Kiawah Island Golf Resort
There is an old adage that says we overestimate how much we can accomplish in one year, but underestimate how much we can do over 10 years. Now raise that number to 50 and pair with an unwavering commitment to guest satisfaction, and you’ll get the extraordinary experience that Kiawah Island Golf Resort continues to provide to this day.
This year, 2026, marks the resort’s 50th anniversary and it’s a great moment to reflect on how they started and how far they have come. Long before The Ocean Course opened in 1991 in preparation for the legendary Ryder Cup, the resort’s first golf course, Marsh Point, opened in August 1976. Â
The resort called upon the talents of the one-and-only Gary Player to bring this first layout to life, and just like that, a golf resort was born.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort
The evolution of a golf mecca
Marsh Point welcomed golf guests for two decades and in 1996 Player and his team returned to Kiawah Island to redesign the course, which formally changed its name to Cougar Point when it reopened in 1997.Â
The goal was to bring the course up to the modern standards, including lengthening the course alongside other aesthetic improvements.Â
These shifts certainly elevated the profile of the course, and true to form, the team at Kiawah Island continued to enhance the total resort experience as well.Â
In 2017, a 10-month overhaul of the course was completed. During this time, the team regrassed the fairways and greens with paspalum, rebuilt the bunkers, and updated the irrigation system to improve playability and bring the conditioning up to the standard that guests had been experiencing at The Ocean Course.
The latest update to the course was in 2019, with the addition of the expansive new Cougar Point Clubhouse which reflects the Lowcountry elegance that the resort is widely known for. Guests can enjoy a beverage and a meal at The Players’ Pub after their round or watch golfers finish their game from the comfort of the expansive porch that overlooks the 18th green. The story of Cougar Point is a perfect example of how Kiawah Island Golf Resort continues to evolve and how their pursuit of excellence benefits vacationing golfers year after year.
While Cougar Point was the layout that put Kiawah Island on the golfing map, the story is far from over as the resort is home to 90 holes of championship golf. The second course that opened here was Turtle Point. This course was the brainchild of the iconic Golden Bear himself, Mr. Jack Nicklaus. A longtime favorite for golfing guests, Turtle Point took on a major renovation in 2016 that also included the addition of paspalum grassing and larger bunkers to enhance the challenge and conditioning of the facility.
The next course came along in 1988 when Tom Fazio brought his vision to Kiawah Island and designed Osprey Point. As Fazio is known for, the course exudes beauty and integrates itself into the gorgeous landscape with multiple holes routed around the marsh and water that demand you to meticulously plot your way around. As you’ll see in our exclusive drone footage below, the conditioning is flawless and demonstrates how the major investments that the resort made into the golf courses through the years has created a consistently high-end experience across all five courses.
Oak Point opened in 1989 and was originally known as Hope Plantation Golf Club. Located just outside of the main entrance of the resort on nearby John’s Island, the course was acquired by Kiawah Island in 1997 and was officially renamed as Oak Point Golf Course. Much like other courses at the resort, the team regrassed it with paspalum, which was a game-changer for the conditioning of this layout. As you’ll see in our drone footage, it’s a fun layout that is more playable than its sister courses and can provide a welcome break from some of the tougher designs at Kiawah Island.Â
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island came as the final piece of the proverbial puzzle. While the resort had certainly established itself as a premier golf resort prior to this, it was The Ocean Course that solidified its position as a bucket-list destination. The perfect mix of brawn and beauty, The Ocean Course is one of the best tests of golf in the world. It will challenge every facet of your game, and is one of those experiences that you’ll want to play time and time again as each round will make you fall a little more in love with the unique characteristics of this Pete and Alice Dye design. Since words can’t do it justice, we’ve taken the liberty of droning this layout for you so you can see for yourself how special this course truly is.
Additional upgrades at Kiawah Island Golf ResortÂ
The golf experience isn’t the only thing that has evolved over the years at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. When the property first opened 50 years ago, the main lodging was known as the Kiawah Island Inn, which was a smaller hotel that welcomed guests for decades.  Â
As the offerings at the resort continued to grow, so did the resort’s desire to create upscale accommodations that the destination had become synonymous with. Â
That goal was achieved in 2004 when the doors to The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort first started welcoming guests. We can safely say that The Sanctuary is one of our favorite hotels in the country, and the feeling of coastal luxury is felt from the moment you enter the doors of the hotel and are greeted by their top-notch staff. Â
With sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, the expansive lobby features dark walnut floors and massive ceilings alongside antique furnishings that create a welcoming home for your getaway. The rooms are flawless and guests here can enjoy exceptional dining, a Forbes Five-Star spa, and multiple shopping outlets all mere steps away from your room. In fact, The Sanctuary is the only hotel in South Carolina with a Triple Forbes Five-Star rating for its spa, dining and accommodations.
If your group is looking for a multi-bedroom experience, Kiawah Island also offers myriad of villa and private home vacation rentals, as well as their latest addition of The Cottages at The Ocean Course, with private lodging set right on the driving range, which have quickly become a favorite for golf groups.
When you’re not on the course or enjoying your magnificent accommodations, there is so much to see and do during your visit at Kiawah Island. You can rent a bike and explore 30-miles of paved paths across the island, play tennis, pickleball or padel at one of their 22 state-of-the-art courts, soak up some sun along their 10 miles of beachfront or relax by one of the resort’s pools. New this year, guests can also enjoy The Treehouse Activity Center at Night Heron Park, which is a family favorite spot with bowling, golf simulators, an arcade, an art studio, and a nature center.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort is one of the nation’s most treasured destinations. In the 15+ years that our team has been visiting the property, the relentless pursuit of making this a world-class venue for everyone is palpable from the moment you arrive. Â
Here’s to 50 years—and we can’t wait to see what their team does with the next 50!
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort