Location: Kiawah Island
Top Things to do in Kiawah Island
Top Restaurants in Kiawah Island
What to do and see in Kiawah Island, South Carolina (SC): The Best Golf Courses
Nature lovers unite on this barrier island on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean 21 miles south of Charleston. Brimming with lush foliage at every glance, Kiawah Island has ten miles of wide sandy beaches, 123 acres of parks, 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, and world-class golf courses. To get a true sense of the beauty of Kiawah Island venture to Marsh Island Park where you’ll be rewarded with stunning scenic views atop the Marsh Island Lookout Tower of the Kiawah River, saltwater marshes, and island hammocks. For animal lovers, don’t miss the Heron Park Nature Center where you can participate in nature tours and programs, birding walks, butterfly walks, and alligator walks. Bird admirers love the Great Egret Rookery, a spot where you can typically see several dozen of the magnificent white birds in trees over a lagoon. For an exceptional picnic area head to Beachwalker Park, which has a wide boardwalk that winds through palmettos, oaks, and pines. Golf on Kiawah Island is not just any recreation amenity, it’s a way of life. There are five championship courses on the island highlighted by the Pete Dye designed Ocean Course site of the 1991 Ryder Cup matches and 2007 Senior PGA Championship. In 2012, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort will host the 94th PGA Championship. Other courses to play include the Jack Nicklaus designed Turtle Point and Gary Player designed Cougar Point courses.
Restaurants in Kiawah Island
1. Kiawah Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 574 reviews
A major golf course, beautiful beaches and miles of conservation land make this private island a desirable attraction.
Reviewed By dlifton
Kiawah Island is a special place on earth! Wonderful stretches of uncrowded beach on this private island. Great family vacation spot to rent a home / condo with options of riding on the bike trails, seeing magnificent homes, play tennis, golf, fish / crab and use a gateway to visit historic Charleston.
2. The Ocean Course
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 271 reviews
Highly recommended golf course with dramatic views of the Atlantic.
Reviewed By whiggy2016 - Jefferson, United States
Morning tee time with my son. Caddies made the round very enjoyable. The course is very challenging and very enjoyable. 18 is a. Ice challenging finish taking 3 shots with a head wind. Definitely recommend doing it once even if it is a bit pricey.
3. Osprey Point Golf Course
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Reviewed By JenlockRN
Wow! My husband and I played at Osprey Point last week and it was one of the most enjoyable rounds of golf ever. From start to finish it was perfect. The pros in the shop were professional but personable. The starter approached us and told us there were two foursomes about to tee off and suggested that we go off now, even though we hadn't warmed up, and hit a few off the tee. He said we didn't have to but it would make for a more enjoyable round. He was so right! We had no one in front of us or pushing us the whole round. He explained the course perfectly and gave some valuable advice. The Marshall approached us several times and told us we were well above the pace of play and told us to hit a couple of balls and take some time to enjoy the scenery. They were both great! The course itself was in pristine condition. It is scenic, playable, and was in amazing shape. It was a great round to prepare us for the ocean course the next day. I highly recommend fitting this course in to your trip to Kiawah. We cannot wait to go back and play again.
4. Turtle Point Golf Course
5. Cougar Point Golf Course
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 70 reviews
Reviewed By mauiwolf - Las Vegas, United States
The golf course is truly beautiful. The conditioning is immaculate. The greens have a weird grass I had never seen before that made the putts roll slow, so it took a bit to get used to that. But a very playable course if you can manage to keep it away from the OB stakes that are on almost every hole. The Players Pub - we went here for dinner. Outside seating only, but they have quite a few tables wrapping around their large porch. The view is nice. Our server, Karen, was good. Food was decent, though the steak sandwiches could have had real steaks in them and not Steak-Um. I give the restaurant 4/5, but golf course 5/5. One disappointing aspect is traveling here from across the country and not being able to go in the pro shops to buy things. They should be able to work that out.
