Pin itCharleston & Kiawah Island
Five courses on a 10-mile barrier island 40 minutes from Charleston, anchored by Pete Dye's Ocean Course — host of the 1991 Ryder Cup and two PGA Championships.
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- State
- South Carolina
- Courses
- 9
- Green fees
- $50–$685
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
- Airport
- CHS - Charleston International Airport (35-45 minutes)
- Rental car
- Essential
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island was built to host a single event: the 1991 Ryder Cup, remembered as the "War by the Shore." Three decades later, the course has added two PGA Championships and another Ryder Cup is scheduled for 2031. It earned its reputation in competition. But Kiawah is more than a single course. The resort operates five layouts across a barrier island, and the broader Charleston area adds four more within easy reach. Charleston itself, 35 miles north, is the companion city: a food scene, a historic district, and a cultural depth that most golf resort towns cannot approach.
The 35-mile drive between Kiawah and the Historic District is just long enough to feel like a genuine change of setting and just short enough that a morning round at Osprey Point and an evening on King Street fit comfortably into the same day.
Courses Worth the Trip
9 courses across Charleston & Kiawah Island
The Ocean Course demands attention first because it earns it. At 7,937 yards from the back tees with a slope of 155, it is among the most difficult resort courses in the country. Walking with a caddie is mandatory for most tee times. Pete Dye raised the fairways above the dune line during construction so that every hole would have an ocean view, a decision that also exposed every shot to coastal gusts that can shift a ball two clubs in either direction. Green fees of $350 to $685 reflect the pedigree.
Bucket List
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Built for a Ryder Cup, defined by the Atlantic, and still the most demanding seaside test in American golf.
USD 350–685ResortPete Dye (1991)
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Premium
Links Course at Wild Dunes Resort
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Tom Fazio's first solo commission, revised and reopened on the Isle of Palms oceanfront.
USD 63–279ResortTom Fazio (1980)
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Premium
Osprey Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The Kiawah course that resort guests return to, routed through freshwater lakes and Lowcountry marsh.
USD 262–315ResortTom Fazio (1988)
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Mid-Range
Charleston National Golf Club
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Rees Jones along the Intracoastal Waterway in Mount Pleasant, public access, cart included, and no resort gate to clear.
USD 75–115PublicRees Jones (1989)
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Mid-Range
Harbor Course at Wild Dunes Resort
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Fazio's second act at Wild Dunes, where the Intracoastal Waterway replaces the ocean and the green fees drop accordingly.
USD 63–209ResortTom Fazio (1986)
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Mid-Range
Oak Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The most affordable entry point to Kiawah resort golf, set among marshland and oak canopy just outside the main gate.
USD 150–315ResortClyde Johnston (1989; acquired by Kiawah Resort 1997)
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Mid-Range
The River Course at Kiawah Island
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Fazio's inland Kiawah layout along the river and tidal creeks, sheltered from the wind that defines the Ocean Course.
USD 150–185PrivateTom Fazio (1995)
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Mid-Range
Turtle Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Jack Nicklaus on a barrier island, with three oceanfront holes and a 2016 renovation that sharpened every edge.
USD 250–315ResortJack Nicklaus (1981)
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Hidden Value
RiverTowne Country Club
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Arnold Palmer's marshland routing along the Wando River, with 13 waterside holes and green fees that start at $50.
USD 50–109Semi-PrivateArnold Palmer (2002)
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Where to Stay
10 options near the courses
Resort
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Five courses, Forbes Five Star recognition, and 255 oceanfront rooms on one of the Atlantic coast's most protected barrier islands.
From $328/nightOn-site golf
Direct websiteVisit website
Vacation Rental
Kiawah Island Golf Resort Villas
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Five hundred rental options across the island, from one-bedroom condos to five-bedroom homes, with full resort course access.
From $250/nightOn-site golf
Direct websiteVisit website
Hotel
The Spectator Hotel
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Forty-one rooms, personal butler service, and a rooftop lounge on State Street in the Historic District.
From $250/nightCharleston National Golf Club (~20 min)
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Inn
Wild Dunes Resort — Sweetgrass Inn
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The flagship hotel at Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms, with two Tom Fazio courses and a shorter drive to downtown Charleston.
From $200/nightOn-site golf
Direct websiteVisit website
Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Charleston Historic District
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
A reliable mid-range base in the Historic District, with Marriott points and a pool, twenty minutes from Mount Pleasant's courses.
From $150/nightCharleston National Golf Club (~20 min)
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Hotel
Hampton Inn Charleston — Historic District
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Free hot breakfast, a Historic District address, and Hilton Honors points for golfers watching the bottom line.
From $140/nightCharleston National Golf Club (~20 min)
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Hotel
Holiday Inn Mount Pleasant
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The closest mid-range hotel to Charleston National and RiverTowne, with free parking and rates that start at $110.
From $110/nightCharleston National Golf Club (~10 min), RiverTowne Country Club (~10 min)
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Resort
Isle of Palms Resort by Wyndham
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Villa-style units on Isle of Palms with full kitchens, beach access, and the Wild Dunes courses five minutes away.
From $150/nightWild Dunes Links and Harbor Courses (~5 min)
Direct websiteVisit website
Hotel
Belmond Charleston Place
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
A 400-room Forbes Five Star property at the intersection of Meeting and Market Streets, for golfers who want Charleston first and the courses second.
From $325/nightCharleston National Golf Club (~20 min)
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Inn
Red Roof Inn Charleston
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The lowest rate in the Charleston market, fifteen minutes from Charleston National, for golfers who spend their budget on courses.
From $60/nightCharleston National Golf Club (~15 min)
Direct websiteVisit website
Off the Fairway
Non-golf activities and companion experiences
Cultural
2-3 hours
ACE Basin Kayak Tour
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Guided kayaking through one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the Atlantic Coast, where the wildlife outnumbers the visitors.
$50-$70 per person
Direct websiteVisit website
Cultural
30-45 minutes
Angel Oak Tree
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
A 400-year-old Southern live oak on Johns Island, twenty minutes from Kiawah, with a canopy that covers nearly half an acre.
Free
Direct websiteVisit website
Dining
3 hours
Charleston Food Tour
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Four to six restaurant stops across Charleston's culinary landscape, where Lowcountry cuisine is the curriculum.
$65-$85 per person
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
1.5-2 hours
Dolphin Cruise from Kiawah
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the Kiawah River and North Edisto River, close enough to the island to skip the long drive.
$40-$60 per person
ViatorBook activity
Adventure
2-2.5 hours
Fort Sumter Boat Tour
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The fort where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, reached by ferry across Charleston Harbor.
$40 adults / $26 children (4-11)
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
2 hours
Historic Charleston Walking Tour
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Three and a half centuries of architecture, rebellion, and reinvention, covered on foot in two hours.
$25-$40 per person
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
1 hour
Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
One hour through Charleston's Historic District at a pace that matches the architecture.
$30-$45 per person
ViatorBook activity
Cultural
2-3 hours
Kiawah Island Nature Center & Bike Trails
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Thirty miles of paved trails through maritime forest and along the beach, at whatever pace suits the morning.
Free (bike rental $10-$25/day)
Direct websiteVisit website
Cultural
2-3 hours
Middleton Place
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
America's oldest landscaped gardens, established in 1741, with 65 acres of formal design along the Ashley River.
$29 adults / $10 children (6-13)
ViatorBook activity
Nature
Half day
Sullivan's Island Beach
Charleston & Kiawah Island, South Carolina
A quiet beach town north of Charleston with free access, no commercial clutter, and a restaurant named for Edgar Allan Poe.
Free
ViatorBook activity
When to Go
Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov
March through May is the primary golf season. April highs average 74 degrees, the humidity has not yet reached its summer intensity, and the courses emerge from winter maintenance in strong condition. The azaleas bloom across the island in March and early April. Tee times at the Ocean Course should be booked as far in advance as the system allows. Summer (June through August) brings highs of 89 to 90 with humidity that makes the air feel heavier than the thermometer suggests; reduced green fees reward early tee times and pool afternoons. October and November are what repeat visitors tend to prefer, with highs around 76, thinning crowds, and the marshes turning golden. Winter highs sit around 57; the rates drop, the pace quickens, and the golf remains entirely playable.
Getting There
CHS - Charleston International Airport · 35-45 minutes
Charleston International Airport (CHS) is the gateway, with direct flights from most major East Coast hubs. Downtown Charleston is 12 miles from the airport, a 20-to-25-minute drive. Kiawah is 35 miles south, 45 to 55 minutes through suburban development and Lowcountry landscape. Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms is 25 miles east. A rental car is not optional; nothing connects these nodes by transit, and the distances make ride-sharing impractical over a multi-day trip. Note that Kiawah is a gated community, so allow extra time on your first arrival to clear the security gate.
Plan Your Trip
Pre-planned itineraries for Charleston & Kiawah Island
Best Value Trip
Best Value: Three Nights from Isle of Palms to Mount Pleasant
Four rounds across two resort courses and two public tracks, with Charleston's best free attractions filling the gaps.
4 daysUSD 1200–2000/person
Bucket List Trip
The Bucket List: Four Nights from Kiawah to the Sea Islands
The Ocean Course, three resort rounds, and the best of Charleston across four nights anchored at Kiawah Island.
5 daysUSD 4000–7000/person
Long Weekend
The Long Weekend: Two Nights at Kiawah Island
Two rounds, two nights, and a carriage ride through Charleston. The condensed case for Kiawah Island.
3 daysUSD 2000–3500/person
Planning Your Trip
Airports, rental cars, seasonal pricing, and local knowledge for Charleston & Kiawah Island.
From the Editorial
Articles covering Charleston & Kiawah Island
Opinion
Harbour Town vs Ocean Course: Lowcountry Championship Golf
Comparing the Lowcountry's two most famous championship courses: Harbour Town's strategic finesse on Hilton Head against Kiawah's brutal Ocean Course.
Kiawah Ocean Course vs Whistling Straits: Championship Links
Opinion
Kiawah Ocean Course vs Whistling Straits: Championship Links
Comparing two of America's premier championship courses: Kiawah's Ocean Course and Kohler's Whistling Straits, both Ryder Cup venues by Pete Dye.
Opinion
Hilton Head vs Kiawah: Where to Stay in the Lowcountry
Choosing between Hilton Head and Kiawah Island for your Lowcountry golf trip, focused on accommodation, atmosphere, and the non-golf experience.
Opinion
Kiawah Island vs Hilton Head: Lowcountry Golf Head to Head
Comparing the Lowcountry's two premier golf islands across championship courses, resort experiences, pricing, and the best fit for your trip.
10 Best Mike Strantz Courses
Opinion
10 Best Mike Strantz Courses
The complete guide to Mike Strantz's golf courses, from Caledonia to Tobacco Road. The most creative architect America has produced.
Destination Guide
Mike Strantz: The Architect Who Changed Lowcountry Golf
Course Guide
Mike Strantz: The Architect Who Changed Lowcountry Golf
The story of Mike Strantz, the visionary golf architect behind Caledonia, True Blue, Tobacco Road, and Royal New Kent. A career cut short at fifty.
Destination Guide
Course Guide
Destination Guide
