Designed and built to host the 1991 Ryder Cup, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island has a long history of championship golf, and rightfully so. The construction of the course was nothing short of a nightmare thanks to Hurricane Hugo, but it was completed just in time to perplex the greatest players from the United States and Europe. The penal features, ever-present wind, and visual deception rigorously test the best players in the world. The course was brutally difficult in the 1990s but has since been altered to better accommodate resort guests. Built on sand and marshland with water views from nearly every hole, The Ocean Course immerses players in the natural setting of the Mid-Atlantic coastline. Pete and Alice Dye’s creation provides both a majestic experience and a grueling test of golf.

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Take Note…

Recycle. The Ocean Course is an impressive course from above the ground, and even more so below the surface. Dye installed over 14 miles of underground piping to collect the excess irrigation water and recycle it back into the system. This reduces water usage while helping contain chemicals and fertilizers to the course property, preventing them from leaching into surrounding marshlands.

Ahead of the curve. Pete Dye was a forward-thinking man, and his design at Kiawah shows it. He built The Ocean Course to be ultra-variable in terms of setup options in order to accommodate strong winds or calm days. He planned out areas for future tees to be built, allowing the course to stretch to 8,000 yards. Dye knew pros were getting longer and had the foresight to plan ahead with the tee placements.

The Alice influence. Many designs with Pete Dye’s name attached to them have significant contributions from his wife and partner Alice Dye. Most notable at The Ocean Course was her suggestion to prop up several fairways so players could have unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean.

An ocean finish. The original 18th green site was located just short of where the clubhouse sits today. In 2002, Pete moved the green to its originally intended location, 25 yards closer to the ocean and set against the last line of dunes before the beach. It would have been in that spot the whole time if not for incorrectly drawn wetland protection boundaries. Now, when facing the green for approach shots, players look straight toward the Atlantic Ocean.