Join the ranks of avid golfers who have The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort on their must-play list for a true test of skill. Located on the eastern-most end of the island, The Ocean Course boasts the most seaside holes in the Northern Hemisphere with ten hugging the Atlantic and the other eight running parallel to those. Although it was originally planned to sit behind the dunes, designer Pete Dye’s wife, Alice, suggested raising the entire course to give players unobstructed views of Kiawah’s stunning coastline from every hole. One catch? This improved view made the course substantially more demanding as it also exposed play to the Atlantic’s brisk and unpredictable breezes.

In fact, it’s unlikely any other golf course in the world—outside the United Kingdom and Ireland—is affected as much by wind. From one round to the next, a player can experience up to an 8-club difference on holes depending upon the wind’s direction and strength. Interesting fact: Because there are no prevailing winds on The Ocean Course, Dye designed two courses in one—one for an easterly and the other for a westerly wind.

What began as a members-only golf course on the island noted for its playability has evolved into a championship-level course with a world-class layout that was completely renovated in 2014 under the direction of course architect Tom Fazio. Today’s Osprey Point still delivers on its playability and natural beauty and gets rave reviews for its pristine conditions and elegant clubhouse.

Each hole on Osprey Point is unique and memorable—with four challenging par-3s, four extremely distinctive par-5s and ten outstanding par-4s ranging in length from 340 to 461 yards.

After a comprehensive nine-month renovation led by Jack Nicklaus and members of his architectural team, Turtle Point reopened in late 2016 to rave player reviews. Sweeping improvements included regrassing with Paspalum, rebuilding of all bunkers, laser-leveling all tee boxes and reestablishing irrigation throughout the course.

Turtle Point exemplifies Jack Nicklaus’ firm design philosophy to “make the player use his mind ahead of his muscles—to control his emotions sufficiently to really think through his options before drawing a club from the bag.”

Following an extensive 10-month renovation in tandem with Gary Player Design, Cougar Point reopened on October 1, 2017 to rave reviews—winning over Kiawah Island golfers with its dramatic marsh vistas and superior playability. Whether you’ve played the old Cougar Point or have never stepped foot on its greens, this renovated course is a must-play at the resort.

Cougar Point’s short and long par-4s, great risk/reward 5s and extremely scenic and challenging par-3s demand that you approach your round with a smart strategy.

The proud recipient on the 2019 Charleston Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year, Oak Point delivers a superior playing surface with its regrassing in Paspalum and greater strategic challenges through a refreshed design. Originally conceived by Clyde Johnston, a noted Southeastern golf course architect, Oak Point sits by the Kiawah River and Haulover Creek, surrounded by maritime forest.

A true shotmaker’s course, Oak Point showcases undulating fairways and challenging greens on a meticulously maintained course that favors a thinking approach over raw power.