Carlos Amoedo
Carlos Amoedo
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Behind the third green at the Ocean Course.
Uzzell Lambert
Photo by Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Kiawah Island Golf Resort: The Ocean Course
Kiawah Island, SC • Public
Kiawah Island Golf Resort: The Ocean Course
1 Sanctuary Beach Dr.
Kiawah Island, SC 29455-5434
United States
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Overview
The Ocean Course was designed on short notice for a specific event, the 1991 Ryder Cup, when the PGA of America decided to move the event from California to the more attractive Eastern time zone television time slot. This manufactured linksland-meets-lagoons layout might well be Pete Dye’s most diabolical creation. Every hole is edged by sawgrass, every green has tricky slopes and every bunker merges into bordering sand dunes. Strung along nearly three miles of ocean coast, Dye took his wife Alice's advice and perched fairways and greens so golfers can actually view the Atlantic surf over a ridge of beach dunes. That also exposes shots and putts to ever-present and sometimes fierce coastal winds. The Ocean Course will forever be linked with Phil Mickelson and his improbable victory at the 2021 PGA Championship, as well as Rory McIlroy's romp in 2012.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1997.
Highest ranking: 20th, 2015-'16.
Previous ranking: 24th.
2025-'26 ranking: 30th.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since the inaugural edition in 2003.
Highest ranking: 3rd, 2015-'18 and 2023-'24.
Previous ranking: 3rd.
2025-'26 ranking: 5th.
Best in State: Ranked first since 2011.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 1st.
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Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“If you took this golf course off the Ocean, the character and aesthetics would still remain high. Adding in the ocean brings this course to another level. It is extremely challenging from any set of tees, as the wind rarely dies down, and even fair shots are punished if a little offline. This is not a course that an 18 handicap would find themselves easily able to navigate. However, off the tee there is quite a bit of room so I felt the course would be fair for the less accomplished player. Lots of risk/reward off the tee and around the green. I enjoyed the varying length in par 3/4s, and most of the par 5s are reachable if the player is willing to take on risk. The par 3s on the pack, hole 14 redan, and 17 over the water to functionally an island like green are strategic and challenging. The greens roll true and fairways fast enough considering this is low-country South Carolina. Every green complex is interesting, has tight grass to allow multiple styles of play."
Read More2025
Review
“Many consider The Ocean Course to be Pete and Alice Dye's masterpiece. The back nine is as good a stretch of golf holes as it gets, with excitement and challenging shots mixed in with scoring opportunities. Mounding and slopes can either help a well-struck ball towards its target or kick it away towards water or sand dunes. The views on the back nine are splendid, and certainly why golfers travel the world to play this course. The front nine has a few spectacular holes, as well as a few that are, frankly, not as memorable or exciting. All in all, an excellent course and, arguably more important, experience for golfers."
Read More2025
Review
“An architectural masterpiece by Pete and Alice Dye. A tale of two 9’s with the front twisting around itself in the marshland and the back playing in a typical out and back links style along the Atlantic Ocean. I did not expect the Donald Ross-sequel pushed up greens and run-off areas but made sense after the round when I learned of the flooding the area is prone to. 17 stood as a very memorable par-3 because of the variety of tee lengths and tee placements. Each one played as a completely different hole. Lots of tee box variety and options to play different lengths that make this course fun and challenging for all playing abilities."
Read More2025
Review
“What an unbelievable setting for golf! If you ever find a calm day at Kiawah Ocean, you better take advantage, as the winds are an integral part of what makes this course so challenging. Although it's somewhat of an out-and-in routing (on each side), the variety established in the individual hole designs is masterful. Definitely a survival of the fittest until you turn toward home with the prevailing wind. One of America's best public courses!"
Read More2024
Review
“A Pete and Alice Dye masterpiece. The setting in the low country of South Carolina along the ever changing winds off the Atlantic Ocean contribute to the majesty of this design. Marshland sometimes needs to be crossed over and most always needs to be avoided laterally. In classic Dye fashion, he shows you where to hit it but also brings into focus the trouble which occurs when one hits it offline from the intended. Much of the time the trouble is right so a right to left shot shape bodes well if controlled and consistent. Especially when the wind is blowing, this is a great challenge for golfers from all tee boxes. Wildlife abounds in and around the course."
Read More2024
Review
“If you block out the memories of the Ryder Cup and PGA Championships, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island will let you make your own. Depending on the wind, it can be a blast or an extremely hard test. It is a joy in both hard and mild conditions. Given the tee sets you can test yourself all you want or enjoy a beautiful round with others. The layout provides some incredible approach decisions along with spectacular views. It feels like a marriage between Scotland and Ireland with Pete Dye conducting the ceremony."
Read More2024
Review
“Challenging Pete Dye design that tests the players length, short game, & ability to flight irons to green complexes. Great character with the bunkering, green complexes, and the routing in general. This was undoubtedly a difficult site to route a big 18 hole course and Pete Dye may have been the perfect architect for the job with his experience at the time."
Read More2024
Review
“Very challenging Pete Dye design with no prevailing wind. Deceptive landing areas amongst great aesthetics. The caddie program was a plus. It would be very interesting to see the course play in a different wind..."
Read More2024
Review
“The Ocean Course is one of Pete Dye's best in his great portfolio. It has a lot of his early design philosophy mixed with his ability to build a course to tournament standards. Any golf lover should experience the Ocean Course once and hope the wind cooperates throughout your round."
Read More2024
Review
“All the elements of a great golf course are present here. An iconic Pete Dye masterpiece."
Read More2024
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