Kiawah Island - Ocean Course
Ten holes on the Atlantic - and the highest slope rating in America.
The Course
Pete Dye built the Ocean Course for the 1991 Ryder Cup - the famous War on the Shore - on a stunning stretch of South Carolina coastline. Ten holes play directly along the Atlantic, more than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere.
The course has since hosted the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships (Phil Mickelson's historic win at age 50), plus the 2007 Senior PGA. Its 155 slope rating from the back tees is the highest in the United States.
Dye's wife Alice famously talked him out of several even more diabolical design features. What remains is still plenty.
Signature Holes
Hole 17 - Par 3, 223 yards
Over marsh to a narrow green with the ocean behind. Into the wind it plays 40 yards longer.
Hole 18 - Par 4, 484 yards
Downwind it is reachable; into the wind it is a three-shot hole for mortals. The Atlantic frames everything.
Designer
Pete Dye (1991)
Practical Info
Peak fees around $450. The resort experience is polished - stay at The Sanctuary for the full treatment. Play the correct tees: the tips at 7,849 yards are for pros and masochists. Morning rounds beat the afternoon sea breeze.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Green fee from | $450 |
| Fee notes | Peak season rate. Caddie recommended. |
| Location | Kiawah Island, South Carolina |
| Par / Yardage | 72 / 7849 yards |
| Slope / Rating | 155 / 79.1 |
Worth it?
Yes, with a wind warning. On a calm day it is gorgeous and playable. When the wind kicks up, it becomes survival golf - which is honestly part of the fun. The finishing stretch along the ocean is unforgettable.