The Ocean Course
Kiawah Island, Charleston County, South Carolina · Kiawah Island golf market
- Access
- resort guest
- Holes
- 18
- Architect(s)
- Pete Dye
- Gated
- No
Thinking About Living in The Ocean Course?
Get connected with a local real-estate specialist who understands The Ocean Course and the surrounding Kiawah Island golf market.
The Ocean Course is the marquee course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the commercial resort entity that also owns Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Cougar Point, Oak Point, and The Sanctuary Hotel -- a fully separate organization from the private Kiawah Island Club (Cassique, River Course). Designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1991, it has hosted more high-profile championship golf than any other course in the Kiawah/Charleston market, culminating in a named future host role for the 2031 PGA Championship.
Golf & Course
Pete Dye's 1991 design plays to a par 72 and roughly 7,876 yards from the tips, with holes routed directly along the Atlantic dunes. It hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup (the 'War by the Shore'), the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, and has been named host of the 2031 PGA Championship. In 2026 rankings it was cited as #1 in South Carolina among public-access courses by Golfweek and #1 among U.S. resort courses by GOLF Magazine.
Membership & Access
Does buying a home here include club membership?
Access runs through paid green fees and resort tee-time booking (via the resort's rguest.com platform), not membership or property ownership. Resort hotel/villa guests receive priority booking windows over the general public. The Governor's Club, a separate resort-operated annual membership program open to any Kiawah Island property owner (explicitly distinct from Kiawah Island Club), offers tiered access to resort golf and amenities with no initiation fee -- 2026 dues reportedly range from about $1,075 (pool-only) to $9,990 (unlimited golf across the resort's courses), though tee-time priority for the Ocean Course specifically was not independently confirmed this session and should be checked directly.
Lifestyle & Amenities
The Sanctuary Hotel, the resort's 255-room, oceanfront luxury hotel (opened 2004), sits near the Ocean Course and anchors the resort's broader dining, spa, and retail offering.
Location & Surrounding Area
The Ocean Course occupies the eastern tip of Kiawah Island, in the Ocean Park area, separate from and roughly across the island from Kiawah Island Club's Cassique/River Course facilities and from the East Beach Village/Turtle Point area.
Interested in Homes in The Ocean Course?
We can connect you with a local real-estate specialist who knows the community, nearby golf communities, and the Kiawah Island market.
What Buyers Should Verify
- Confirm current 2026 green-fee schedule directly with the resort -- figures cited here are third-party-reported ranges.
- Confirm whether Governor's Club membership includes any Ocean Course-specific tee-time priority or discount, or whether the Ocean Course sits outside typical Governor's Club golf privileges given its premium/marquee status.
- Confirm current caddie-fee and cart-fee structure.
Notable
- Hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 2012 PGA Championship, and the 2021 PGA Championship, and has been named host of the 2031 PGA Championship.
- Ranked #1 in South Carolina among public-access courses by Golfweek (2026) and #1 among U.S. resort courses by GOLF Magazine (2026).
- Owned by Kiawah Island Golf Resort (CCA Financial / the Goodwin family's Riverstone Group), a fully separate organization from the private Kiawah Island Club.
Nearby Golf Communities Worth Comparing
Considering a Move to The Ocean Course?
Whether you're comparing The Ocean Course with another Kiawah Island golf community or you're ready to start looking at homes, US Golf Living can connect you with a local real-estate specialist.
US Golf Living provides independent real-estate research and can connect consumers with real-estate professionals. Golf membership, availability, fees and approval are determined independently by the applicable club.