The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is 3rd on Golf Digest's 'America's 100 Greatest Public Courses' and, honestly, it feels every bit like a major venue from the first tee. It's a Pete Dye test that has hosted the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship, with Atlantic winds that can turn a good score into a very long afternoon. I'll admit that I am a golfing geek, and this one ticks every box for bucket-list golf.
The best bit is that the Ocean Course is not the only reason to come. Kiawah has four more championship courses, Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point and Cougar Point, so you can build a proper multi-round trip without repeating yourself. If you're building a multi-round itinerary, it's worth mixing styles. The Ocean Course is the exposed, wind-led examination, while the other four give you different looks and pacing across the week, which is ideal if you've got mixed abilities in the group.
Kiawah sits on the sunny South Carolina coast and works well year-round. Fly into Charleston International Airport and it's under an hour through the coastal islands to the resort. Off the course, there's standout dining, a top-class spa, serious tennis and miles of beach, which makes it an easy win for mixed groups too. If you're ticking off big-name American golf, this one belongs on the shortlist.
Who is this for? Golfers who want a five-course resort with a genuine headline act, groups looking for variety across several rounds and families who want a luxury base with plenty to do off the course.
Who is it best for? Anyone chasing a bucket-list Ocean Course tee time and golfers who enjoy a proper test in the wind, plus organisers who want a resort where golf, accommodation and facilities are all in one place.
