Charleston
Golf
Report

Greens: Paspalum

The Ocean Course sits on the eastern tip of Kiawah Island with 10 holes hugging the Atlantic and every hole offering ocean views. Pete and Alice Dye designed it specifically to host the 1991 Ryder Cup ("The War by the Shore") on a tight timeline in the late 1980s. Since then it has hosted the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, the 2007 Senior PGA, and the 2005 Cliffs Wine and Championship. Consistently ranked among the top public courses in the United States.

Host of 1991 Ryder Cup, 2012 PGA Championship, 2021 PGA Championship (Phil Mickelson became oldest major champion at age 50). Ranked #4 public course in America by Golf Digest.

Greens: Bermuda

Cassique was Tom Watson's first solo golf course design in North America. The course sits on the marsh side of Kiawah Island and blends links-style playing surfaces with lowcountry marsh vistas. The Sports Pavilion at Cassique includes a Hank Haney-directed instructional facility. Ranked among the top private courses in South Carolina by Golf Digest.

Tom Watson's first solo North American design. Hank Haney Instruction Center on property. Sister course to the River Course at Kiawah Island Club.

Greens: Paspalum

Turtle Point is Jack Nicklaus's contribution to Kiawah and one of the resort's four resort-owned public courses. The layout weaves through maritime forest with a three-hole oceanfront stretch on the 14th, 15th, and 16th. A 2016 renovation modernized the greens and bunkers while preserving Nicklaus's original routing. Hosted the 1990 PGA Cup and 2007 Senior PGA qualifier.

Jack Nicklaus signature design. Three-hole oceanfront stretch (14-15-16) is one of the most photographed sequences in Southeast golf. 2016 restoration by Nicklaus Design.

Greens: Champion Bermuda

The Links Course was Tom Fazio's first solo golf course design and remains one of his most beloved layouts. Situated on the northeast tip of Isle of Palms, the course finishes with back-to-back holes on the Atlantic — the 17th and 18th are among the most memorable closing holes in the region. Beau Welling led a 2015 restoration that rebuilt greens and reworked bunkering after hurricane damage.

Tom Fazio's first solo design. Par changed from 72 to 70 due to hurricane erosion of holes 17 and 18. Beau Welling 2015 restoration.

Greens: Bermuda

The Harbor Course is Tom Fazio's second Wild Dunes design and is built along the Intracoastal Waterway with water or marsh in play on 17 of 18 holes. The course features six par-3s (a Fazio rarity) and is regularly praised for its shot variety and its dramatic finishing hole across the marsh. A member of Golfweek's Best Resort Courses in South Carolina.

Six par-3s (unusual for a Fazio design). Water or marsh in play on 17 of 18 holes. Intracoastal Waterway views from most tees.

Greens: Bermuda

Patriots Point Links is the closest public course to downtown Charleston, sitting on Charleston Harbor with the Ravenel Bridge and Yorktown aircraft carrier as backdrops. Willard C. Byrd designed the original 1981 layout and Annika Sorenstam consulted on refinements. The par-3 17th plays 190 yards over Charleston Harbor and is one of the most photographed holes in South Carolina. Named 2001 South Carolina Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association.

2001 SC Course of the Year (NGCOA). Par-3 17th plays over Charleston Harbor with the Ravenel Bridge as backdrop. Views of Yorktown aircraft carrier from multiple holes.

Greens: Bermuda

"The Muni" is the city of Charleston's municipal golf course on James Island, originally opened in 1929 and designed by J.M. Whitsett. In 2021 the course completed a full restoration led by architect Troy Miller with heavy influence from Seth Raynor's classical template course principles. The result is one of the most acclaimed public course restorations in America. Renovation preserved the historic routing while modernizing the playing surfaces, greens complexes, and drainage.

Fully restored 2021 by Troy Miller (Seth Raynor-inspired). Owned and operated by the City of Charleston. Featured in Golf Digest's Best Municipal Courses in America (2022, 2023).

Greens: Bermuda

Beresford Creek is one of two championship courses at the Daniel Island Club (the other being Ralston Creek by Tom Fazio). Rees Jones designed the course to sit lightly on Daniel Island's marsh and creek system, with generous corridors off the tee and demanding approaches. The course previously hosted the Family Circle Cup and the Nationwide Tour's Charleston Open.

One of two Daniel Island Club courses (Ralston Creek is 7,446 yards, Fazio). Formerly hosted PGA/Nationwide Tour events. Family Circle Tennis Center on same property.

Greens: Bermuda

RiverTowne is the only Arnold Palmer signature course in the Charleston area. Designed by Palmer and Ed Seay in 1998, the course features 13 holes routed along the Wando River and Horlbeck Creek. The layout combines lowcountry marsh play with Palmer's signature strategic bunkering and generous landing areas. Semi-private club with public tee times available on select days.

Only Arnold Palmer signature course in the Charleston area. 13 holes along Wando River / Horlbeck Creek. Slope of 147 from the tips is among the highest in the region.

Greens: Bermuda

The Links at Stono Ferry is a public course in Hollywood, roughly 20 miles southwest of downtown Charleston. Ron Garl designed the original layout with a mix of parkland front nine and links-style back nine that plays along the Intracoastal Waterway. The course is popular with locals and value-focused visitors and is regularly recognized among the best public golf values in the Charleston area.

20 miles southwest of downtown Charleston in Hollywood, SC. Mix of parkland (front nine) and links-style holes (back nine along the Intracoastal). Consistent value-course recognition.