The Ocean Course Kiawah
Pete Dye built the Ocean Course on the eastern tip of Kiawah Island for the 1991 Ryder Cup, and it has been terrifying and thrilling golfers ever since. A par 72 of about 7,876 yards with more seaside holes than any course in the northern hemisphere, it has hosted two PGA Championships and ranks among the greatest public courses in America. It is brutal in the wind, beautiful in any light, and open to anyone who can get a tee time.
Photo: The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, via Google.
The verdict
The Ocean Course is the most demanding resort course in America and one of its most spectacular, a Pete Dye creation strung along two and a half miles of Atlantic dune at the far end of Kiawah Island, south of Charleston. Dye built it specifically to host the 1991 Ryder Cup, the famous War by the Shore, and his wife Alice suggested raising the entire course so that every one of the eighteen holes looks out over the ocean. The result is exposed, windswept and unforgettable.
It is a bucket list round for the serious golfer, but go in with eyes open. From the back tees at about 7,876 yards it is one of the longest and hardest courses in the country, and the wind that sweeps off the Atlantic can turn a tough test into a survival exercise. Play the right tees, take a caddie, and the Ocean Course gives back one of the great days in golf, walking the same dunes where Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson won majors.
The Ocean Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1991
- Designer
- Pete Dye, with Alice Dye
- Type
- Seaside links style
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,876 yds
- Green fee
- Around $600
Designer, opening year, par, yardage and indicative fees verified June 2026 from Kiawah Island Golf Resort and recognized golf travel sources. The Ocean Course is a par 72 of about 7,876 yards from the back tees, designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1991. The indicative peak green fee is around 600 dollars in 2026, with preferred rates and priority for resort guests. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Ocean Course has more oceanfront holes than any other course in the northern hemisphere, ten running right along the Atlantic and the other eight parallel just behind them, so the sea and the wind are present on every shot. Dye routed it through natural dune and marsh, with waste areas, exposed sand and tightly mown collection areas that punish anything loose around the greens.
The closing stretch is the stuff of championship legend. The par three seventeenth plays across water to a green perched above the marsh, the hole where the 1991 Ryder Cup turned, and the par four eighteenth runs back along the dunes to the clubhouse, a brutal finish into a prevailing wind. It is here that Mickelson sealed his historic 2021 PGA at fifty, the oldest major champion in history.
What makes it a great course rather than just a hard one is the variety and the strategy. Dye gives you room off many tees but demands precise, committed approaches, and the firm, fast greens reward the player who controls the ball low under the wind. Take a caddie, respect the forecast, and play it for the experience rather than the score.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public access resort course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort; resort guests get priority and preferred rates |
| Green fee | Indicative around 600 dollars per round in peak season (2026); lower in the shoulders and for staying guests |
| Caddie and cart | Walking with a caddie is required at most times; forecaddies and the caddie program are central to the experience |
| Booking | Book well ahead, especially for spring and autumn; a resort stay is the surest route to a prime time |
| Getting there | Kiawah Island, about 45 minutes southwest of Charleston and Charleston International Airport |
| Best months | March to May and September to November for warm, settled conditions; summer is hot and humid |
Access arrangements and fees verified June 2026; rates and policies change, so always confirm directly before booking. Prefer it arranged for you? Use our tee time enquiry to have a concierge secure the round.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay at Kiawah Island Golf Resort itself, either in the grand Sanctuary hotel or in the villas and homes across the island, which secures priority tee times and preferred rates across the resort's five courses. It is the easiest way to build a multi day golf stay, pairing the Ocean Course with Turtle Point, Osprey Point and the rest of the island.
For a livelier base, historic Charleston is about 45 minutes away, one of America's great food and heritage cities, and an ideal place to spend the evenings on a golf trip to the South Carolina Lowcountry. It pairs beautifully with rounds on Kiawah and the wider Charleston area.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Kiawah Island.
Build a Kiawah and Charleston golf trip
We secure the Ocean Course tee time, pair it with the best of Kiawah and the Charleston area and book the lodging around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Ocean Course questions
Who designed the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and when did it open?
The Ocean Course was designed by Pete Dye, with Alice Dye, and opened in 1991. It was built specifically to host the 1991 Ryder Cup, and Alice Dye famously suggested raising the holes so every one has an ocean view.
What is the par and length of the Ocean Course?
The Ocean Course is a par 72 that stretches to about 7,876 yards from the championship tees, one of the longest courses in the United States, with several sets of forward tees that make it playable for resort guests.
Can visitors play the Ocean Course at Kiawah?
Yes. The Ocean Course is a public access resort course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, with priority and preferred rates for resort guests. The indicative peak green fee is around 600 dollars in 2026; figures change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
What championships has the Ocean Course hosted?
The Ocean Course hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, known as the War by the Shore, the 2012 PGA Championship won by Rory McIlroy, and the 2021 PGA Championship won by Phil Mickelson, who at 50 became the oldest major champion in history.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par, yardage and championship history verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.