Golf Courses
Kiawah Development Partners is the master developer of Kiawah Island. In 1989, KDP sold the Island's resort properties to focus on Kiawah's residential development. KDP and the resort work together, such as when they co-hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup Matches at The Ocean Course, but they are separate companies.
Today, Kiawah Island Golf Resort owns the resort Courses, while KDP owns the courses of the private Kiawah Island Club.
The Resort Courses
Kiawah Island Golf Resort maintains and operates its golf courses for use by resort guests as well as Kiawah property owners, including the Governor's Club membership program.
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The Ocean Course – Designer: Pete Dye
Opened: 1991. Location: Kiawah Island behind the Vanderhorst gate. Signature elements: Kiawah's most acclaimed course, designed specifically for the 1991 Ryder Cup Matches; 10 holes on the Atlantic, the most in the US; hosted the 1997 World Cup and the inaugural UBS Warburg Cup in 2001; will host the 2007 Senior PGA Championship and the 2012 PGA Championship; film site for The Legend of Bagger Vance.
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Turtle Point – Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Opened: 1981, with major renovations, a new teaching facility, and a new clubhouse in 2000-01. Location: Kiawah Island at East Beach Village. Signature elements: hosted the 1990 PGA Cup Matches and 2002 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Pro-Am; three holes on the Atlantic serve as buffers for loggerhead nesting areas.
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Osprey Point – Designer: Tom Fazio
Opened: 1988, with major renovations and a new clubhouse in 1997-98. Location: Kiawah Island behind the second gate. Signature elements: hosted the Eastern PGA Club Pro Championship; holes along Egret, Pintail, and Canvasback ponds.
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Oak Point – Designer: Clyde Johnston
Opened: 1989. Location: Johns Island off of Betsy Kerrison Parkway. Signature elements: Holes along the Kiawah River and Haulover Creek.
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Cougar Point – Designer: Gary Player
Opened: 1997. Location: Kiawah Island at West Beach Village. Signature elements: Cougar is a complete redesign of Player's Marsh Point course.
Kiawah Island Club Courses (Private)
In 1993, KDP established the private Kiawah Island Club in response to homeowners' desire for an upscale set of amenities separate from the resort. The only way to obtain a new membership in The Kiawah Island Club is through Kiawah Island Real Estate. KIRE is an affiliate of KDP and the exclusive broker for undeveloped property on Kiawah Island and at Cassique.
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The River Course – Designer: Tom Fazio
Opened: 1995. Location: Kiawah Island behind the second gate. Signature elements: site of the 2000 & 2001 Kiawah Children's Hospital Classic; holes along the Kiawah River and Bass Pond; Kiawah's first Audubon-certified course; both the Fazio course and clubhouse by Bernard Wharton are considered as equal in elegance to any in the Southeast.
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Cassique – Designer: Tom Watson
Opened: 2000. Location: Named for revered Kiawah chief of the 17th century. Off Kiawah Island Parkway, runs along the Kiawah River to where it meets the atlantic. Signature elements: site of the 2002 Kiawah Children's Hospital Classic and 2003 Palmer Cup; 2004 UBS Cup; Watson's first solo design in North America; inspired by Irish and Scottish links.
