hotel was designed to feel like it has been here for centuries. The interior is characterised by grand spaces with high ceilings and traditional but light southern décor highlighted by antiques. The hotel has been designed to be elegant, but not too formal and the site was raised 20 feet to allow unobstructed views of the ocean from the first floor.
DINING OPTIONS
There are a dozen spots in which to dine, and they range from the romantic and formal Ocean Room to the informal pool-side Loggerhead Grille. The fare runs from steaks and fish to hamburgers, pasta and all things Italian accompanied by fine wines, or the beverage of your choice. The Ocean Room is part of The Sanctuary but the others are scattered around the resort, some in the golf clubhouses. Most also offer delivery services to rented homes.
WHEN TO GO
Spring (late February until Easter) is the domestic high season so prices rise; summer (late June to late August) may be too hot for most and in any event trans-Atlantic air fares reach their peak then, although most other costs fall and the courses are uncrowded. The best all-round value comes in the months September to early December and then January. The winter weather can be good to agreeable but fine for golf.
Click here to see average weather conditions throughout the year, and for a weather forecast for the next five days.
TIPS TO ENHANCE YOUR HOLIDAY
Getting There
For European and other international visitors Atlanta is the nearest major airport, from where there are frequent services to Charleston (the nearest domestic airport to Kiawah Island Resort). Hire cars are available from Hertz and Avis at Charleston airport.
Getting Around
The resort has a limousine service for guests to get around and for trips into Charleston.
Bear in mind that the island’s land area is in excess of 11 square miles and first time visitors will face a 30 minute drive from the resort gates to the golf club.
Packing Tips & Dress Code
As a tip for the ladies, gentlemen will require a jacket for some dining venues but generally speaking what is known as “resort casual” is acceptable. In British terms, this means smart casual, ie: slacks and shirts with a collar. Be aware of the likely weather/temperatures when you pack. And don’t forget swimwear. Even if you’re not a water babe you’ll want to cool off, in a pool or on the beach.
Currency
US dollar. For current rates of exchange, click here.
Time Zone
BST-5.
Dialing Codes
The country code for the USA, and then the local code for Kiawah Island, South Carolina, is +1-843 (then add the local extension).
Other Local Insider Information
Guests of Kiawah Island Resort may enjoy a “cash free” vacation in which all purchases and services are charged to the room account. State taxes and a resort fee are added to this. Suggested gratuities are in the order of 12%.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR VACATION
Request a Quotation or Use Our Recommended Golf Tour Operator
PGT can negotiate discounted rates and bonuses for our readers. Simply contact us giving details of preferred dates and your requirements and we will contact the resort on your behalf.
Alternatively you couldBook Through A Tour Operator
If you require a total holiday package including flights, transfers, accommodation and golf reservations PGT will recommend the tour operator who serves the resort or destination of your choice and negotiate any possible discount available.