The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA
An aerial view of the famous 15th hole on the Ocean Course
The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA
The wind-swept and picturesque 4th and 5th holes on the Ocean Course
MORE ABOUT THE GOLF AT KIAWAH ISLAND
If you had only a week to live and could still swing a club, Kiawah would be the place to end it all. You'd go with a smile on your face. The golf alone would make the journey worth while.
There's a course by Gary Player named Cougar Point that runs alongside an expanse of tidal marshes. Those who know Kiawah will recall the original Marsh Point course, also by Player. Cougar Point is on the same site, but is a new design that opened in 1996. Friendlier than the original, it measures 6,808 yards, par-72, from the back tips but most would feel more comfortable from the blue tees (6,431 yards). Or there are three sets of tees further forward. So the very young or the very old could have fun here.
The oldest course is Turtle Point, by Jack Nicklaus. This one opened in 1981 and was the venue for the 1990 PGA Cup matches between Britain and the US, the club pro version of the Ryder Cup.
Those familiar with the early Nicklaus designs wouldn't recognise this one. It's low profile, almost totally natural in appearance, with the highlight being three spectacular holes set in a stretch of dune land by the ocean. It’s gorgeous, and very playable. There are four sets of tees here, with cards reading from 6,925 yards down to 5,283, all par-72.
Tom Fazio has worked his usual magic on the Osprey Point course but he had a marvellous canvas to start with: four large lakes, a spider's web of salt water marsh and thick forests of oaks, pines and magnolias. So there's plenty of water and some muscular carries, off-set by wide fairways with only light rough and large greens.
Then there's Pete Dye's Ocean course, the site of the 1991 Ryder Cup match and acclaimed as arguably the finest links on the East Coast. It's been described as awesome. We'll drink to that!
The Ocean course is totally natural, all dune land and marshland. Nothing intrudes on a spectacular nature walk. We saw golden eagles, alligators, giant blue herons and thousands of sea birds.
Ten holes run along the beach, all 18 holes are exposed to sea winds and the final four invariably play into a head wind. Many tee shots are over water or marsh but often there's a safe line if the carry seems too formidable -- and some of the latter are illusory when you look back from the fairway. In fact there's plenty of scope for the competent driver: it's the second shot that counts here to angled greens that leave little margin for error.
Dye tempts you to bite off more than you should and distance here is difficult to gauge, particularly over water or scrubby marsh. The trick is to take the safe route and don't be bashful about laying-up to keep the big numbers down. If you've a short game worth the name you'll get your share of pars and have a round to live in the memory, a fitting climax to your holiday in glorious, laid-back Kiawah.
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