My wife and I are thinking about going to Charleston late April for our 5 year anniversary and if we pull the trigger I wanted to make the drive down to Kiawah and play the Ocean Course for one day. I looked up tee times online and they are $600 which to date would be the most expensive round of golf I've ever played excluding caddie tips etc. Just wanted to see if people thought the experience matched the price tag or I should save my money? To date the most expensive round I've played was Whistling Straits and was well worth the money IMO.

The Ocean Course at Kiawah is fantastic. I would suggest checking out a stay& play package. It's been a couple years since I was there, but I think our condo and golf together was less than $600 pp.

I like it better than Whistling, FWIW

wife and I did the same kind of thing a handful of years back. I too ponied up the $600. Was it expensive? Hell yeah, but at the same time it was a day the wife and I wont forget. She walked the course as well with me and loved it. She brought a camera, took pictures and just enjoyed the day. Weather was great for us. Course was excellent, and honestly the atmosphere down there you can see why it costs what it does.

When you enter the island and drive by the million dollar houses it just has that luxury feel. If you can afford, do it.

I played in October as a single and had a great day. Plan on $900 after you tip the caddie, buy a shirt or hat, and have cocktails at the Ryder Cup Bar.

I'm sure your wife would have fun walking the course with you. I will say that the course does not have the ocean views that they like to claim. It's still very scenic though, especially when you turn back towards the clubhouse at 14. Just don't go into it thinking it's like Pebble or Kapalua as far as expansive ocean views.

Personally, I thought it was worth it for the one time experience. Would definitley hesitate to drop that amount again based simply on how much fun I had at one of the other courses (cougar point) for a third of the price.

Our caddie that day was David. Can't remember his last name. He was in his late twenties and was a solid guy who I had a lot of fun talking to and joking with. Definitely recommend him.

Here's my post after the round:

https://texags.com/forums/60/topics/3264680/replies/63326451

We stayed at the Sanctuary and played 4 courses, Ocean, Osprey, Turtle Point and Cougar Point.

Ocean was great as we had awesome weather and average wind. I'd put it above Whistling and Bay Hill but think Pinehurst is better.

The other courses at Kiawah were nice but not really bucket list quality.

Top 10 course with the history it has I enjoyed it, caddie was $120 I think, gave him $150 as it was just he and I for our round. That was cool. Shirt $125 and a flag for $45. Easily $900 as mentioned above. I put the Ocean Course up there with Pebble I definitely want to play it at least once.

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

Can you eat at any of the restaurants without staying or playing? I will probably be in the area in April and thinking about making a stop. Possibly add a lesson for my son.

I think the only one you can access without playing or staying is the Ryder Cup Bar at the Ocean Course.

Which is a legit place to grab lunch, sit outside have a few beers, and relax and watch guys come in off 18.

My understanding is the restaurants are all open to the public. Resort guests can book reservations far in advance while the public has much smaller window of opportunity. For example, it looks like 180 days out for resort guests versus 3 days out for the public at The Atlantic Room

Folks on this board (rightly) convinced us to skip eating on the island and go into Charleston for dinner during our visit in October.

My favorite course ever.

Played on my birthday 2 years ago before the PGA. Easily the most challenging round of golf I have ever played. If you are a sub 5 hcp play the tips. You just have to.

Got up and down from green side bunker on 18 and got an ovation from Ryder cup bar and wife got it on video from bar. Pretty cool.

May have conceived our first born that night too, so I say it is well worth it!

Also, this was after not taking the opportunity the first time I was in kiawah. Regretted it the second I left.