Best golf courses: Charleston / Kiawah

Golf in Charleston and Kiawah: The ten mile long beachfront and five championship level golf courses make this island an exciting destination. Kiawah Island is just 25 miles from Charleston in South Carolina. Among the country’s best golf courses are the Ocean Course which has hosted every major PGA event. Cougar Point and Turtle Point test the thinking skills and mental strength of golfers through challenging Par-5s. To make the most of your golfing trip, and to help in your planning, you can look up the location of the best courses in Charleston and Kiawah on our customised maps.

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Charleston
Raynor, Seth

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Original design by Seth Raynor & Charles Banks (1925); modifications by Tom Doak (1998) and Jim Urbina (2016).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Spence, Bob

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Bob Spence

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Palmer, Arnold

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

An Arnold Palmer Signature Course.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Nicklaus, Jack

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Jack Nicklaus, who returned in 2000 to renovate and lengthen his original design.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Spence, Bob

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Bob Spence
4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Hills, Arthur

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Arthur Hills
5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Dye, Pete

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Husband/wife team of Pete & Alice Dye

Unrated: Well regarded course not yet visited by the Where2Golf team.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Breeden, Russell

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Russell Breeden
4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Garl, Ron

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Ron Garl
4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Jones, Rees

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Rees Jones
4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Johnston, Clyde

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Clyde Johnston
3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Byrd, Willard

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Willard Byrd
4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Player, Gary

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

In 1996 Gary Player took the former Marsh Point golf course and transformed it into today's Cougar Point.
4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Fazio, Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Tom Fazio
4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Fazio, Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Tom Fazio's first solo design golf course.
Unrated: Well regarded course not yet visited by the Where2Golf team.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Hills, Arthur

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Arthur Hills
4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Charleston
Fazio, Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Charleston

Designer

Tom Fazio

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Tournaments

Chevron Championship: the first women’s major championship of 2023 is played for the first time in Texas, having been uprooted from its home of 51 years at the Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California.

Italian Open: the 80th playing of this prestigious European event will see many 2023 Ryder Cup hopefuls build their “local knowledge” of the Marco Simone course in Rome. (May 4-7). Ryder Cup (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Who's Who

Jon Rahm: dedicated his emphatic Masters Tournament win to the late Seve Ballesteros. “Rahmbo’s” victory came on the day his fellow countryman and golfing inspiration would have turned 66 years of age.

Steve Stricker: four-time senior major championship winner, chases a fifth title as he defends at the 34th Regions Tradition (May 11-14), the first senior major of 2023.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Costa Cruise & Golf

Costa’s "Cruise & Golf" allows golfers and their families to combine a unique golfing experience with the relaxation and fun of a cruise on board Costa Smeralda. Golf enthusiasts are offered a choice from 23 top-quality golf clubs; their chosen courses are played during the ship’s port calls in Italy, France and Spain. While the golfers are driving the fairways, accompanying non-golfers are able to enjoy the amenities and activities on-board, or explore wonderful places on day excursions organised by Costa. Read more ...

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