Kiawah Island Ocean Course
Pete and Alice Dye built the Ocean Course to host the 1991 Ryder Cup, the War by the Shore, and it has been testing the best ever since. A par 72 that stretches beyond 7,800 yards along two and a half miles of Atlantic shoreline, it staged the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships and returns for another in 2031, the most exposed championship links in America.
Photo: Matthew Johnson via Google.
The verdict
Pete Dye, working closely with his wife and design partner Alice, routed the Ocean Course along the eastern tip of Kiawah Island specifically to host the 1991 Ryder Cup. Alice's idea to raise the holes up out of the marsh gave every one of them a view of the Atlantic, and the wind off the ocean, switching direction through the day, is the defining test. It opened in 1991 and immediately staged the War by the Shore.
It is long, raw and relentless when the breeze is up, with sandy waste areas, exposed greens and almost no respite, regularly rated among the hardest courses in America. Visitors can play it, and most pair it with a stay at the resort. For travelling golfers chasing the great modern championship venues, the Ocean Course is essential, a Pete Dye masterpiece on one of the finest stretches of coast in the game.
The Ocean Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1991
- Designer
- Pete and Alice Dye
- Type
- Seaside links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Up to 7,876 yds
- Green fee
- Around $600
Designer, opening year, par and championship history verified June 2026 from Kiawah Island Golf Resort and the PGA Championship. The Ocean Course was designed by Pete and Alice Dye, opened in 1991, a par 72 that stretches to around 7,876 yards. It hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, with the PGA returning in 2031. The green fee is indicative, around 600 US dollars in peak season for resort guests, higher for non guests. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Ocean Course unfolds along the dunes with the Atlantic on the left of the front nine and the right of the back, so the wind never plays the same way twice. Every hole sits up in full view of the sea, and judging the breeze off the ocean is the whole art of scoring here.
The closing stretch is where Ryder Cups and PGA Championships are decided. The long par 4 seventeenth, all carry over sand and water to an exposed green, is where Bernhard Langer faced his famous putt in 1991, and into the wind it is one of the most demanding holes in the game.
The par 4 eighteenth runs back toward the clubhouse with trouble all the way, a fitting finish to the most exposed championship course in America. The Ocean Course rewards the patient ball striker who respects the wind and the waste areas, and it gives back a round that few who play it ever forget.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course, open to visitors; resort guests get the best access and rates |
| Green fee | Around 600 US dollars in peak season for resort guests, higher for non guests (indicative, 2025) |
| Booking | Best secured with a stay at the resort; caddie or forecaddie usually required |
| On the day | Walking with a caddie strongly encouraged; smart golf dress, the wind dictates club selection |
| Getting there | On Kiawah Island, about 45 minutes southwest of Charleston and its airport |
| Best months | March to May and September to November for the kindest weather and lighter winds |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest route onto the Ocean Course is to stay at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, whether the grand oceanfront Sanctuary hotel or the resort villas and homes, all of which unlock the best tee times across Kiawah's five courses. A stay secures the round and puts you minutes from the first tee.
Charleston, one of the most charming cities in the American South, sits less than an hour away, adding history, restaurants and a second base for a longer trip. The Lowcountry around Kiawah and nearby Hilton Head makes for one of the strongest golf and travel weeks on the East Coast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Ocean Course.
Build a Kiawah and Charleston golf trip
We secure the Ocean Course tee time, pair it with Kiawah's other courses and a stay at the resort, and build in Charleston and the Lowcountry around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Ocean Course questions
Who designed the Kiawah Island Ocean Course and when did it open?
The Ocean Course was designed by Pete Dye with his wife and design partner Alice Dye, and opened in 1991 to host that year's Ryder Cup. Alice's idea to raise the holes out of the marsh gave every hole a view of the Atlantic.
What is the par and length of the Ocean Course?
The Ocean Course is a par 72 that stretches to around 7,876 yards from the championship tees, running along two and a half miles of Atlantic shoreline with the wind as its main defense.
How much does it cost to play the Ocean Course?
Indicative 2025 green fees are around 600 US dollars in peak season for resort guests, with higher rates for non guests, plus a caddie or forecaddie. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play the Ocean Course?
Yes. The Ocean Course is open to visitors, but the most reliable way to secure a tee time, and the best rates, is to stay at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Tee times are limited and book up well ahead.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and championship history verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.