Has anyone on here had any experience playing/booking a stay at Kiawah Island? Going in June and would love some suggestions!

Played the Ocean Course but never booked a stay on the island. We stayed closer to Charleston.

As far as golf goes book an early morning tee time so you can have at least a few holes with little wind, walk with a caddy because it's awesome, and leave your ego at the door because the course is going to eat you alive.

It's a fantastic golf experience that's worth every penny!

We went the weekend after Kenny Hill torched the GameCocks so it has been a while. Play in the morning, though I played in the afternoon on what I was told was one of the calmest days of the summer.

The course is a very special place and you know it pretty quickly. I would also like to add that I shot 78 from about 7100 yards and yes, I am very proud of that.

I was I think +4 after five holes because fatted a couple of easy chips. I dont know why but for whatever reason the leading edge of my wedge kept jamming into the turf. After that I putted instead of chipped from off the green and that made all the difference.

Advice-

- Play another course as well. We only had one day so we only played the Ocean Course but there are others that are supposed to be awesome.
-When your round is over be sure to have a few drinks at the bar. The bar is sweet. Our wives sat at the bar for a couple of hours before we finished and they were having a good ole time.
-Get used to chipping on their grass. If you cant figure it out like I couldn't use a putter.
-The last par 3 is either 16 or 17. Have your caddy take you to the back back tees where the pros play from on Sunday and hit a 'this shot doesn't count 'ball from back there.

Enjoy

Everyone has already hit the golf, in terms of staying there we didn't stay at the Kiawah Island Resort, however we did stay at Andell Inn located at the entry of Kiawah Island. FANTASTIC hotel. Very convenient if you don't want to pony up for the resort hotel.

Took the family there 8-9 years ago and stayed at the Sanctuary. Everyone enjoyed it … nice long flat beach there and being on the beach made the humidity tolerable. Sanctuary was sort of like a cross between the Broadmoor and Hill Country Hyatt. Lot of people rent houses on the beach through the resort … they were all booked when we wanted to go. I would look into this and vrbo options. I think they've added another property since… you might look into … close to the ocean course. Kids were pretty young so passed on the family outing to the ocean course. We played two of the others … fine resort style courses … nothing stands out. Caddies only on the ocean. Clubhouse and museum at the ocean were sweet … went out there for lunch … thats a must do. We really liked the high end dining spot at the sanctuary but thought the others were sorta meh but for the snack shop at the sanctuary and the ocean course spot. I would consider a stop over in Charleston… lots of good food.

Going in May. Staying in Charleston though. I'm going to play Osprey Point in the am then the Ocean course in the afternoon. Playing 36 like that gets the Ocean course round at half price. Then beverages at sunset if the timing is right.

Went with a group of four a few years ago. Rented a 4 BR house, through the resort and they arranged everything for us including golf on the Ocean Course and three or four other courses on the property. It was a great trip and they made it really easy. It was also less expensive than I expected.

How much??

Honestly, do not remember. I just recall that the lodging was about half of what a four bedroom villa at Sea Island cost the year before.

I just popped over to their website to check pricing for a 4 bedroom villa, which should take about 30 seconds, but something is not loading properly for me.

Bumping this thread for next month. We rented a place in Folly Beach so the drive isn't too bad to the island. I think I could swim to the Ocean Course faster than drive!

Nevertheless, I was contemplating playing the Ocean Course next month, but waffled too long and there aren't any tee times. Wondering if it's worth it to play any of the other courses?

I'll be a single and there's some afternoon availability at Turtle Point. Is it worth the $280?

Also, If I play there can I then go to the Ryder Cup bar after to have drinks and check out the Ocean Course?

I may call and see if there's a waitlist or anything for single play at the Ocean Course. My game isn't in the best shape for that level of test, but I'd probably pull the trigger if I had the chance.

Definitely try for the Ocean but if not check out Osprey, I played it after the Ocean the day before. Then I went back to the Ryder Cup bar for food and many Ocean Course Ales while watching folks finish on 18 from one of these chairs.

Osprey is booked up too.

Drove past Turtle and it looked in great shape when I was there. Locals I talked to ranked them Ocean, Osprey, Turtle, Cougar, and Oak if that means anything. Definitely hit the bar and Ocean pro shop. I went upstairs and looked out from a couple balconies there. Cool vantage point.

I played Turtle Point in early August and while I enjoyed the round, the $280 is rather steep for the course. Course was in great shape but nothing memorable. A few holes on the back 9 on the water are cool but not a course I'd pay $280 for. I stayed at the The Sanctuary and played the The Ocean Course a couple times so I'm not sure how much I paid for the round because it was a package deal.

I went ahead and booked the single at Turtle Point and will call the Ocean Course clubhouse tomorrow to see if they do a waitlist or anything. I've already booked a Thursday flight and planned to play golf so I figured why not at least get something secured. If I just sit around the house and beach all day drinking I will most likely regret it.

The Italian restaurant at Turtle Point is pretty solid. You'll also be right around the corner from The Sanctuary and they have a great lobby bar and a gift shop that's dedicated to The Ocean Course so you can find plenty of things to buy there if you can't make it over to the course.

Sunset on 10/21 is at 6:40 so hopefully 5 1/2 hours is enough time to play at Turtle Point and get over to the Ryder Cup bar for some drinks and to take in the views.

Plenty of time and sounds like you may be timing it great.
Have fun.

Any restaurant recommendations at Kiawah?

Go to Ryder Cup bar for drinks and then to Charleston for food. Numerous great places to eat all within walking distance in the Historic District.

Wicked Good Ag said:

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Go to Ryder Cup bar for drinks and then to Charleston for food. Numerous great places to eat all within walking distance in the Historic District.

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Plan to go to the bar after my round. We're staying in Folly Beach so won't be going into Charleston for dinner.

Why?

We stayed in Folly Beach and Charleston is like 20-30 mins from there. We spent almost every evening in Charleston. It's a great city and an easy drive from Folly

As for Folly Beach there's a really breakfast spot called Lost Dog Cafe and a pretty good taco joint I can't remember. But do yourself a favor and get your meals in Charleston.

Ag_07 said:

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Why?

We stayed in Folly Beach and Charleston is like 20-30 mins from there. We spent almost every evening in Charleston. It's a great city and an easy drive from Folly

As for Folly Beach there's a really breakfast spot called Lost Dog Cafe and a pretty good taco joint I can't remember. But do yourself a favor and get your meals in Charleston.

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this. it's one of the best food cities in America. Take advantage of it....Also at the enterance of Kiawah Island is fresh fields village. Their are a few good places to eat in there if you dont want to spend resort prices at their restruants. Also Tattoo Moose is on the road to Kiawah Island. Stop there and get a beer and sandwich. LEGIT good. Cool atmosphere too to hang out at and drink a few.

AustinCountyAg said:

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Ag_07 said:

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Why?

We stayed in Folly Beach and Charleston is like 20-30 mins from there. We spent almost every evening in Charleston. It's a great city and an easy drive from Folly

As for Folly Beach there's a really breakfast spot called Lost Dog Cafe and a pretty good taco joint I can't remember. But do yourself a favor and get your meals in Charleston.

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this. it's one of the best food cities in America. Take advantage of it....Also at the enterance of Kiawah Island is fresh fields village. Their are a few good places to eat in there if you dont want to spend resort prices at their restruants. Also Tattoo Moose is on the road to Kiawah Island. Stop there and get a beer and sandwich. LEGIT good. Cool atmosphere too to hang out at and drink a few.

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Mostly because we've been to Charleston a lot and eaten in town quite a bit.

I guess I should have targeted my question better, would you choose The Atlantic Room, Jasmine Porch, or just have dinner at Ryder Cup Bar when the rest of the group catches up to me post golf?

But maybe yall have a point. Maybe I can get my dad to make the trek to the Ryder Cup Bar to have a drink with me and then we'll head into town for dinner.

in that case I would skip all those places you just listed inside the resort and go eat at the Salty Dog Cafe which is near freshfields village. Its on a canal with some cool boats docked there. Sit on the patio and eat some good fresh food and hangout.

The Ryder Cup Bar is cool, but I didn't think the food was anything special for what it cost. Options are limited as well. Just normal golf club bar food basics if I remember correctly. Just drink a beer there before/after the round then hit up the Salty Dog as you leave the island. Also if other people are driving to the island to meet yall for dinner it is easier to access then driving inside the resort.

https://bohicket.saltydog.com/cafe/

Landed a 1240 tee time at the Ocean Course. Now to hit the range hard and find the 3 Wood or Driver

John Kozak was a good caddie for me, about my age and we talked Steelers and Oilers and 80's rock.

But you may be younger than that lol

Silly question, but do they use carts? Trying to get a trip with my dad and walking 18 is a lot for him. He is 78 and fired an 87 last week. That doesn't have anything to do with the question, just proud of my old man.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Silly question, but do they use carts? Trying to get a trip with my dad and walking 18 is a lot for him. He is 78 and fired an 87 last week. That doesn't have anything to do with the question, just proud of my old man.

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Only from June-August and after 10am. That's when my dad and I visit the island because he can't walk 18.

AgOutsideAustin said:

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John Kozak was a good caddie for me, about my age and we talked Steelers and Oilers and 80's rock.

But you may be younger than that lol

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Ha! I'm 39 and not much of an NFL guy. Most reviews have positives regarding the caddies. As a single I'm more worried about who I get paired with than the caddy. Maybe I'll end up with some Ags.

Had a perfect day at the Ocean Course. Wind was down and not a cloud in the sky. Pretty good company other than one extremely slow player. Our caddie was great. Played Dye tees and shot 88. Only real disappointment was missing some decent chances at birdie.

Found the course extremely playable especially off the tee. The greens were tough to hold so ball striking is definitely a key. Chipping too as you tend to find your ball just off the green. Love that Paspalum grass. As a cool weather grass guy I always hate Bermuda. That paspalum was very nice to play from.

Only complaint is value. I knew what I signed up for cost wise and I'm not one to complain about ponying up to play. Just didn't feel like it was worth the green fee. The course doesn't quite have the ocean views they claim. Overall I give the experience an 8.5/10. Couple pics.

4 box

7 box

9 box

Gator in the pond at 17

16 box

18 green after the round

I agree that price wise it's prolly not worth what it costs, however with its history of hosting Ryder cups, and it location in a luxury resort it is what it is. I also agree that I was surprised by lack of "ocean views" overall when you actually think about all 18 hikes with that said I preferred the front nine to the back.

Would love to go back and play again. I played like **** the day I was there.

Played Cougar Point today and had a ball. Shot 81 with a bit of regret after going bogey bogey bogey to finish. Had a great pairing with the other three guests. Solid players who were a lot of fun. I was on 6 hours of sleep and hungover after getting back to the house at 2am after the game last night. Managed to birdie #2 and hole out from the right bunker on 10 to at least leave Kiawah with a couple birdies.

Only managed one picture of the 5th green, which was a fantastic hole overall.

Also to follow up on dining, we went into Charleston tonight for dinner at Delaneys and had an incredible meal. Thanks to yall for pushing that direction. Only food I ate at Kiawah the two rounds was some Kind bars.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Silly question, but do they use carts? Trying to get a trip with my dad and walking 18 is a lot for him. He is 78 and fired an 87 last week. That doesn't have anything to do with the question, just proud of my old man.

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I wouldn't bank on it, but they were short on caddies when I played Friday and were sending out carts. We went out with me and one player walking and the other two players in a cart. We went out with one caddie. He was basically a forecaddie in our scenario who just carried our two bags but served the entire foursome while spend a lot of time riding the back of the cart.