Kiawah Ocean Course Tee Times and Booking
The Ocean Course at Kiawah is Pete Dye's Atlantic masterpiece, with more seaside holes than any course in the Northern Hemisphere and two PGA Championships to its name. It is bookable, but the way you book decides both your access and your bill. Here is exactly how to get on, when to book, and how to play it for the best value.
Photo: The Ocean Course via Google, by Matthew Johnson.
The short answer
The Ocean Course is part of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, and that single fact shapes everything about booking it. Resort guests get priority on tee times and the lowest rates, particularly on a golf package that bundles your stay and rounds, which remains the most affordable way to play. Non-resort golfers can still book, including through third party tee time services, but they pay a meaningfully higher green fee and get a thinner choice of times. The cleanest route for most travelling golfers is to book a resort stay and the round together, well in advance.
The numbers tell the story. Indicative 2026 resort guest rates run from roughly 234 dollars on a package up toward 330 dollars, with summer twilight rates after about 2pm near 260 dollars, while non-resort guests pay indicatively 373 to 463 dollars depending on the season. Package rates typically require a minimum stay and at least two rounds. The Ocean Course is also a walking course in the prime hours, with a caddie or forecaddie required for walking rounds. Everything below was checked in June 2026 and is indicative, so always confirm the current rates, booking rules and walking policy directly before travelling.
How to book the Ocean Course, at a glance
Where you stay sets your price and your priority. Here is the booking picture for the Ocean Course.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Best access | Book as a resort guest, ideally on a golf package through the resort, for priority and the lowest rate |
| Resort guest rate | Indicatively from about 234 dollars on a package up to around 330 dollars; summer twilight near 260 dollars after about 2pm |
| Non-resort rate | Indicatively 373 to 463 dollars depending on season, with limited availability |
| Package conditions | Discounted rates typically require a minimum stay and at least two rounds |
| Walking and caddies | Walking course in prime hours; caddie or forecaddie required for walking rounds; carts later in the day |
| When to book | Months ahead for peak spring and fall dates; book stay and rounds together |
Booking and rate details verified in June 2026 from Kiawah Island Golf Resort and tee time sources and are indicative. Rates move with season and championship demand, so always confirm current arrangements directly before booking. Check Ocean Course tee time availability.
When to book through the year
| Season | Demand and conditions | How early to book |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar to May) | Peak, prime weather, highest rates | Several months ahead |
| Fall (Sep to Nov) | Peak, mild and popular | Several months ahead |
| Summer (Jun to Aug) | Hot and humid; twilight value after about 2pm | A few weeks to a couple of months |
| Winter (Dec to Feb) | Quietest, coolest, best value | Shorter notice often works |
Always confirm seasonal rates, twilight cutoffs and any championship or maintenance closures directly before planning your trip.
How to play it for the best value
The single biggest lever is staying on the resort. A two night, two round package routinely brings the Ocean Course within a few hundred dollars of a round, and lets you pair it with Kiawah's other strong courses so the whole trip earns its airfare. If you only want the Ocean Course, the summer twilight window after about 2pm is the value play, trading a little heat for a meaningfully lower rate and the low evening light that makes the Atlantic holes glow. Booking your stay and your rounds in one go, months ahead for spring and fall, is how you secure the time you actually want.
If you are not staying on Kiawah, set expectations: non-resort rates are high and availability is limited, especially in peak season. Book as far ahead as you can, keep your date and time flexible, and have a backup in mind. For a group on a bucket list trip, handing the logistics to a planner who can secure the Ocean Course tee time, the caddies and the right base on the island removes the part of this that goes wrong, which is leaving the marquee round to chance.
What you are signing up to play
The Ocean Course is a Pete Dye design that opened in 1991 and immediately staged the Ryder Cup, the so called War by the Shore, before hosting the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2021. It runs ten holes hard along the Atlantic, fully exposed to a wind that can swing the course by several clubs between morning and afternoon, which is exactly why a caddie is required for walking rounds and worth every dollar. It is long, demanding and unforgettable, the kind of round you build a trip around rather than slot in. For how the holes play, see our companion guide and the full course profile below.
Plan a Kiawah Island golf trip
We book the Ocean Course at the best guest rate, secure the caddies and the right base on the island, and pair it with Kiawah's other courses or the Charleston area. Tell us roughly when and how many are travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Ocean Course booking questions
How do you book a tee time at the Ocean Course?
The Ocean Course is a Kiawah Island Golf Resort course, so the route to the best access is to book as a resort guest, ideally on a golf package through the resort, which gives both priority on tee times and the lowest rates. Non-resort golfers can also book, including through third party tee time services, but pay a higher rate and have less choice of times. Because demand for Pete Dye's Atlantic course is high, the practical move is to book your stay and rounds together well ahead. Always confirm the current booking rules and rates directly before travelling.
How much does it cost to play the Ocean Course at Kiawah?
Pricing depends heavily on whether you stay at the resort. Indicative 2026 resort guest rates run from roughly 234 dollars on a package up to around 330 dollars, with twilight rates after about 2pm in summer near 260 dollars, while non-resort guests pay indicatively 373 to 463 dollars depending on season. Discounted package rates typically require a minimum stay and at least two rounds. Fees move with the season and with championship demand, so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Can you play the Ocean Course without staying at the resort?
Yes, but it is harder and more expensive. Resort guests get booking priority and the best rates, so non-guests face limited availability and a premium green fee. If you are set on the Ocean Course and not staying on Kiawah, book as far ahead as possible and stay flexible on date and time, or have a trip planner secure the round. For most travelling golfers, building a resort stay around the round is both easier to book and better value.
Is the Ocean Course walking only and do you need a caddie?
The Ocean Course is a walking course, with carts restricted in the prime morning hours, and a caddie or forecaddie is required for walking rounds, which is the right way to play it given blind lines and the wind off the Atlantic. Carts typically become available later in the day. It is a long, exposed Pete Dye design that hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup and the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, so be ready for a demanding walk and budget for the caddie. Always confirm the current walking, caddie and cart policy directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Booking routes and indicative rates verified June 2026 against Kiawah Island Golf Resort and tee time sources. Last reviewed June 2026.